A short answer is any hearing care professional can help you put a new rechargeable battery in your rechargeable hearing aids. Continue reading this article to learn more about the battery life of your rechargeable hearing aids and when and how to replace them.
This article will address the following questions about rechargeable hearing aids:
Where can I buy a new battery for my rechargeable hearing aids?
How expensive is a new rechargeable battery for hearing aids?
Can I use regular rechargeable batteries for my hearing aids?
Can I replace the rechargeable battery of my hearing aids?
How long a new rechargeable battery would last on my hearing aid?
Which one is a better option economically, battery-powered or rechargeable hearing aids?
What are the benefits of rechargeable hearing aids?
What are the pros and cons of battery-powered hearing aids?
Which hearing aid has the longest battery run life?
Should I buy a desktop charger or a power-packed portable charger for my rechargeable hearing aids?
Where can I buy a new battery for my rechargeable hearing aids?
The best place to purchase a new battery for your rechargeable hearing aids is your local audiologist. Most of the rechargeable hearing aids are very well sealed to be able to comply with IP68 water and dust resistance requirements. Therefore except for Oticon rechargeable hearing aids your hearing care professional can receive the rechargeable batteries from Oticon and replace them in his/her clinic the rest of the hearing aids need to be sent over to the manufacturer for a battery replacement. It sounds very inefficient and a lot of logistics but this is true. We are representatives of Widex, Starkey, Phonak, Signia, Resound, and Rexton in the United Kingdom. If you have a problem reaching out to your local audiologist you can send your hearing aids to our clinic in London for a battery replacement service.
How expensive is a new rechargeable battery for hearing aids?
The cost of replacing one battery for your rechargeable hearing aid differs from brand to brand. Please order a replacement battery for your hearing aids here.
Can I use regular rechargeable batteries for my hearing aids?
The answer to this question is no. Rechargeable hearing aids take very special batteries that often only the manufacturer has access to the genuine version of them. The only exception to this is Oticon rechargeable hearing aids that you can use a normal 312-size battery for (e.g. Oticon Opn, More and Real models). You need to be aware that using normal batteries in your Oticon rechargeable hearing aids is not recommended by the manufacturer and may void your warranty.
Can I replace the rechargeable battery of my hearing aids at home?
The only brand of rechargeable hearing aids that you can change the battery is Oticon (also see previous Q/A). Please note that replacing a rechargeable battery at home may void the warranty of your hearing aids. Secondly, you may not be able to assemble it yourself at home, or if you do your hearing aids may not be sealed enough to stay water and dust-proof or resistant. So replacing a rechargeable battery of your hearing aid at home is not recommended.
How long a new rechargeable battery would last on my hearing aid?
I asked the same question from several of the hearing aid manufacturing companies but didn't get a clear answer. Since the replacement rechargeable battery is the one initially placed in the hearing aids, I would assume that the new battery should be good for 3-5 years of charging your hearing aids. We offer a 5-year extended warranty for the rechargeable hearing aids we offer in the UK. My best advice is to send your hearing aids for service in the last year of their warranty or whenever you notice that their run time is not as good as before or it is not adequate.
Which one is a better option economically, battery-powered or rechargeable hearing aids?
The run time of normal batteries on your hearing aids is about 5 to 8 days. The average expenses of replacing batteries for two hearing aids add up to about £50 a year, or £250 for a 5-year period. Assuming that the cost of replacing the rechargeable battery for your hearing aids is about £200 (that's our price for replacing a pair of rechargeable batteries) then your expenses for a battery-powered hearing aid will be about twice as much as the rechargeable ones. And yes, I agree that you need to add the cost of the electricity to charge your batteries, but that cost on the overall electricity cost of a household is very very negligible.
What are the benefits of rechargeable hearing aids?
Some of the benefits of considering rechargeable hearing aids versus battery-powered hearing aids are environmental considerations, saving money on batteries, and eliminating the need to replace batteries for those with dexterity issues or eyesight problems.
What are the pros and cons of battery-powered hearing aids?
Battery-powered hearing aids are recommended for those patients who are on irregular working cycles (hence not able to recharge the hearing aids regularly), often on travel and outdoor activities, hearing music, podcasts and streaming a lot.
Which hearing aid has the longest battery run life?
At the time of publishing this article in late 2023, Starkey Genesis claimed the longest run time of 51 hours for a full charge. The rest of the premium rechargeable hearing aids span from 20 to 34 hours on a full charge.
Should I buy a desktop charger or a power-packed portable charger for my rechargeable hearing aids?
In my own experience, the power pack portable charger for hearing aids is a good option for people travelling, camping, or commuting regularly to work. Also could be handy to those who have irregular work cycles. The power pack chargers also take advantage of a lid that helps safeguard your hearing aids against falling off on the train or from your pets or little children. If you are a retired senior with no pets and not much travelling then a desktop hearing aid charger would be a reasonable and adequate option.
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