Today’s hearing aids are nothing like the ones of the past. Instead of having to replace batteries every few days or weeks, many modern hearing aids have built-in rechargeable batteries. In fact, according to one source, “52% of people surveyed in 2022 had a rechargeable hearing aid.” In order to decide if a hearing aid with a rechargeable battery is right for you, you need to weigh the pros and cons, which we review below.
Pros of a Rechargeable Hearing Aid
The pros of rechargeable hearings aid are:
- They have a long charge. Many rechargeable hearing aids can hold a charge for as long as 30 hours. If you frequently stream media to your hearing aids, however, the charge may be less – probably closer to 18 hours. You don’t need to worry about running out of battery while you’re at the Smoking Goat Restaurant with friends.
- They have an extended lifespan. The batteries built into rechargeable hearing aids are designed to last as long as your devices, so you can use them for up to five to seven years. By this time, it will be time to upgrade your hearing aids anyway.
- They’re easy to handle. For those with dexterity issues, hearing aids that take disposable button batteries are probably not a good option. With rechargeable hearing aids, you never have to handle small batteries. Instead, you simply need to dock your hearing aids in their charger.
- They’re eco-friendly. Rechargeable hearing aids are more eco-friendly because they ensure fewer batteries end up in landfills. Hearing aids that take disposable batteries can use up as many as 100 batteries a year!
Cons of a Rechargeable Hearing Aid
The cons of rechargeable hearings aid are:
- They need access to a charger/outlet. If you’re camping or backpacking somewhere where you can’t charge your hearing aids, or if you leave for vacation and forget your charger, you could be left without your sense of hearing.
- There are fewer styles. Since rechargeable hearing aids are fairly new on the market, there are not a lot of styles that accommodate these types of batteries yet.
- They have a higher price. In some cases, the price of your charger is not included in the price of your hearing aid, so you may have to pay for this separately.
To learn more about rechargeable hearing aids or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call San Diego Hearing Center today.