ZPower, developer of rechargeable, silver-zinc miniature batteries, will feature its Rechargeable System for Hearing Aids at the American Hearing Aid Association (AHAA) 2016 Annual Convention, which takes place February 10–13 in Las Vegas, Nev. AHAA 2016 will focus on strategies that help audiology practices succeed and be competitive.
ZPower reports that recent industry studies show that rechargeable batteries and rechargeable hearing aids are among the top features sought by hearing aid users. Based on this information, ZPower developed its Rechargeable System for Hearing Aids that offers consumers the ability to make new or existing hearing aids rechargeable. This product earned ZPower a 2016 CES® Innovation Award for outstanding design and engineering in consumer electronics.
According to ZPower, the move toward wireless technology in hearing aids, while beneficial to hearing aid users in most respects, also has a downside: The wireless technology drains batteries quickly. While disposable batteries previously lasted one to two weeks, they currently last about two days. The result is frequent and inconvenient battery changing, and batteries dying at inopportune moments. This problem creates an environmental issue, as hearing aid users typically go through about 100 batteries per year. Since the batteries are not recyclable, that adds up to 1.5 million hearing aid batteries going into landfills each year in the US.
It is the company’s goal to improve things with its ZPower Rechargeable System. ZPower batteries are said to offer a reliable full-day charge, and patients need only return once a year to their hearing care professional to have the battery replaced. In addition, the old battery is fully recyclable, which means fewer batteries going into landfills.
At AHAA 2016, Sara Sable-Antry, vice president of sales and marketing for ZPower, will present on the topic of “Rechargeable Batteries – An Advanced, Green Power Solution for Hearing Aids” on Wednesday, February 10, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. This session will allow attendees to explore the results of research on multiple brands of hearing aids using the ZPower Rechargeable System for Hearing Aids, the process to retrofit new and existing hearing aids, and the advantages of rechargeable batteries. The value proposition for patients and audiologists is a battery that is good for a year, lasts all day on a single charge, and is recyclable.
To learn more about the ZPower Rechargeable System for Hearing Aids, visit the ZPower website or visit the ZPower AHAA exhibit booth #38.
Source: ZPower