JUST AS TECHNOLOGY IN HEARING AIDS CHANGE, HEARING AID BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO CHANGING.
HERE IS WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER
TYPES OF BATTERIES
REGULAR, DISPOSABLE ZINC-AIR BATTERIES
Zinc-air hearing aid batteries are the traditional, pull-tab disposable batteries most frequently used in hearing aids. When the tab is pulled, the oxygen from the air oxidizes with the zinc in the battery and creates a charge.
ZINC-AIR BATTERIES
- Batteries are color-coded. Regardless of the manufacturer (Ray o vac, Duracell, Energizer, etc.), the color corresponding to the battery size is the same.
- All size 10 batteries (the smallest hearing aid battery) are yellow and last between 3-5 days.
- All size 312 batteries are brown and last between 5-8 days.
- All size 13 batteries are orange and last between 10-14 days.
- All size 675 batteries (rarely used today) are blue.
- After pulling the tab, you should wait 2-5 minutes before putting the battery in the hearing aid to allow time for oxygen to react with the zinc for the fullest charge and longest battery life.
RECHARGEABLE HEARING AID BATTERIES
Rechargeable hearing aids have been around for over 30 years, but they were never very popular because the charge did not last all day. Two new battery technologies in the last 18 months fixed that problem and rechargeable hearing aids are now all the rage. Every major manufacturer offers rechargeable hearing aid options.
LITHIUM- ION BATTERY TECHNOLOGY – all lithium-ion batteries (also used in computers, cell phones, even Tesla’s) are totally sealed (encased) in any device for safety reasons. They can be a fire hazard if mishandled or damaged.
PROS OF LITHIUM-ION RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- Eliminates expense of disposable batteries.
- No hassle of changing batteries every 3-7 days.
- Last battery life. Lasts 4 to 5 years.
- Gets the longest usage with one charge – 30 hours per charge and/or 24 hours of continuous use with 5 hours of streaming.
- Better moisture protection- water and perspiration problems are greatly reduced.
CONS OF LITHIUM-ION RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- The hearing aids are slightly larger and heavier
- No access to the battery compartment. You cannot use regular, disposable, batteries in an emergency.
- You must take the charger with you on trips and vacations
- Power limitations – if you stream phone calls and music a lot, the charge may not last all day. Streaming uses a lot of power.
- Your hearing aids are “out of commission” when they are being charged, and any problems with the battery require manufacturer repair.
SILVER ZINC RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
PROS OF SILVER ZINC RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- Eliminates expense of disposable batteries. However, the cost of the hearing aid is slightly more expensive (They pretty much cancel each other out).
- No hassle of changing batteries every 3-7 days.
- 24 hours of continuous use with up to 5 hours of streaming.
- Flexibility – Because they are removable, the rechargeable battery can be replaced with regular, disposable hearing aid batteries in an emergency, you do not want to carry your charger with you and/or forget your charger at home.
- Silver-zinc is no- flammable, non- toxic and 100% recyclable.
- Silver-zinc is smaller than lithium-ion. Hearing aids are slightly smaller and lighter.
- Backwards Compatibility – Many manufacturer’s hearing aids can be changed or retrofit since the rechargeable component is in the battery door.
CONS OF SILVER-ZINC RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- Battery must be replaced once a year (replacement cost of rechargeable battery is about the same as purchasing disposable batteries)
- Power limitations – if you stream a lot of phone calls and music, the batteries may not last the full 24-hour day.
There is a lot to think about when it comes to rechargeable hearing aids. Both systems has its pros and cons. Just like with the style, technology, features and benefits of hearing aids, it is about what is right for you.
Your hearing care provider should be knowledgeable and familiar with every type of hearing aid available and know your lifestyle, hearing needs and you.
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Founder of the Hearing Health Centers in Chicago, demonstrates how to insert and remove a Lyric Hearing Aid. To learn more about Hearing Aids, visit https://hearinghealthcenter.com/hearing-aids-chicago/
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Founder of the Hearing Health Centers in Chicago, demonstrates how to insert and remove a Lyric Hearing Aid. Learn more about Hearing Aids here
It can be frustrating to physically handle and manipulate hearing aids for someone who has poor dexterity. Fortunately, recent technology in hearing aids has made this much easier!
First, there is the Lyric hearing aid. The audiologist inserts the Lyric hearing aid in the office; there is absolutely NO maintenance required by the patient. The user does not have to remove the Lyric, put it in the ear, clean the hearing aid, or change batteries! For someone with limited dexterity, the Lyric can be the perfect solution!
