Thanks for your thoughts, Jim. As an additional thought, Resound told me that the battery manufacturer tells them that the batteries should reach 80% capacity at about 5 years. Certainly not my experience. I asked at the audiologist if they had any way to tell what is left of the batteries capacity now. They can only read the “dots,” which of course only tells me the charge, not the state of the battery.
You’ve given me something else to ask Resound if I do decide to let them do the replacement, namely, will I be getting refurbished electronics (or even a refurbished battery). With the battery integrated into the electronics, I’m thinking me getting stuck with refurbished units seem unlikely. But, I suppose, since they take in old but not depleted rechargeables, it’s not an impossibility. And, if I go forward with it, I’d wait a bit longer. I’m still getting 12 hrs out of the left HA, even with an hour or two of streaming audiobooks. And, eventually, Costco is a definite possibility even though I presently live 2.5 hrs away from the closest one and don’t have any insurance that covers HAs. My audiologist claims to know that Costco is going to stop having audiologists or technicians on staff and just sell their stuff OTC. I find that hard to believe.
One more question. Is there any way of knowing if it could be the charging unit that’s malfunctioning and not the aid? At first I thought that wasn’t a possibility because the right aid is lasting so much longer. But then I thought maybe it’s the left “side” of the charger that’s cutting out too soon.
Thanks for any additional time you have to continue the discussion.