What’s not to love about that feeling of being “covered”—or having one less thing to worry about, so life feels that little bit easier? If you’re currently wearing hearing aids to treat your hearing loss (and if you’re not yet, take note), you may already be experiencing this through the comfort of knowing you’ll be able hear better in different situations each day.
Now imagine the possibility of feeling even more confident through hearing technology that is specially designed to help you hear better the entire day through (even if you stream)—without the worry of batteries running out or not having extras handy.
If this sounds appealing to you, look no further than rechargeable hearing aids.
Let’s explore some frequently asked questions about rechargeable hearing aids and learn how they can make better hearing more seamless than ever.
I’m used to battery-powered hearing aids—when did rechargeable hearing aids become popular?
If you’ve been wearing hearing aids for some time, you may feel more familiar with battery-powered hearing aids, which have been around for what feels like forever, right? And they pretty much have. The first battery-powered version of the device launched in the late 1940s.
It wasn’t until around 2019 that rechargeable hearing aids made their mainstream debut and have since taken the market by storm, now making up an estimated 80% of hearing aid sales in the U.S. and continuing to trend upward.
How do rechargeable hearing aids work?
Rechargeable hearing aids are hearing devices that are powered by charging them in a hearing aid charger, as opposed to inserting batteries into them as you would with battery-powered hearing aids. (In actuality, rechargeable hearing aids have a built-in, on-board battery you never remove.)
You simply put the rechargeable hearing aids in the charger overnight and then enjoy continuous use all day long—even if you tend to stream through your hearing aids a lot: At least that’s what you can count on with Starkey rechargeable hearing aids. (Note: Charging overnight is simply a recommendation for easily implementing charging into your daily routine without disruption of use.)
In comparison, battery-powered hearing aids operate on a small zinc-air battery you would change anywhere from once a week to twice a month (this varies by hearing aid type, battery size, and frequency of use and streaming).
You may be thinking, why not just wear rechargeable hearing aids rather than fuss over replacing batteries and so on?
It’s simply a matter of preference: For example, some may prefer to travel light or off the grid, without a charger in tow. Or they may opt for continuous hearing aid use without waiting for charging (which is typically around 3 hours for a full charge)—if they have spare batteries nearby, of course. The choice is as individual as the wearer themselves.
What are the benefits of rechargeable hearing aids?
Rechargeable hearing aids offer many benefits for wearers:
- All-day power
In the past, there was no other option but to buy hearing aid batteries by the bulk to keep hearing aids operating—and deal with the worry of running out of power mid-conversation or when you needed it most. Not anymore.
Today, most rechargeable hearing aids let you reliably listen, stream, and hear your best all day long. In fact, Starkey’s latest hearing aids range between up to 40–51 hours on a single charge.
- No more battery wrangling
Gone are the worries about having spare batteries handy, running out of power, or dropping/losing batteries on the carpet, grass, or under the bed.
The only things you need to track are your hearing aids, which you’ll keep protected in the charger when you’re not wearing them (did we mention the charger also serves as a compact carrying case?). That’s it.
- Less thinking, more convenience
Instead of having to remember to leave your hearing aids’ battery doors open at night to power off and minimize drain, you’ll simply put your device in the charger, where they’ll begin charging immediately. Then it’s off to bed, knowing they’ll be ready and waiting to help you hear better the next day.
- Economical and eco-friendly
With hearing aids you can charge, you won’t need to continuously purchase batteries. And because there are no batteries to dispose of, that makes them more eco-friendly, too.
What styles are rechargeable hearing aids available in?
Rechargeable hearing aids are available as standard, custom (fun fact: Starkey was the first hearing manufacturer to design customs as rechargeable), wireless, and non-wireless styles at Starkey.
How do I know if rechargeable hearing aids are right for me?
If you’re looking to make wearing hearing aids an even more seamless part of your life, you’re likely a great candidate for rechargeable hearing aids. As you can see, they offer the convenience, simplicity, and effortlessness worth trying—or upgrading—for. Your hearing care professional can help you choose the style that best fits your life.
Learn more about Starkey’s rechargeable hearing aids here, or, to try them for yourself, simply type your zip code in here to view a list of licensed hearing care professionals in your area who can demonstrate the latest rechargeable hearing aids for you.