Rechargeable aids: wanted by customers or by factories?

@bradw said:

" when did the IP ratings start becoming widespread in the hearing aid business?"

This first began in 2011 with Siemens Aquaris, closely followed by Phonak and the SPICE+ product generation with the MH20 housing, that was adopted for BTE and RIC devices. Prior to this, housings weren't typically IP rated, although manufacturers did used less specific "Water-resistant" terminology.

The adopting of the IP rating system used by the consumer electronics industry allowed for direct comparisons between manufacturers and set expectations of minimum performance.

IP ratings were generally advertised when hearing aids met at least an IP67 rating. If the rating was less than this it wasn't generally included on specification sheets.

Interesting...so about 15 years ago, the water-resistant movement started.

I'll just speculate that in those early days it was sort of like how a water-resistant watch used to be..... you could wash your hands with the watch on it on your wrist, but not jump into the shower or a bath..... basically just a hint of a little protection.

Google tells me that Phonak's first IP-rated aid was released in 2016...so 10 years ago. I didn't dig into what IP level it was. Regardless, it seems plausible to me that the first truly water-resistant aids probably started coming into common existence around about 10 years ago. Not waterproof, but at least some meaningful level of protection... so not really all that long ago when you think about the inertia of the common knowledge that folks with many decades of experience have been told that a hint of moisture will kill a hearing aid

I got a pair of Oticon Intents earlier this year after being told that the Verit would not be available in Northern Ireland.

I HATE the rechargeable pouch as I have to cram the hearing aids into the pouch (I use BTE's with ear moulds). It is only by one of the moulds being turned 90 degrees that it fits and even then requires adjustment so that the correct colour of light is showing for charging.

As I said, I'm fine with the rechargeable people loving their choice.

For me, I don't care how long a charge lasts. I don't want to have to carry arournd a charger, and I don't want to get stuck waiting for a charge when it can happen in the blue and I have to wait around for a charge with no "Aid" from my Hearing "Aids".

When I was little in the 80s, i've sweated alot, ran in the rain and jumped in pools with aids in. While they dd stop working, they always came back alive after I wedge them into a box fan for the night

@bradw said:

so about 15 years ago, the water-resistant movement started.

This is just when IP ratings started being used as proof of water resistance. Claims of water resistance occurred prior to this. There was a generation of Siemens hearing aids where there were massive failures of claimed water resistance and there was no rating. I suspect this was part of the motivation to introduce IP ratings to hearing aids.

@bradw said:

Google tells me that Phonak's first IP-rated aid was released in 2016...so 10 years ago

This occurred in 2011 as per my post.

Totally agree.

@bradw said:

Whenever I accidentally stepped into the shower with my aids on (it happened a few times early on)

Before I step into the shower, I put my finger to my ears to double check that I don't have my aids on as they still feel like they are.

It's not just Google AI that's faulty. The LLMs are based on probabilities, so errors are baked in. It's just that AI writes so confidently that it's especially difficult to question it.

I've read through what seems like hundreds of posts on this topic since my earlier one (they don't appear to be numbered?). I'm now even happier to stick with my preference for non-rechargeable batteries. Convenience is my main reason. I can get 7-10 days from my Ray- O- Vac size 13s (I turn them off overnight) and I get them free from the NHS. I did purchase some once on-line during Covid and they're not expensive.

I'm not swayed by environmental arguments as lithiums have a finite life and are ultimately disposable. Also your provider might try to convince you that lithiums aren't replaceable and you have to have new aids. It's obvious that the battery door isn't going to be IP 65 rated but even if they were, I wouldn't deliberately risk a £3k piece of kit to find out. I have accidentally stepped into the shower a couple of times before realising they were still in but with no ill effects. I just put them aside with the battery door open while I showered just in case.

For convenience, I carry a small container on my key ring that holds 3 zinc-air batteries which I've found very handy. It's about 2.5cm X 1.5cm. I can't seem to be able to attach a photo.

I should add that zinc -air batteries are pretty much non- toxic whereas Lithium batteries are classed as moderately toxic during normal use but extremely hazardous if overheating as can happen during charging.

Also current world reserves of lithium stand at an estimated 37 million tonnes, cobalt 12 million tonnes, also needed for Li-ion batteries. Zinc 240 million tonnes.

Will the reserves be able to keep pace with the explosion in the use of Li- ion batteries in electric vehicles and everything else? I'm aware that zinc is used for many other applications.

From EPA website: "Management requirements are based on the battery’s chemistry. They can be brought to specialized battery recyclers, participating retailers that provide battery take back services or local household hazardous waste collection programs. Contact the manufacturer or local solid waste authority for additional management options."

Cheers

p.s. "EPA recommendation: ...Do not put button-cell, coin, or lithium single use batteries in the trash or municipal recycling bins. Find a recycling location near you..."