Stressing about losing battery power is something you shouldn’t have to do with rechargeable hearing aids, but when you rely on this technology, it may make you a little concerned. Do rechargeable hearing aids work as well as advertised or do they even work at all?
Those questions are understandable, as is the accompanying anxiety. A hearing aid is often a necessary element of one’s everyday life, as necessary for a simple trip to the grocery store as they are for the enjoyment of a movie or television show. It’s important that a piece of technology works correctly and dependably, especially when it affects so many facets of life.
What Type of Battery do I Have?
Most contemporary hearing aids have rechargeable batteries by default, 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 can normally be distinguished by a battery door on the device, are rechargeable, but every so often they need to be replaced. A Lithium-ion battery, however, will last throughout the life-cycle of the hearing device and, due to this, those devices will not have that distinguishing battery door.
How to Care For Your Rechargeable Hearing Aid
For the most part, rechargeable hearing aids do work, and they work well. As battery technology has advanced in the last few years, the reliability of these devices has increased considerably. In order to improve dependability, however, there are a few maintenance steps users can take as they would with any other electronic technology.
- Keep Your Hearing Aids on The Charging Station: 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 fully drained.In fact, making sure that your hearing aids are charging when you’re not using them can actually improve your long-term battery life. For many people, setting their charging station beside their bed is a convenient reminder to charge the devices when not being used.
- Be Mindful of Wires: Most hearing aids will have a wire element of some kind, either on the hearing aids themselves or on the charging station. Being mindful of these wires is essential for hearing aid users; the connection that enables the device to charge can be damaged if you pull on or hold it by the wires.
- Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean and Dry: Your hearing aids will collect moisture, dust, and debris regardless of how often you use them. Your hearing aid might not fully charge if it is subjected to any of these three things. That’s why it’s crucial to keep your hearing aids dry and clean specifically when connecting your hearing aid to its charging station.
How to Replace a Rechargeable Battery
If you have lithium-ion batteries, they should last as long as your device does. Because of this, 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, might call for fresh batteries occasionally. The longevity of your battery can be improved by changing them in the right way. As a result, the majority of people who use these hearing aids are counseled to:
- 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.
- Keep batteries in a room temperature place that is also certain to be dry.
- Make sure you wash your hands before changing your hearing aid batteries.
- Let the batteries sit out at room temperature for at least five minutes before removing any tabs that might be attached.
Non-Use For Long Periods
Keeping your hearing aids on the charger for extended periods of time is no longer the best way to store your hearing aids. If, for instance, you know that you will not be using your hearing aids for a few weeks or months, you can just unplug the charger and store your hearing aids in a cool and dry spot.
If your hearing aids use silver-zinc batteries, you might also think about leaving the battery door open so that you can stop moisture from corroding your batteries.
Keep it Charged Every Day
For most people, and for everyday use, charging your hearing aids once a day should be enough for all of your needs. A lithium-ion battery, as an example, will normally require only 3-4 hours to charge enough battery power for a 24 hour period.
Do rechargeable hearing aids work? They don’t only work, they are becoming more common all the time. To see all the different models, contact your local hearing aid retailer.