What are rechargeable hearing aids?

Today's rechargeable digital hearing aids are much more technologically advanced than they used to be. With simple and reliable charging, rechargeable hearing aids allow you to carry on with your active life without worrying about your hearing aids running out of power.

While many hearing aids come with disposable batteries, hearing aids without batteries – as rechargeable hearing aids are often referred to – are becoming increasingly popular. Rechargeable hearing aids let you enjoy superior sound quality without the need to regularly buy and change hearing aid batteries.

Hearing aids with rechargeable batteries can just be inserted into a recharging unit at night, or when you are not using them. With the battery built into the hearing aid, it means you don’t have to worry about a battery going dead, and no more inconvenient hassles of changing the battery.

The rechargeable option is available in ReSound Receiver-in-Ear (RIE) hearing aids. Sitting comfortably behind the ear, RIE hearing aids have more space for advanced features and extra power, yet they are very discreet due to their small size.

The technology of rechargeable hearing aids

In a world where almost every piece of technology is accompanied by a charger, it’s only natural that hearing aids have become rechargeable too. Just like you would charge your smartphone overnight, the same routine goes for rechargeable digital hearing aids, so you’ll never have to miss a special moment because a battery needs to be changed.

While rechargeable hearing aids have been available for some time, they weren’t popular because of their low power output. Thanks to advancements in hearing aid technology, today’s best rechargeable hearing aids give you power that lasts longer than a full day.

Traditionally, the batteries were produced with Nickel metal hydride (NiMH). Now, the best rechargeable hearing aids use Lithium-Ion or Silver-Zinc battery technology, which has completely changed the performance of rechargeable digital hearing aids.

Types of rechargeable hearing aids

ReSound Nexia

Enjoying conversations can be difficult when everyday life is filled with noise. ReSound Nexia™ starts a new era for hearing technology, combining proven performance with cutting-edge features that revolutionise the way we experience sound.

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ReSound OMNIA

You can hear all the details you couldn’t before in noisy situations. Automatically tune in to what’s happening around you, from any direction. You can also choose custom-made ReSound OMNIA™ hearing aids. Select our smallest style yet that hides in your ears or rechargeable designs that look like earbuds.

See ReSound OMNIA

ReSound Key

Welcome to great hearing! Simply place your rechargeable ReSound Key™ in the stylish Premium or Desktop charger for hours of use when you are ready to wear them again. No more changing batteries.

See ReSound Key

How a hearing aid charger works?

Chargers for rechargeable hearing aids are typically easy-to-open, hard-cased designs you can place on a table and pack in a bag. Inside the hearing aid chargers are charging bays for the hearing aids and the receivers. Colour coding is often used to show the left and right, so you know which hearing aid to place in which charging bay, e.g. red for right and blue for left. LED lights at different points on the charging case show the power status of the charger and your hearing aids. One glance lets you know if you are fully charged or need a bit longer.

Hearing aid chargers come with a charging cable; one end plugs in the back of the charging case, and the other end plugs into a power outlet. Use only the cable supplied with your hearing aid charger and don’t mix and match with other cables you have at home.

ReSound premium charger for rechargeable hearing aids

Battery indication

You usually need to charge your hearing aids for around three hours before using them, even if the battery lights indicate that the hearing aids are fully charged. You can charge your rechargeable hearing aids in your charger overnight as you sleep. However, remember to check the product guide of your hearing aids and charger for full, specific instructions.

Here's a general rule of thumb for charging hearing aids:

Red light blinking = less than 10% power remaining

1 green light = >30% charged

2 green lights = >60% charged

3 green lights = >100% charged

Easily clean and care for your charger:

Wipe over the outside surface of your hearing aid charger with a dry, clean cloth.
Don’t use liquid cleaners.
Cotton buds are handy for cleaning the small, inner charging bays.
Do this regularly to keep your hearing aid charger in good condition.
Grease marks and dust can easily build up during daily wear and tear.
Remember to store your charger away from excessive heat – this can include direct sunlight on a very hot day.

The differences between chargers

Innovative recharging technology gives you expanded freedom and flexibility, enabling you to charge your hearing aids anywhere. The choice is often a premium or a standard charger. Both are stylish, portable, and protective cases that power up your hearing aids and are ideal for travelling and storage, but there are subtle differences.

