ZPower’s Dr. Barry A. Freeman to discuss new ways to differentiate hearing care practices and improve patient satisfaction through rechargeable solution.
CAMARILLO, CA – August 5, 2015 – ZPower, the first developer of rechargeable, silver-zinc batteries for hearing aids, will lead a presentation entitled “Recharge Your Practice” at the upcoming Florida Academy of Audiology (FLAA) Convention 2015. The FLAA event runs from August 6-8 at the B Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Following the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, Fortune Magazine concluded, “the top technology need on the mind of most Americans is better batteries.” Not surprisingly, 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.
“Recharge your Practice” will be led by Dr. Barry A. Freeman, Vice President of Business Development for ZPower at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, August 7. Dr. Freeman will showcase the ZPower Rechargeable System, which makes it easy to convert many new and existing hearing aids and make them rechargeable.
The ability to recharge hearing aids and its impact on the daily lives of those with hearing loss will be an integral part of the presentation. “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,” explained 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.” Additionally, ZPower silver-zinc rechargeable batteries are fully recyclable and don’t contribute to the waste stream.
Rechargeable batteries are among the top features sought by hearing aid users. A recent MarkeTrak 9 study ranked the most compelling features sought by non-owners of hearing aids. “A rechargeable hearing aid” and “rechargeable batteries for hearing aids” ranked #2 and #4 on the wish list – which points to the high demand for a rechargeable solution for hearing aids.
About Dr. Barry A. Freeman
Dr. Freeman has over 35 years of experience serving the audiology community. He was founding Chair and Professor of Audiology at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Freeman has taught audiology full-time on the faculties of Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Nova Southeastern University and maintains Adjunct Professorships at Florida International University, Nova Southeastern, Lamar University, Pacific University, and the University of South Florida. He has published more than 50 professional articles and book chapters and continues to lecture and present throughout the world.
Dr. Freeman is a past-president of the American Academy of Audiology and served on the Academy’s Board of Directors for six years. He continues to serve on professional boards including Vice President for Professional Activities for the Florida Academy of Audiology and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE). He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Academy in 2006.
About ZPower, LLC
ZPower is a leading manufacturer of rechargeable, silver-zinc batteries for miniature electronics applications located in Camarillo, Calif. The company specializes in rechargeable battery solutions and support for hearing instruments and medical devices. ZPower’s first-of-its-kind solution makes it easy to convert many new and existing hearing aids and make them rechargeable. It offers 24+ hours of continuous power each day, charges overnight, and one battery lasts a full year. In addition to simplifying life for hearing aid wearers, the ZPower solution streamlines new product development and speeds time-to-market for hearing instrument manufacturers. ZPower rechargeable batteries are fully recyclable and are better for the environment. For more information, visit www.zpowerbattery.com or the ZPower Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.
