Charging hearing aids overnight – wishful thinking?
Rechargeable technology is an expectation, but hearing aid users don’t want to interrupt their day to recharge.
In my work as an training audiology manager, I am constantly exposed to the many questions hearing care professionals ask Phonak. One common question is, “When will Phonak, a hearing aid company known for innovation, develop a rechargeable hearing aid that can last more than a few hours on a single charge?”
Over the last couple of years, we have seen that rechargeable technology has become increasingly important to hearing aid customers – and recent studies are confirming this. For example, the 2015 MarkeTrak IX study by the Hearing Industries Association showed that non-hearing aid wearers rated a “rechargeable hearing aid” and “rechargeable batteries for hearing aids” as #2 and #4 in the top ten of features that would motivate them to buy a hearing aid.
But, merely offering a rechargeable hearing aid battery is not enough. Hearing Tracker recently conducted a survey of over 500 hearing aid users to find out what they consider important in rechargeable technology. They reported that a rechargeable hearing solution that lasts for an entire day on a single charge is “very important”. So, we know that unless a charge can deliver enough power to make it through the entire day, a rechargeable solution may end up causing more frustration than convenience.
Well, one of the industry’s biggest challenges has been to design rechargeable batteries that are ‘enough’ — designed small enough, deliver enough power, and last long enough. Hearing aid users lose their ability to communicate when they are charging, so minimal downtime is a must.
Countless rechargeable products have Lithium-ion (Li-on) batteries – used because they have fast charging times and they are the longest lasting battery on the market today. In the past, Li-on was not considered an option for hearing aids because the high voltage capacity could destroy the hearing aid electronics. Until now…
Phonak has introduced the first rechargeable hearing solution using a built-in Li-on battery.
What does this mean for hearing aid users?
- There is enough power for 24 hours of wearing time before charging is required.
- A completely depleted battery can be recharged in 3 hours.
- A quick charge of 30 minutes can provide at least six hours of battery life.
- Both hearing aids can be recharged using the external power pack for up to 7 days without any external power source.
It has been a joy to be part of the development of this unique and innovative technology and it is exciting to hear the market’s response to finally having a technology that meets the demands of their customers, as well as themselves. To learn more about the rechargeable solution from Phonak, read this recent article.
We would love to hear how your patients have responded to learning there is a rechargeable solution that can last a full day of use on a single charge. Do you believe this technology can impact decisions to purchase hearing aids? Please share your experiences and comments below.