There are many styles of hearing aids, some of which are easier to insert in the ear than others. Custom in-the-ear hearing aids tend to be easier for many patients to insert. They can come with a large battery, making it easier to handle.
Changing batteries in a hearing aid can be time-consuming and inconvenient. In the past, there was no way around changing a battery when using a hearing aid. Now, almost all manufacturers have a rechargeable option that eliminates the need to change batteries.
There are many solutions to help make wearing a hearing aid easier for individuals with limited dexterity. It is important that you discuss these options with your hearing care professional. If you would like more information, please contact us!
-Dr. Jaclyn Riel, Au.D., CCC-A
Hearing aids, like all electronic or mechanical devices, need routine maintenance! No matter what style of hearing aid you have, they are all electronic devices that are put in a sweaty, waxy, moist environment for an average of 18 hours a day so they need daily maintenance to function properly and consistently.
Below, are some tips to help keep your hearing aids functioning well:
- Wipe down hearing aid and/or dome daily with a tissue or moist wipe
- Brush microphones, receivers, and other parts of hearing aid daily– you can use what was given to you by your audiologist, or a small soft baby toothbrush
- Hearing aids that have wax guard systems—check and change at least once month, or anytime the wax guard is clogged and you’re not hearing well. Wax guards are available for purchase at all offices!
- Domes should be replaced if they start to get loose or saggy, so they don’t get stuck in the ear canal. Consider changing your domes every couple of months to prevent this from happening.
- Open battery door at night to turn your hearing aids off and let air into the battery compartment. This should also save you some battery life!
- Do not store the hearing in a humid environment (i.e. bathroom).
- Put the hearing aids in a Drying Unit at night! Most units have fans to circulate the air, UV lights to kill bacteria, and a desiccant to remove moisture and humidity from the hearing aids. If you don’t have one, GET ONE!
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
Remember—daily maintenance will improve the performance of the hearing aid, but it will not necessarily extend the life of a hearing aid. National average lifetime of a hearing aid is 3.8 years—at that point it is time to consider upgrading technology so that you can continue to hear as best as you can!
Author: Dr. Alissa Nickerson
We live in a digital age. With a click of a button, you can download your favorite movies. You can order the latest clothing trends. You can even have your groceries delivered right to your door. So what about having your hearing aids delivered to you? Sure, the convenience and relative ease might be convincing. But how do you know you’re really getting the hearing help you need?
The hearing industry has grown tremendously in the last 25 years. We no longer see the “big beige bananas” that plagued those with hearing problems in the past. Now, hearing aids are small, discrete and more technologically advanced than ever. But, it’s not just the hearing aids that help the user. It’s the trained Doctor of Audiology fitting the hearing aids. This is true in not just the hearing industry but many health-related fields. Consider a doctor performing a knee surgery: sure, the prostheses helps the patient, but it will only work well if the doctor performs the surgery appropriately. The same is true for your hearing! Unless your hearing aid is programmed directly for your needs—your physical ear, your lifestyle, your audiometric hearing loss—you won’t be getting the hearing help you need.
In addition to the knowledge the Doctor of Audiology can provide in a professional appointment, there are so many other aspects of hearing health that need to be addressed when you get hearing aids:
- Diagnosis: Before ever discussing hearing aids with you, Doctors of Audiology perform extensive testing to determine the root cause of your hearing problems. In some instances, hearing problems can be easily fixed, such as removing a build-up of earwax from the ear. Without a doctor’s diagnosis, you could be scammed into paying for a hearing aid online that you do not need.
- Programming: Hearing aids are not just volume controls. Hearing aids have to be specifically programmed to help you hear the sounds you are missing. Without a comprehensive test, even the best hearing aids can’t help you because they won’t be programmed to your needs.
- Fit: The fit of the hearing aids has to be customized to you. If you buy online, there is no guarantee that the hearing aids will fit your ears.
- Repairs: Hearing aids can, and do break, just like any piece of technology. When this happens, it’s important to have a professional nearby to help you with issues.
So are you really getting a bargain online? Is it really convenient if you aren’t hearing your best? I’ll let you be the judge. The Doctors of Audiology at the Hearing Health Center are here for you— we look forward to evaluating your hearing and balance problems.
