Hearing aid features explained

Features

What the feature lists actually mean

Hearing aid marketing is full of terms that are rarely explained. This page defines the common ones so you can follow a conversation about them. We describe what each feature is and does — not how well any particular device performs, which is not something a web page can tell you.

Rechargeable or disposable batteries

Rechargeable devices sit in a charger, usually overnight, and have no battery to replace. There is nothing small to handle, which some people find easier.

Disposable batteries are replaced by hand when they run down. They can be changed anywhere without waiting for a charge, and they involve handling a very small object regularly.

Which suits someone often comes down to dexterity, eyesight and routine rather than the technology itself.

Bluetooth and streaming

Some hearing aids can connect wirelessly to a phone, tablet or television, so that audio is sent directly to the devices rather than played into the room.

In practice this is most often used for phone calls, music and television. Whether a particular device connects to a particular phone depends on both, so it is a compatibility question rather than a yes or no.

Directional microphones

A device with more than one microphone can use the difference between them to favour sound arriving from one direction — typically in front of you — over sound arriving from elsewhere.

This is a description of what the feature does, not a promise about results in any given room. How much difference it makes depends on the situation, the device and the person.

Telecoil

A telecoil, sometimes called a T-coil, is a small component that picks up a magnetic signal rather than sound through the air.

It is used with hearing loops, which are installed in some public venues, counters and places of worship. Where a loop is fitted, a telecoil allows the sound source to be picked up directly.

It is worth asking about if you regularly visit venues with loops.

App control and programmes

Many hearing aids can be adjusted from a phone app — volume, and often a choice of preset programmes set up for different situations.

Some devices also have a button or dial on the device itself. Smaller styles have less room for physical controls, which is one of the practical trade-offs of size.

Moisture and dust resistance

Hearing aids are worn all day, in weather, and near sweat. Many carry an ingress protection (IP) rating, which is a standardised measure of resistance to dust and water.

A rating is not a licence to swim in them. If you swim, that is what custom swim plugs are for, and the two are separate things.

A note on comparing features

Feature lists are easy to compare and not very useful on their own. A device with more features is not automatically more suitable — what matters is which of them address the situations you actually find difficult.

That is a conversation to have after a hearing test, when there is a measurement to work from. We have deliberately not ranked features here, and we do not compare specific devices on this site.

Common questions about features

Are rechargeable hearing aids better than battery ones?

Neither is better in general — they suit different people. Rechargeable devices remove the need to handle tiny batteries, which matters if dexterity or eyesight is a factor. Disposable batteries can be swapped anywhere without waiting for a charge. It is a practical choice rather than a quality one.

Can hearing aids connect to my phone?

Many can, using Bluetooth, typically for calls and audio. Whether a specific hearing aid works with a specific phone depends on both devices, so it is worth checking the particular combination rather than assuming.

What is a telecoil for?

It picks up a magnetic signal from a hearing loop rather than sound through the air. Loops are installed in some theatres, churches, counters and public buildings. If you often visit places with loops, it is worth asking whether a device includes one.

Do hearing aids work in noisy places?

Background noise remains one of the hardest situations for everyone, with or without hearing aids. Features such as directional microphones are designed to favour sound from a particular direction, but no device removes the difficulty entirely, and results vary by person and situation.

Can I wear hearing aids in the rain or shower?

Many devices carry an IP rating indicating resistance to dust and moisture, which is not the same as being made for immersion. Follow the guidance for your specific device, and do not wear them swimming.

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This page is general information. A hearing test measures your own hearing and is the only way to know where yours sits.

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Sources

This page is general information, not a diagnosis or individual advice.