Pros and cons of hearing aids with rechargeable batteries
May 02, 2022
Are you tired of switching the disposable batteries each time when your hearing aid is low on power? It’s time that you switch to hearing aids with rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable hearing aids are in the market for quite a long time now. These hearing aids got popular back in 2016. The technology has advanced apace and we have more advanced hearing aids now that are rechargeable. These hearing aids provide you with the best sound quality experience without the hassle of buying your batteries regularly.
- Are rechargeable hearing aids right for me?
This question pops up in everyone’s minds when they decide to switch to rechargeable hearing aids. Therefore, we have chalked out some great pros and cons for you. These will help you buy hearing aids online easy.
But wait, you must first know the types so that you can choose your hearing aid wisely.
As of now, there are 2 types of rechargeable hearing aids in the market. These are the Lithium-ion Rechargeable hearing aids and the Silver-Zinc Systems. Now you must be thinking about the difference between them. Well, to look at it into the deeper levels it’s seen that the compositions of both the batteries are different. The lithium-ion batteries are sealed integrated power pack systems. On the other hand, the silver-zinc systems are not integrated into the product. Therefore, they give you the liberty of switching to a disposable battery if needed. Moreover, the latter is more stable than the former in terms of safety. However, both of these come under the Programmable hearing aids category. These aids allow you to increase and decrease the volume according to your comfort.
Now let us have a look at the pros and cons of Lithium-ion Rechargeable hearing aids.
- Pros of Lithium-ion Rechargeable hearing aids
No more hassle of batteries– Forget to worry about changing the batteries repeatedly. The technology has kept it hassle-free and you don’t need to worry about charging it.
Easy to charge– Charging your batteries was never this easy. All you have to do is drop your batteries in the charger and that’s it.
24 hours battery life– These batteries last for about a day i.e. for 24 hours. So once you have it charged completely, forget about charging it.
Durability– As we said earlier, the lithium-ion battery is completely sealed and packed. This prevents the dust and moisture to enter it. Hence, the durability of the product increases.
- Cons of Lithium-ion Rechargeable hearing aids
Sealed packed case- This is the classic case where the pro is also a con. As the batteries are seal packed you cannot replace them if they run out of power. Moreover, at the end of its life (which happens in 4-5 years) the user cannot change the batteries. They have to be replaced at the manufacturer’s end.
Limitation of power- The life of the battery depends on the capacity of your use. For example, if you are streaming loud music, there are possibilities that the battery won’t last for the promised 24 hours.
Size– These batteries are larger as compared to the zinc-air Power one batteries. This means the size of the hearing aid is big.
Safety– The chemicals used in the composition of these batteries are poisonous. There are high risks of the potential hazard to the children (and pets) if they swallow it. Moreover, thee batteries have a tendency to burst if they get heated.
Now let’s see the Silver-Zinc Rechargeable Hearing Aids
- Pros of Silver-Zinc Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Flexibility- These batteries can be removed for the hearing aids. Hence, if needed, you have the flexibility to use disposable batteries in your hearing aid.
Easy to charge- They get charged overnight if you just leave them in the charger. Moreover, the charge remains for 24 hours making your task hassle-free.
Size- The size of the silver-zinc batteries is smaller as compared to the lithium-ion batteries. Hence, the hearing aid doesn’t seem bulky.
Safety- Here comes the best part. These batteries are non-flammable. Moreover, they are 100% recyclable and non-toxic.
Backward compatibility- These batteries are compatible with the hearing aids that you are still using. So there is no need of up-gradation.
- Cons of Silver-Zinc Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Power limitations- One con of the lithium-ion battery that silver-zinc couldn’t overcome is this. If you stream music for a long time, there are hence it won’t last up to 24 hours.
Once a year replacement- They need to be replaced once a year. However, they are cheaper than the lithium-ion batteries, which put this con in no consideration.
Risk of losing- Since these batteries are small and not sealed to the device, there are high chances of losing it if you handle it carelessly.
Technology constantly keeps upgrading. It is in your hands whether you want to upgrade or not. However, there is more to think about the rechargeable hearings aids than just its pros and cons. However, having insight will always help you buy the best product according to your needs.