Many factors go into selecting a pair of hearing aids. You and your audiologist will have to consider:
- Severity of hearing loss
- Individual lifestyle needs
- Style preferences
- Comfort and fit
A newer option you might consider is whether or not rechargeable hearing aids are right for you. Let’s examine some of the features they offer to help you decide whether or not they might be the right fit for your lifestyle.
Provide Longevity
As the name suggests, rechargeable hearing aids use rechargeable batteries instead of standard, disposable batteries. Rechargeable batteries have a much longer lifespan.
While factors like hearing aid style, amount of use, and how often you stream media can affect disposable battery life, on average, they tend to last between three-22 days.
Rechargeable batteries on the other hand, can provide up to 30 hours of hearing from a single charge. The batteries themselves can last for close to five years before needing to be replaced.
Eliminates Certain Stressors
Rechargeable hearing aids can reduce stress in a number of ways.
- Eliminate the hassle of having to regularly change batteries. Standard hearing aid batteries are small and it can be difficult for some people to grip them. This can especially be an issue for those who have problems with dexterity.
- Don’t have to make sure you have extra batteries with you everywhere you go
- Less trips to the recycling center to dispose of your hearing aids. Standard battery users end up disposing of 100 batteries a year. Not only do rechargeable batteries eliminate the need to frequently drop off batteries, but they also provide a more environmentally friendly option.
- Might be a safer option. While rare, standard hearing aid batteries can pose a potential choking hazard to pets and children.
Limitations
While there are many benefits to rechargeable hearing aids, there are some limitations as well.
- Fewer styles to choose from. While the number of rechargeable hearing aids is expanding, they don’t come in every style or size. Depending on your preference, you may get more out of a style that currently does not have a rechargeable option.
- Dependency on charger could pose problems. Most batteries need to be recharged every day. If your charger breaks or you are traveling somewhere and forget to bring it, you may risk losing power in your device without a convenient way to recharge.
In the end, the best hearing aid is the one that fits with your lifestyle and that you feel comfortable wearing. If you’d like to learn more about rechargeable hearing aids, contact a Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute audiologist for a consultation today.
Call Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute at (702) 735-7668 for more information or to schedule an appointment.