Most gadgets in your home are rechargeable, including your laptop, phone, tablet and maybe even your vacuum. The other half have disposable batteries, like your TV remote or smoke alarms. There are benefits to both, and the same is true of rechargeable or non-rechargeable hearing aids.
What Are the Benefits of Rechargeable Hearing Aids?
Traditional hearing aids have disposable batteries that you change regularly. Rechargeable devices have built-in batteries. Instead of swapping out old batteries, you charge them in a dock, which is most likely their case. There are a few key benefits to rechargeable batteries:
- Easy to maneuver. Changing batteries can be tricky for people with mobility issues (people with arthritis, shaky hands, etc.). With rechargeable devices, you can pop them in their case as easily as Bluetooth® headphones.
- Safe for children and pets. It’s well-known that young children and pets like to swallow small objects like buttons, beads and even hearing aid batteries. Because rechargeable batteries stay safe in their casing, they’re less likely to be swallowed. That said, you should still keep them in a secure, high drawer away from children and pets.
- No need to purchase batteries. It’s no fun to realize you’re out of batteries when your devices die. Rechargeable hearing aids eliminate this problem. All you need is a power source and their charging case.
While rechargeable hearing aids have a lot of benefits, they may not be advantageous for everyone.
What Are the Cons of Rechargeable Hearing Aids?
A few potential cons to keep in mind when considering rechargeable hearing aids include:
- More frequent charging. While modern chargers can bring your devices to 100% power in as little as two to three hours, they require charging every day, depending on your time spent wearing them and feature usage (streaming music, tinnitus masking, etc.). Many devices get you a few hours of use from just a fifteen-minute charge, but battery life is still worth considering. For example, if you work long shifts at one of Macon’s great hospitals, rechargeable devices might not provide the battery life you need.
- Require clinic visits for battery issues. Because you can’t change the battery yourself, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with your hearing aid specialist for battery issues like fast draining.
How Do I Choose the Right Hearing Aid?
Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids. The best way to ensure you choose the right hearing aids is to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists at The ENT Center of Central Georgia. We can review your lifestyle and preferences to find the correct device to fit your needs and bring you clearer communication in the way you want it.
