Is there a way to Repair a Hearing Aid Battery that can’t keep up with You throughout the Day?
Every new rechargeable hearing aid is designed to last for over 24 hours before needing a recharge.
Rechargeable hearing aids are made from lithium-ion batteries. These are the same batteries that are used for smartphones, laptops, and TV streaming remote controls. Over time, they become less and less powerful after being used. As a result, they need to be recharged more often and eventually replaced by a manufacturer.
Hearing aid repairs may be needed, so contact Pure Sound Hearing for assistance from one of our hearing aid specialists.
How do you get a Repair for Your Rechargeable Hearing Aids?
If you bought your hearing aid from Pure Sound Hearing, you should bring it back to us in order to get it fixed. If there is an internal problem with the device, we will ship it to the manufacturer for you and it will get refurbished. It should take 1-2 weeks for the hearing aid to be ready, but you’ll essentially go back home with a brand new hearing aid.
If you are in need of a hearing aid repair and are new to the Lancaster County area – or received your hearing aids from a different provider – you may contact us at 717-945-1477 before dropping it off at one of our office locations in Elizabethtown, Lititz, Mt. Joy, or Strasburg.
Unfortunately, there is no method of replacing a lithium-ion battery on your own if you have a Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia, Starkey, or Unitron hearing aid brand. But, if you wear an Oticon Opn miniRITE, you might be able to replace the battery by yourself.
It’s advised that consumers should not change out the lithium-ion batteries. The FDA warns of exposure to toxic chemicals, so a professional should replace them.
How much does it Cost to Replace a Rechargeable Hearing Aid Battery?
If the hearing aids were purchased less than 2 years before needing a replacement, the lithium-ion battery replacement and any other repair should be free because your hearing aid would still be under warranty through the manufacturer. Contact us at Pure Sound for the cost of repair if the hearing aid is more than 2 years old.
Find out if Your Hearing Aid is Under Warranty
In order to determine this information, you’ll need to look for the serial numbers either on your hearing aid or on the paperwork that came with the hearing aids, ask your hearing instrument specialist or an office staff member who has access to your paperwork.
Your hearing instrument specialist can contact the manufacturer to determine the date that the warranty ends. Usually, warranties for hearing aids last for 2 years from the date they were purchased. In some cases, the warranties last for up to 3 years.
Could the Hearing Aid Charger be the Culprit?
To determine whether the charger for your hearing aids is what’s causing the problem, place the hearing aid that’s causing the problem on the opposite side of the charger. For instance, if the left hearing aid does not last a full day, charge it on the right (red) side of your hearing aid charger.
If it turns out that this was the problem, you’ll need to buy a new charger. Hearing aid chargers are not under warranty from the manufacturer so you’ll need to purchase a replacement. You may do this through us at Pure Sound Hearing.
How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Rechargeable Hearing Aid Battery
Hearing aid batteries tend to quickly drain when they are linked to external accessories, like smartphones. Switching off the Bluetooth® feature on your phone will disconnect the hearing aid from your smartphone, which will extend the battery life.
Streaming anything from your TV to music and videos will also lead to more power drain.
Recharge your hearing aids as often as you can, preferably overnight when you aren’t using them. It might be too late to do this if you are already experiencing power-draining problems. Recharging the battery each night while you sleep will help preserve the battery life. Do not let the battery reach 0%, this will make it more difficult to get any use out of the battery.
Average Lifespan of Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries
One full charge should allow your hearing aids to last more than a full day of wearing them. Some Phonak rechargeable hearing aids can last more than 30 hours before a recharge is needed. If you add 6 hours of streaming, the battery should still work for at least 20 hours. On average, a full-time hearing aid user only dons their hearing aids for 12 hours per day. So the battery should not reach below 50% within the first year.
It’s important to note that the longer you have your hearing aids, the quicker your batteries will drain. It’s just like any other piece of technology, such as a phone or kitchen appliance.
You should send out your hearing aids to get repaired for a refurbishment during their last month in warranty. The rechargeable batteries will be replaced to guarantee the hearing aid has optimal performance.
If you or a loved one would be interested in a hearing aid trial with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries or disposable battery-powered hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing.