My hearing aid suddenly stopped working. What to do?

Thanks everyone. Thankfully my hearing aid is still functioning but I think if I had to do it over again I would not get rechargeable hearing aids. As been said sometimes the older technology is best.

@smallisland I have no ambition to get rechargeable batteries. I have seen a lot of issues with rechargeable batteries. The older generation do not need the additional grief but it is less hassle for those with dexterity or vision problems. We have to decide for ourselves what works best. For me, I don't have to worry if the batteries fully charged overnight or they no longer hold the charge as long as they used to. But the biggest complaint is that some hearing aids have to be sent back to the manufacturer for replacing the battery. If you have custom molds, as I do, a loaner aid is usually not an option. I would not want to be without my hearing aid for the time it would take to get them back.
Tony in Michigan

Yes I agree. I wish I had thought or knew these considerations before I got the rechargeable.

I’m sad to see those that don’t like rechargeable. I have rechargeable and I’ve been happy with them. I haven’t really had any more issues with them then I did when I had ones with batteries. So I hope that those who do not have them would at least consider them. But it really is an individual choice. I like the fact that I don’t need to worry about having batteries. I also get the replacing the batteries but I have had mine for 2 years and so far have not had to replace them. My audiologist will have me come in before my warranty is up to have them replaced without charge but I don’t even know I would need to do it at that point. But that should give me hopefully at least 3 more years out of them if not more to replace them. By that point I’d be ready for new aids anyway. But again if you are contemplating them just do the research it isn’t for everyone.

It's good to hear the positive experiences with rechargeables so thanks @mickey5909 for your input. Our readers need to have both the pros and cons in order to make a good buying decision. To recap, I mentioned that I prefer batteries over rechargeable. Batteries end up in the landfill so rechargeable makes sense. Another positive for rechargeable is that some of these batteries CAN be replaced by an audiologist. I only recently found this out. This would be another question to ask before you decide which way to go. I may switch if I know my audi can replace the rechargeable battery. Again, we would want to know that cost, if it's not covered under a warranty, before we decide.
Tony in Michigan

@tonyinmi

Hi,

I too prefer disposable batteries because I recycle all my batteries. Hearing aid batteries have
valuable metals. I fill up a bag and take to my local library even though we have sanitation
recycling days. Most libraries in my area have the
bins as do some supermarkets and audiology clinics. Maybe that could be a question at the
next visit. ....or a suggestion. I also recycle my espresso pods after I scoop the coffee out and rinse
and dump into a container. My bit for the environment.
I have an elderly acquaintance who loves the rechargeable ones...his first pair of aids. Don't
really know how his dexterity is or if he is forgetful but I think that may have been a decision his wife
made for him.

FL Mary

FL Mary

This is a follow up to my comment that my hearing aid had stopped working even though fully charged. It happened twice so I went to my audiologist. She changed the wire and the ear piece and said if it happened again I would have to send it to Phonak for repair. She said if the parts become damp it can damage the aid. I used to remove it and leave in bathroom while I bathed. I don't do that anymore. So far it is working well.

Excess humidity can damage hearing aids. That can be weather or environment related, or caused by excess perspiration due to exercise, etc.

Did your audiologist mention the value of having a hearing aid dehumidifier?

Tony, I agree 100%. There was no discussion about the pros and cons of rechargeable hearing aids when I got mine. But I find it inconvenient. Two other considerations: twice I've left the house without my hearing aid when in a hurry. Previously I kept the aid in my purse with batteries and never was without it. Secondly I had an unexpected sleep over at my sister's and didn't have the charger. With batteries that would never be a problem.
smallisland

EUREKA! My hearing aid now works!!! Background: This morning, I suddenly noticed my right hearing aid wasnt working though it showed it was fully charged(on my inductive charger). I have Signia rechargeable, behind-the-ear type and no matter how much I tried to turn the right one on(via either of the onboard buttons), nothing happened. After fiddling with it a while and reading about how these, as sophisticated electronic devices, could be booted up and reset and the like,,,,I suddenly thought I'd just put the non-working one only into it's recharger...alone and not with the other one. Maybe THAT might have an effect, though it had previously showed that it was fully recharged. Also noting from a previous posting that the hearing aids could be put into either cgarging slot, I decided to put it into the charging slot of the hearing aid that worked fine, After a few minutes, I pulled the hearing aid out, abd YES! IT WORKED...and WORKS... just FINE!!!
Very cool and glad to have both of my "ears" on and working!!!!