With continued advancements in hearing aid battery technology, rechargeable hearing aids have become an increasingly popular choice for those in Kansas City with hearing loss.
The top five benefits of using rechargeable hearing aids include:
- Convenience – Rechargeable hearing aids are easier to use and don’t require you to handle tiny, disposable hearing aid batteries.
- Eco-friendly – Choosing rechargeable hearing aids is better for the environment.
- Feature-rich – Newer models of hearing aids often come with other enhanced features and benefits, in addition to being rechargeable.
- Better handling – Disposable battery packaging can be hard to open for people with vision loss or dexterity issues.
- Simple to use – It’s easy to charge your hearing aids overnight, just like you charge your phone.
Whether you’re interested in rechargeable hearing aids because you have difficulty handling traditional hearing aid batteries, or you want a more environmentally friendly power option, you may find that upgrading to rechargeable hearing aids brings you even more benefits.
Rechargeable Hearing Aid Options
Most of the major hearing aid manufacturers, including Widex, ReSound, Oticon, Phonak and Starkey, now offer rechargeable hearing aid options. Though the specifics vary between brands and models, most last 24 hours or more on a single full charge. Some also come with a quick-charge or travel case that can give you a boost when you’re away from home or forgot to charge the night before.
Advantages Of Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Rechargeable hearing aid technology has been improving for more than 10 years. In early model hearing aids, battery life may have been limited to a few hours. Additionally, the batteries were bulkier, heavier, and recharging many devices was inconvenient.
However, rechargeable lithium-ion technology — from cell phones to electric vehicles to power tools — has improved by leaps and bounds in the last decade. Hearing aid manufacturers have followed suit, making these systems much more appealing and accessible for hearing aid wearers.
As of 2025, around 80% of all hearing aids sold in the U.S. were rechargeable, according to the Hearing Industries Association.1
“Most patients today prefer rechargeable hearing aid models. They are easier to operate and offer a level of convenience that really appeals to people,” said Linda Erickson, AuD, Senior Audiologist at our Prairie Village and Overland Park clinics.
Benefits of Rechargeable Hearing Aids
In general, rechargeable hearing aids:
- Offer technological advances beyond the battery, including improved signal processing and more automatic adjustments. These help you hear better and more comfortably in complex listening situations, like in the car, social settings, talking on the phone, or watching TV.
- Are more accessible for patients who struggle with vision and/or dexterity when replacing tiny traditional hearing aid batteries. People with arthritis, tremors, or significant vision loss often benefit from using a charging case rather than the hassle of opening and changing disposable batteries.
- Use long-lasting lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can hold a charge for a full day of use, depending on the brand and how you use them. Batteries require recharging every night by placing them in a charging station. If you stream a lot of Bluetooth audio, the batteries may not last a full 24 hours, but for most users, one nightly charge provides the power they need for the next day.
- Sealed battery compartment. All brands of rechargeable hearing aids use lithium-ion batteries that are sealed into the hearing aid. This provides safety and protection from accidental ingestion by children or pets and prevents debris and dirt from getting inside the hearing aid by way of the battery door.
Downsides of Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Lithium-ion rechargeables are simple to use and meet most consumers’ requirement to stay charged for a full day. But there are a few downsides to consider:
- Limited styles and types – Currently, there are some restrictions on the power level (amplification level) of rechargeable options. They don’t come in all styles. So rechargeable options have more limitations in available size and style of hearing aid, as well as the overall power level, which is typically for more mild to moderate types of hearing loss.
- Requires a good routine – Rechargeables are great for people who have a fairly consistent routine. But if you frequently forget to plug in your phone at night or your schedule is different from day to day, you may find yourself having to wait for your hearing aids to charge.
- Less flexibility on the go – Disposable batteries offer an instant solution to a hearing aid that has run out of power. Just change the batteries and go! But with changes to the packaging on disposable batteries, it’s a little trickier to pop them out of the pack and into your hearing aid while you’re out and about or traveling. Plus, rechargeable hearing aids often come with a quick-charge case to give you a power boost when you’re away from your home charger, or you can purchase a second charger for another location.
- May need to be sent off for repairs – Because the battery compartment is sealed shut, your audiologist can’t change the rechargeable batteries in the clinic. They will need to be sent to the manufacturer for new rechargeable batteries every few years. Most of our clinics can offer you a loaner pair of hearing aids while yours are being repaired.
Is There a Cost Savings with Rechargeable Hearing Aids?
In most cases, the cost of rechargeable and traditional hearing aid batteries are about the same over time. Your initial investment when choosing rechargeable will include the charger and the cost of the first rechargeable battery or batteries. The rechargeable battery life is typically about 3 to 5 years, but may depend on individual use and frequency of charging.
Hearing aids that use disposable batteries may have a lower up-front cost, but then require regular replacement battery purchases, which averages about $50-100 per year. The cost of replacement rechargeable batteries is around $250-$350 every 3 years or so.
Currently, the cost to replace rechargeable batteries is about the same as disposable batteries over the life of the hearing aid.
Considering all the pros and cons, many consumers prefer rechargeable hearing aids over devices with traditional disposable batteries.
Schedule an appointment with a doctoral-level audiologist to discuss whether rechargeable hearing aids are right for you. Give Associated Audiologists a call today!
