ZPower, a developer of rechargeable, silver-zinc batteries for hearing aids, is leading a presentation entitled “Recharge Your Practice” at the Florida Academy of Audiology (FLAA) Convention 2015, held August 6-8 at the B Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Barry Freeman, PhD

Barry A. Freeman, PhD, ZPower

ZPower reports that, following the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, Fortune Magazine concluded, “the top technology need on the mind of most Americans is better batteries.” According to ZPower, hearing impaired consumers also want better battery technology for their hearing aids. Currently, hearing aids are powered by single-use, non-recyclable zinc-air batteries. An estimated 1.5 billion of these batteries are dropped into landfills annually and this number is growing at approximately 7% per year.

The ZPower presentation at the FLAA Convention 2015 addresses this issue and offers an alternative solution. The “Recharge your Practice” presentation from Barry A. Freeman, PhD, vice president of business development for ZPower, showcases the ZPower Rechargeable System, which is intended to convert many new and existing hearing aids and make them rechargeable. Dr Freeman’s presentation is at 1:30 PM Eastern Time on Friday, August 7.

ZPower rechargeable batter system

ZPower’s rechargeable battery system

The ability to recharge hearing aids and its impact on the daily lives of those with hearing loss is an integral part of the presentation, according to ZPower.

“Disposable hearing aid batteries are used by people with varying levels of dexterity, often run out of power in the middle of the day, and can require frequent changing,” said Dr Freeman. “In contrast, the ZPower Rechargeable System offers 24+ hours of continuous power each day, charges overnight, takes the place of an estimated 100 disposable batteries, and lasts a full year. The ZPower hearing aid battery is replaced once per year by a hearing care professional so the patient need never touch a hearing aid battery again.” Dr Freeman added that ZPower silver-zinc rechargeable batteries are fully recyclable and don’t contribute to the waste stream.

Source: ZPower