Hearing Aid Batteries: The Past, Present, and Future

Describe the unique sorts of hearing aid batteries presently used.

Explain the advantages of lithium-ion batteries as an energy source for hearing aids.

Describe the distinction between galvanic and inductive batteries.

Introduction

Modern virtual hearing aids offer a large sort of shape factors, functions, and wi-fi connectivity alternatives that permit for man or woman hearing aids. However, the price of features like state of affairs-based totally actual-time processing, binaural algorithms, or streaming is an expanded demand on battery overall performance. So some distance, the topic of efficient powering has acquired simplest scant interest. But this could exchange soon because of the many proper motives for using rechargeable batteries.

Hearing Aid Battery Basics

Why is it crucial to reflect on consideration on hearing aid batteries? Batteries are the most sensible answer when it comes to powering smaller electronic devices of every kind. Rechargeable batteries have determined their manner into our each day life for almost every tool. But a huge range of disposable batteries are nonetheless being used. An expected 1.4 billion disposable listening to resource batteries are dumped in landfills annually. On the opposite hand, there may be an ongoing trend toward greater environmental awareness and “inexperienced” technologies. Maybe purchasers are just lacking the proper solution?

Hearing aid users had been expressing a high interest in hearing useful resource batteries and their ease of use for a long time. In the MarkeTrack VI survey (Kochkin, 2002), about 80 percentage of US purchasers asked batteries that final longer. And about 1/2 of the users asked hearing devices featuring less complicated-to-alternate batteries. The handiest different features that received an equally high ranking were listening to resource extent control, far flung manipulate, and so on.

The photo has no longer modified a great deal considering then. In the most recent MarkeTrak nine (Abrams & Kihm, 2015), potential new hearing resource users have been requested what they remember to be the maximum compelling features. A rechargeable listening to useful resource and/or rechargeable batteries for hearing aids have been rated as more critical than any digital feature or wireless connectivity.

This isn’t sudden, on the grounds that rechargeable batteries offer a number of blessings, including:

Greater consolation and ease of use: No need to cope with small batteries on a everyday basis. Depending on the answer, hearing aids may want to really be placed right into a charger at night. This is particularly beneficial for customers with dexterity demanding situations.

Environmentally friendly: Over a 3-yr time span, two virtual hearing aids will use a median of extra than three hundred disposable hearing useful resource batteries. An common of handiest two lithium-ion rechargeable batteries could be used under the same conditions.

Cost effective: A single zinc-air battery fees an average. Assuming the standard bilateral listening to resource wearer changes each batteries once a week. Fees can exceed hundred all through a 3 12 months duration.

Convenience: No need to consider to purchase new batteries or discover them whilst they are wanted.

Peace of mind: Knowing that the listening to resource batteries receiver’s go dead within the center of the day, perhaps at some point of an critical assembly or event.