Anyone that has a behind-the-ear hearing aid will use either a dome or a custom mold- this is the piece of rubber or plastic that goes directly into the ear. These pieces of your hearing aid live in a wet, humid environment- so it’s important to know when to change them out! Additionally, sometimes the dome or ear mold just doesn’t fit right, which will not only affect the quality of your hearing, but it will also affect your experience with the hearing aids themselves.
DOMES
The dome is the rubber tip that sits inside the individual’s ear canal. Domes are usually clear or black, and can range in a wide variety of sizes- one for every possible ear canal! As the dome is the first point of contact with your ear canal, it can very easily become blocked with wax or debris, and prevent sound from coming out of the hearing aid. We see a lot of patients whose hearing aids have “stopped working”- when upon closer inspection, they just need a clean dome! When the dome becomes plugged, you can use a cleaning tool with a brush on the end to brush off any debris or wax. So, when should you change your dome with a new one? You should change your dome if it is ripped or yellow. If you see that your dome is ripped or has turned a yellow color, it is time to visit your audiologist and change your dome- or, change it at home!
CUSTOM EAR MOLDS
Many patients with behind-the-ear hearing aids have custom molds that fit into their ear.
You may need to get a new ear mold if:
- Your ear mold is not fitting right or coming out of your ear.
- Your ear mold is ripping or very discolored.
- You are getting feedback or whistling from your hearing aid. If your ear mold is not fitting in your ear correctly, sound may be leaking out of your ear and getting picked up by the microphones of your hearing aid.
In any of these cases, call your audiologist to see if it’s time for a new ear impression!
Technology requires special care during the summer months, and your hearing aid is no exception. You need to maintain your hearing aids as you normally would, but because of the added humidity in the air and the heat of June, July, and August, you’ll need to take extra care when you’re having summer fun. Take care of your investment and your health with these four tips.
Tip 1: Remove your hearing aids before swimming.
Anytime you’re around water, it’s best to leave your hearing aids behind. You do need to consider your own safety though. If you won’t be able to hear warnings, it might be safer to leave them in. If they do get wet, use a lint-free towel to dry them off, remove the battery, and place the aid itself in a hearing aid dryer or desiccant jar.
Tip 2: Protect them against sweat and humidity.
After a workout, remove your hearing aids and wipe them off. Even water-resistant sets are vulnerable to the bacteria which grows faster when it’s hot and humid. Use disinfectant towelettes and a dry and store solution designed to keep your aids clean and dry. Ask your audiologist about getting your set of hearing aids professionally cleaned more often in the summer.
Tip 3: Keep your hearing aids secure.
Summer activities are often much more risky than those you undertake the rest of the year. Use special clips to keep your hearing aids attached to your clothing or your glasses. If something does come out of place, it won’t go too far.
Tip 4: Get hearing aids suited to your lifestyle.
Talk to your audiologist about the style of hearing aid that fits your needs. Hearing aids that reduce wind noise because they sit completely in the ear canal are ideal for golfers. If you wear a helmet that reduces the effectiveness of your aid, your audiologist has solutions. Take care of your expensive equipment by following proper care and use.
Has your hearing aid ever suddenly stopped working? Most often, you might try changing the battery and then wind up coming in to the audiology office for an appointment. During that appointment, have you been told that your hearing aid was just plugged with wax? Well, I know that I have told many patients this in the past. The great news is that you have the ability to unclog your hearing aid at home by changing the wax guard.
What is a wax guard and why is it important?
Depending on the type and style of hearing aid you have, there is a wax guard located at the sound outlet or at the receiver. The wax guard acts as a protective cover to stop ear wax from going deep into the hearing aid. Typically it is a white circle that is located on the portion of the hearing aid that you insert into your ear.
When should I change my wax guard?
The amount of earwax produced by each individual can vary. It is recommended that we check the wax guard daily. If your hearing aid starts to sound weak/silent or wax is visible, it’s time to change the wax guard.
How do I change my wax guard?
First, wipe off any visible wax from the hearing aid, and make sure you have the necessary wax removal sticks to change it at home.
Next, insert the open ended portion of the removal stick into the sound outlet (usually encompassed into a stainless steel bushing), twist, and pull it straight out.
Now, turn the removal stick to the other side (that has the new white end on it) and insert the new white end into the sound outlet and remove. Make sure the wax guard is sitting flat against the stainless steel bushing of the sound outlet.
All that’s left to do is throw out your old wax guard and removal stick, which can’t be reused. And you’re done! Are you hearing better now?
Hearing Health Center presents My Invisible Hearing Aids featuring Walter Jacobsen