Rechargeable hearing aids – are they changing the hearing aid landscape?
I’m constantly amazed at the new breakthroughs in hearing technology. One of the latest is the development of rechargeable hearing aids.
Like other rechargeable devices such as your mobile phone, rechargeable hearing aids are powered-up by simply placing them in their portable charging case and plugging them into your standard power socket overnight. Many charging cases also have the option of a portable power pack which you can plug into a USB socket.
There are two types of rechargeable hearing aid batteries:
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Lithium-ion batteries
Similar to the type of battery used in mobile phones, this is the most common type of battery used in hearing aids. The advantages are: they only need a short charge time; they stay charged longer and they have a longer lifespan.
On average, lithium-ion batteries last around 4 years. However, they can’t be interchanged with a disposable battery. They’re only available in the newer style of hearing devices.
Though they’re not recyclable, using this type of battery means that you’re not using and disposing of dozens of disposable batteries over the year.
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Silver Zinc batteries
This version can be retro-fitted to existing hearing aids. They look like the traditional type of batteries, so if you’re comfortable with changing your hearing aid batteries, you’ll probably find them easy to use.
The advantage of these types of batteries is that if you run out of charge, you can easily replace them with a disposable battery in the meantime. The silver-zinc batteries last about 1 year.
The advantages of rechargeable hearing aids
Rechargeable hearing devices have two big advantages – convenience and reliability.
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Easier to handle
For many hearing aid wearers, one of the disadvantages of traditional hearing aids is having to fiddle around with small, disposable zinc-air batteries and opening and closing battery doors. Using these older types batteries can be difficult if you happen to have dexterity problems or your eyesight is poor. You also have to remember to carry spare batteries with you at all times in case their charge runs out.
With rechargeables, you don’t have to worry about these issues.
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Easy to charge-up
All rechargeable hearing aids come with a charger and power cable. You simply place your hearing aids on the charger and plug your power cord into the wall. You’ll be fully charged and ready to go within about 3 hours. For convenience, we recommend you charge your hearing aids overnight.
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A longer-lasting charge
Once fully charged, your rechargeable hearing aids will keep their charge for around 18 hours. So, you can stream music or TV and connect with your mobile phone without worrying about draining the power on your devices.
Other important features of rechargeable hearing aids
Most rechargeable hearing aids also come with many of the best features of the very latest hearing technology including:
- Superior sound quality, especially in noisy environments.
- Discreet behind-the-ear design in a range of colours to suit your hair and skin tone.
- Connect to a range of apps, Bluetooth accessories and other smart devices that put you in control of your hearing experience.
Our Recommendation on Rechargeable hearing devices
Up until two months ago, rechargeable hearing devices were only available in behind-the-ear style devices, although Starkey has made a custom in-the-ear rechargeable option. There’s no comprise in style now that’s available.
Depending on your individual needs, the Widex Moment and Phonak Paradise rechargeable hearing aids stand out from the rest.
If you have any questions about rechargeable hearing devices or about your hearing, please give us a call on 1300 017 732 to make an appointment.