The batteries that you are using in your hearing aids are zinc air bat- teries and I was surprised to learn recently that they have about 10% mercury in them. The battery manufacturers have all agreed to produce mercury free batteries be- ginning in June 2011. Some manu- facturers are selling mercury free options today.
We have received notice from more than one hearing aid manu- facturer that the new mercury free batteries are causing some issues with their hearing aids. Specifical- ly, the aids are giving the low bat- tery signal when the battery is still working. This is happening most often with the size 10 battery.
If you want to use the mercury free batteries you may need to come into our office for us to deac- tivate the low battery signal. Then you won’t be warned when the battery is running low but you also won’t get the signal unnecessarily.
We will keep abreast of any news in the battery arena and update you in future newsletters.
