Symbol of rechargeable hearing aid battery charging.

Rechargeable hearing aids are manufactured so that you’ll have to stress less about losing battery power, but the technology might also make you a little anxious when you rely on your devices to hear. Do rechargeable hearing aids work, and do they work as well as marketed?

Those questions are understandable, as is the accompanying anxiety. A hearing aid is often a vital part of one’s everyday life, as necessary for a quick trip to the grocery store as they are for the enjoyment of a television show or movie. It’s important that a piece of technology works correctly and reliably, especially when it impacts so many facets of life.

How Do I Know What Kind of Battery I Have?

Most modern-day hearing aids have rechargeable batteries by default, so it’s likely if you bought your hearing aids recently, it has one of two types of batteries. Silver-zinc batteries, which can usually be identified by a battery door on the device, are rechargeable, but the batteries might have to be changed every now and then. A Lithium-ion battery, however, will last throughout the life-cycle of the hearing device and, because of that, those devices will not have that distinguishing battery door.

Rechargeable Hearing Aids Need Special Care

For the most part, rechargeable hearing aids do work, and they work well. As battery technology has improved in the last several years, the dependability of these devices has increased dramatically. In order to increase reliability, however, there are a few maintenance measures users can take as they would with any other electronic equipment.

  • The Charging Station is Where Your Hearing Aids Should be Kept: If your hearing aids have rechargeable batteries, you can increase the battery life of your device by ensuring that you consistently store your hearing aids on their charging station. Charging a battery that is not totally drained does not shorten the long term life of your battery. Actually, you can actually improve the life of the battery by making sure your hearing aids are charging when not in use. For lots of people, putting their charging station next to their bed is a simple reminder to charge the devices when it’s not being used.
  • Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry and Clean: Your hearing aids will collect debris, dust, and moisture regardless of how often you use them. Any combination of these three things can diminish the capacity of your battery and can obstruct charging as much as it needs. That’s why it’s important to keep your hearing aids dry and clean specifically when connecting your hearing aid to its charging station.
  • Be Careful of Wires: Either the charging station or the hearing aid itself will have some type of wire element on most hearing aids. Most hearing aid users are counseled to be careful of these wires; do not pull or hold your device by these wires as this can damage the connections that enable your hearing aid to charge.

How to Replace a Rechargeable Battery

If you have lithium-ion batteries, they will probably last as long as your device does. As a result, you should not need to worry about replacing those batteries. Your hearing aids can then be simply charged as long as necessary.

However, you will want to occasionally change the batteries if you have a hearing aid that uses silver-zinc batteries. The longevity of your battery can be improved by changing them in the correct way. As such, the majority of people who use these hearing aids are counseled to:

  • Until you’re ready to use the batteries, don’t remove the plastic tabs or packaging.
  • Five minutes before removing any tabs that might be attached let the batteries sit at room temperature.
  • Confirm that your battery compartment is clean and free of moisture.
  • Before changing batteries, don’t forget to wash your hands.
  • Make sure you have a dry, room temperature spot to keep your batteries.

Long Periods of Non-Use

If you are planning not to use your hearing aids for long amounts of time, leaving them on the charger might no longer be the best manner to store your devices. Simply disconnect your hearing aid and put it in a dry cool spot if, for instance, you know you won’t be wearing them for a few weeks or a month.

Think about leaving the battery door open so you can stop moisture from corroding the batteries if you have silver-zinc batteries.

Rechargeable for Everyday Use

For most individuals, and for day to day use, charging your hearing aids once per day should be enough for all of your requirements. To get 24 hours worth of battery life with a lithium-ion battery will usually only require 3-4 hours every day.

Do rechargeable hearing aids work? They don’t only work, they are becoming more common every day. Contact your local hearing aid retailer to see all the different models

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.