Rechargeable hearing aids are manufactured so that you’ll have to worry less about running low on batteries, but the technology might also make you slightly anxious when you depend on your devices to hear. Do rechargeable hearing aids work, and do they work as well as advertised?
Those questions are reasonable, as is the accompanying stress. A hearing aid is often a necessary element of one’s everyday life, as necessary for a quick visit to the grocery store as they are for the enjoyment of a movie or television show. When a piece of technology impacts so many areas of your life, it’s important that it functions properly and dependably.
How Do I Know What Kind of Battery I Have?
By default, most modern hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries, so if you got your hearing aids recently it’s likely that your hearing aids will have one of two battery types. Silver-zinc batteries, which have a battery door on the back, are rechargeable, but the batteries may need to be replaced every so often. A Lithium-ion battery, however, will not have a battery door because the batteries will last as long as the hearing aid does.
How to Care For Your Rechargeable Hearing Aid
For the most part, rechargeable hearing aids do work, and they work well. The reliability of these devices has enhanced significantly in the last few years, as battery technologies have improved. In order to improve dependability, however, there are a few maintenance measures users can take as they would with any other electronic device.
- Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean and Dry: Your hearing aids will collect debris, dust, and moisture regardless of how often you use them. Your hearing aid may not thoroughly charge if it is subjected to any of these three elements. That’s why it’s essential to keep your hearing aids dry and clean especially when connecting your hearing aid to its charging station.
- Be Mindful of Wires: Either the charging station or the hearing aid itself will have some kind of wire element on most hearing aids. Being aware of these wires is crucial for hearing aid users; the connection that enables the device to charge can be broken if you pull on or hold it by the wires.
- The Charging Station is Where Your Hearing Aids Should be Stored: If you regularly store your rechargeable hearing aids on their recharging station you can extend the life of your battery. The long term battery life is not shortened by charging a battery that is not totally drained.In fact, ensuring that your hearing aids are charging when you’re not using them can actually boost your long-term battery life. A simple reminder, for many people, to charge their device when it’s not in use, is to place the charging station on a table near their bed.
How to Change a Rechargeable Battery
Lithium-ion batteries should last the as long as your device does. As a result, you should not have to worry about changing those batteries. Simply continue recharging your hearing aids as long as necessary.
Hearing aids that rely on silver-zinc batteries, however, may call for fresh batteries once in a while. The longevity of your battery can be improved by replacing them in the correct way. Because of this, hearing experts recommend the following:
- Five minutes before taking off any tabs that might be attached let the batteries sit at room temperature.
- Before changing batteries, don’t forget to wash your hands.
- Clean and free of moisture is the state that your battery compartment should be kept in.
- Until you’re ready to use the batteries, don’t remove the plastic tabs or packaging.
- Make sure you have a dry, room temperature place to store your batteries.
Non-Use For Long Periods
If you are planning not to use your hearing aids for long periods of time, leaving them on the charger may no longer be the best manner to store your devices. Simply disconnect your hearing aid and put it in a dry cool place if, for example, you know you won’t be using them for a few weeks or a month.
Think about leaving the battery door open so you can prevent moisture from corroding the batteries if you use silver-zinc batteries.
Rechargeable for Everyday Use
All your basic requirements should be met if you charge your hearing aids once a day. To get 24 hours worth of battery life with a lithium-ion battery will usually only require 3-4 hours per day.
Do rechargeable hearing aids work? They don’t just work, they are becoming more common all the time. To see all the different models, contact your local hearing aid retailer.