There have been many advances in hearing aid technology over the years. The one unchanging feature was the short lifespan of batteries. Traditionally, hearing aid batteries have been disposable Zinc-air. But depending on the size of the battery, the number of hours the hearing aids were worn, the severity of the hearing loss, and the use of accessories, batteries would need to be replaced every 4 to 12 days. The average life of a hearing aid is around 5 years, in which time you would use 300 to 900 batteries. That is a lot of batteries! While hearing aid batteries are not expensive individually, the cost adds up over time.

Hearing aid batteries are also very small. This can create significant problems for people with vision or dexterity issues in their hands or fingers. If you drop the battery, they are difficult to find. This can lead to frustration and may limit the use of hearing aids.

The first rechargeable battery provided only 12 hours of listening time, needed to be charged for 6-8 hours before it was ready again, and the battery still had to be replaced every 9-12 months. However, this is not ideal for most people. Many individuals need more than 12 hours of listening time per day. If the battery is low, they may not be able to wait 6-8 hours for their hearing aids to charge. While cheaper than disposables, this still created unnecessary cost and waste every year.

Recently, there was a major improvement in rechargeable batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are now available for hearing aids! This is the same type of battery which is used in cellular phones. They are fully-charged in 3 hours, provide 24 hours of listening time, and the battery lasts 3-5 years. This allows for comfort and confidence about hearing all day long.

If you are tired of changing batteries or previously were undecided about trying hearing aids due to the cost or hassle of batteries, call the Columbus Regional Health Audiology Department at 812-376-5373, option 2 or 800-841-4938, extension 5373, option 2. We have licensed audiologists to help you on your path to hearing the beauty of life with new rechargeable hearing aids!

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