Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries: Now Longer Lasting

Some days run longer than you planned. Dinner goes late, you stop somewhere on the way home or a family gathering lasts well into the evening.

If you’ve had your hearing aids on since morning, you might start wondering whether they’ll have enough charge to get you through the rest of the night.

Rechargeable hearing aids aren’t new, but the batteries have improved quite a bit in recent years. Many newer hearing aid models last longer on a single charge, even when you’re using features that draw more power.

If you’ve had your hearing aids for several years, you may not realize how different the newer rechargeable options are from the ones you’re familiar with.

Differences Between Rechargeable and Disposable Hearing Aid Batteries

The main difference between rechargeable and disposable hearing aid batteries is what you do when they need more power. With rechargeable hearing aids, you place the devices in their charger, usually overnight.

Disposable batteries work differently. When one runs out, you open the battery compartment, remove the old battery and put in a fresh one.

You can keep spares with you, while rechargeable hearing aids need their charger when the battery gets low.

There’s also a difference in how you handle the devices. Rechargeable models have charging contacts that need to stay clean, and you’ll need to keep track of the charger.

With disposable batteries, you’ll be opening the battery compartment more often and handling small batteries each time you replace them. Which one you prefer depends on whether you’d rather charge your hearing aids regularly or change the batteries as needed.

Early Use of Rechargeable Batteries in Hearing Aids

Early rechargeable hearing aids often used nickel-metal hydride batteries, which needed frequent charging and didn’t hold as much power as newer batteries. Some models had removable batteries, while others had them built in.

Depending on the hearing aid, a full charge wasn’t always enough to get through the day. Lithium-ion batteries changed that. They hold more energy without taking up as much space, and you don’t have to drain them completely before charging.

Manufacturers have also improved how they use power when processing sound or running wireless features. This means newer models can last longer between charges without getting bigger.

Other rechargeable batteries, including silver-zinc, have been used in hearing aids as well. Silver-zinc batteries usually needed replacing periodically, while lithium-ion batteries are generally built into the device.

Newer rechargeable hearing aids use lithium-ion technology, although battery life still varies with the model, battery age and Bluetooth use.

How Long Do Today’s Charges Really Last?

Many newer rechargeable devices can run for around 20 to 30 hours on a full charge, depending on the model. For most people, that’s enough to get through the day without stopping to recharge.

But those numbers aren’t the same for everyone. How often you use Bluetooth and other wireless features makes a difference in how long the battery lasts.

If you stream music or take calls through your hearing aids, you’ll use more power than you would during regular listening.

Some models rated for 28 to 30 hours may last closer to 20 to 25 hours with several hours of streaming. The more time you spend using those features, the sooner you’ll need to recharge.

Factors That Affect Your Daily Charge and Lifespan

Your hearing aids might last all day on one charge, then run low earlier on another day. How you use them and where you keep them also impact how well the batteries hold up as they age.

A few things make a difference:

• • Temperature: Very hot or cold weather can change how the battery performs. Leaving your devices somewhere hot can also shorten battery life.
  • Charging habits: Using the wrong charger or leaving your devices in a hot car can put extra strain on the batteries.
  • Background noise: Busy restaurants and other noisy places may use more power when they are working with additional sound processing features.
  • Wireless features: Bluetooth streaming and other wireless functions draw extra power, particularly when you use them for several hours.
  • Battery age: After years of charging and wearing your hearing aids, you might find that a full charge doesn’t last as long as it used to.

Best Practices for Daily Charging and Long-Term Storage

The charger manages the process and generally stops charging once the batteries are full. There’s no need to keep checking whether they’re finished before you go to bed.

Using the charger that came with your hearing aids is still important, since charging requirements differ between models. Think about where you usually leave your charger, too.

A bedside table or dresser is generally fine, but a spot beside a sunny window isn’t ideal. Heat can damage rechargeable batteries, while very cold conditions can temporarily leave them with less usable power.

If you’re traveling, avoid leaving your hearing aids in the car while you’re away. Check the instructions for your model, since some batteries need a certain charge level before being put away.

Why Protective Charging Cases Are Essential

Your charging case isn’t just where your hearing aids go when you take them off. It also keeps them in place while they charge, so the contacts stay lined up properly.

When you’re traveling or carrying your hearing aids in a bag, the closed case protects them from getting bumped or damaged. You also have somewhere to put them when you’re not wearing them, rather than leaving them loose on a table.

Some charging cases have their own battery, which means you don’t need an outlet every time you charge your hearing aids. Others need to be plugged in to work.

Depending on the model, your case might also have a drying feature to remove moisture while the hearing aids are charging. Not all cases work with every model, so you’ll need one that’s made for your particular devices.

Environmental Advantages of Using Rechargeable Batteries Instead of Disposables

With disposable hearing aid batteries, every replacement leaves you with another used battery to get rid of. There’s also the packaging from each new pack.

Rechargeable hearing aids don’t produce that same amount of battery waste because the battery stays in the device for several years. Fewer replacements also mean fewer batteries need to be manufactured during the years you’re wearing your hearing aids.

Rechargeable batteries still require materials and energy to produce. Lithium and other metals have to be mined, and the manufacturing process has its own environmental impact.

The batteries also use electricity when charging and eventually need to be recycled properly. So, while they generally produce less waste, their environmental impact also depends on how they’re made and what happens to them when they’re no longer used.

Signs It’s Time to Have Your Batteries Checked or Replaced

After a few years, you might find that your hearing aids aren’t holding a charge quite like they used to. Maybe they start running low before dinner when they previously lasted until bedtime.

Or one device suddenly shuts off, even though you left it charging all night. These are signs that something needs checking, although they don’t necessarily mean the battery needs replacing.

Start by checking that both are sitting properly in the charger. Dirt or buildup on the charging contacts can interfere with charging, so gently wipe them with a soft, dry cloth.

Check the charging lights, too, to make sure both devices are receiving power. It’s also a good habit to give them a quick wipe before putting them away each night.

If the same problems keep happening, your hearing aids may need to be checked by a hearing professional. They can test the battery and charger to find out what’s causing the problem. Sometimes a cleaning or repair is enough, while an older battery may need replacing.

What Longer-Lasting Rechargeable Batteries Mean for Your Hearing Experience

When you’ve worn the same hearing aids for a few years, you get used to how long the batteries last. You know when to charge them and roughly how much power you’ll have left by the end of the day.

But battery technology has changed, and newer models may work differently from what you’re used to. Even if you’re happy with your current hearing aids, it’s useful to see what’s available when you’re ready for another pair.

If your hearing aids have started losing their charge sooner than expected, the team at Hear Again America would be happy to check them.

We can also show you newer rechargeable options and explain how their battery life compares with your current devices. Call us at (877) 905-9493 to schedule a visit and talk with us about your hearing aids.