ReSound Standard Charger

Plug and play style. A slightly smaller hearing aid charger that gives all the power you need in a simple, timeless design. It looks great anywhere at home.

ReSound Premium Charger

Powerbank style. Featuring an onboard battery for up to three days of on-the-go portable charging, without the need for a power outlet. Take it with you.

What are the pros and cons of rechargeable hearing aids?

+ Benefits

• Charging is quick and easy. You simply place the rechargeable hearing aids on the charger, and they’ll automatically begin charging.

• With a full charge, the best rechargeable hearing aids can last up to 25 hours, including several hours of audio streaming.

• With rechargeable hearing aids, you don’t have to fiddle with changing batteries.

• They are better for the environment than hearing aids with disposable batteries.

- Disadvantages

• The rechargeable option is not available for custom-made hearing aids.

• If you stream more than half of the day, there’s a possibility the batteries may not last a full day.

• Rechargeable hearing aids might cost more than hearing aids with regular batteries.

Are rechargeable hearing aids right for me?

Rechargeable hearing aids are for people who don’t want to change hearing aid batteries on a regular basis. They are for individuals who want to feel confident all day in the reliability and long-lasting power of their hearing aids.

This convenient and intuitive rechargeability is a compelling feature for many hearing aid users. The rechargeable option makes it easier to enjoy all the features your digital hearing aids have to offer. You’ll get all-day power without having to fiddle with tiny, disposable batteries, nor the hassle of always having spare batteries on hand.

Rechargeable digital hearing aids are convenient and easy to use. Just leave them in the charger when you go to sleep, and they’ll be ready for you the next day.

If you forget to charge your hearing aid, the portable case’s built-in battery holds three full charges of power, giving you the freedom to charge your digital hearing aids anywhere. You can monitor the battery status in the ReSound Smart 3D app and get a notification when the battery is running low. While charging, the app will track the progress to let you know when your rechargeable hearing aids are ready for use.

The latest generation of rechargeable digital hearing aids enable you to connect your digital hearing aids to apps, accessories, and other smart devices. ReSound technology is designed to connect to your environment, in high quality sound, with personalized features at your fingertips. With ReSound rechargeable digital hearing aids, you get great sound quality, connectivity to your smartphone or tablet, and long-lasting power without the need to regularly change batteries.

Quick online hearing test

If you can’t wait to see a hearing care professional, you can start by taking our online hearing test today.

What do rechargeable hearing aids cost?

Like most medical devices, rechargeable hearing aids are an investment. The price of rechargeable hearing aids varies and depends on the style, the high-tech features, service and maintenance, as well as your personal healthcare coverage plan.

As the price decreases, rechargeable hearing aids might have lower performance levels and fewer sophisticated features. Less expensive rechargeable digital hearing aids are less likely to have “smart” features, such as Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to stream audio directly to your hearing aids from various devices.

A hearing care professional will be able to determine the best rechargeable hearing aid for you and tell you more about the price of the device and the professional services that go along with the fitting.

How long do rechargeable hearing aids last?

The battery life of the hearing aids depends on the hearing device. ReSound ONE, ReSound LiNX Quattro and ReSound Key offer rechargeable hearing solutions with the longest battery time. With ReSound ONE for instance, it only takes three hours to fully charge the batteries, giving you up to 30 hours of battery life. Even when streaming TV or music 50% of the time, you can still enjoy 25 hours of battery life. If you're in a rush, quick charge ensures 2.7 hours of battery life in just 10 minutes.

What is the future of rechargeable hearing aids?

Hearing aid technology is constantly evolving, with new devices, improvements, and updates launching every year. It started with rechargeable batteries within hearing aid devices, and now, the latest innovation is rechargeable hearing aids.

The best rechargeable hearing aids are only as strong as the batteries powering them. For more complex hearing aids, such as devices that use Bluetooth technology for streaming and making calls, you need batteries with increased energy density and capacity. ReSound is continuously working to improve battery technology for longer charges and increased capacity to better support wireless streaming and calls through Bluetooth technology.

In addition to the many personal benefits, rechargeable hearing aids are convenient and an environmentally friendly option for those who don’t want to dispose of old batteries and buy new ones.

Rechargeable hearing aids testimonials

Hear how our users of rechargeable digital hearing aids enjoy the ease of recharging.

There’s a hearing aid that fits you

A hearing care professional can help you determine the best rechargeable hearing aid solution for your needs.