Cochlear Implant batteries

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Crazedscot

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I was wondering if anyone knows for sure if different types of batteries can actually affect the sound quality with a cochlear implant, specifically an Esprit 22. I swear the sound's a lot more tinny with Rayovac batteries than it is with PowerOne types. Rayovacs only seem to last half as long as well. Must be the superior German engineering!
 
This varies from CI user to CI user.

In my experience, I find that Power One Implant Plus batteries have a much clearer sound quality than other brands like Duracell and Energizer.

As for battery life, I've definitely noticed a difference between brands. I've been told that I have high power maps, so my audi recommends I use Power One Implant Plus. In comparing Power One Implant Plus batteries to other brands like Duracell and Energizer, the Power One Implant Plus batteries last me several days longer.

Having said that, I know other CI users who have reported longer battery life with Zenipower batteries compared to Power One Implant Plus.
 
I am using Power One Implant Plus batteries since my insurance will in part pay for it under the durable medical equipment rider that I have with my insurance policy. The Power One Implant Plus is designed with work with those that with high power maps and the batteries and may not last as long with lower power maps in a few cases when compared with other batteries. The Power One Implant Plus is not the only manufacture of high current capable batteries. I have read a study stating that batteries can make a difference in sound quality but I do not see a reason for anyone that wants to try different battery manufactures to see what can deliver good sound quality at a lower cost, for example. I know that Zenipower do make a high power version as well but I have no idea how it compares with Power One Implant Plus but I am sure that I do just fine with the German batteries and cheaper as well.
 
jhayden said:
I know that Zenipower do make a high power version as well...
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When you say "high power version," are you referring to Zenipower batteries that are made specifically for CIs?

When I purchased Zenipower batteries as recently as a few months ago, the packaging didn't indicate anything about being "high power" -- only that they were made for CIs.
 
I've used both Zenipower and Power One. I couldn't tell any difference apart from the fact that Zenipower is cheaper and seems to last longer.
 
Hear Again said:
I just checked microbattery.com at: Watch Batteries, Hearing Aid Batteries, Cochlear Implant Batteries, Lithium and Sealed Lead Acid batteries, Battery Chargers and the description for Zenipower batteries indicates that they are "high power." I never noticed that before...
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Yes the implant version 675P is high power and the package even said extra high power and the standard power is 675 without the P at the end. The web site you mention even have a trial package of all the cochlear batteries they sell.

John
 
R2D2 said:
I've used both Zenipower and Power One. I couldn't tell any difference apart from the fact that Zenipower is cheaper and seems to last longer.
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:bowdown: Thank you! I was debating on going that route (Zenipower) to save money when I needed to order more batteries. I can't believe that I still have over a year left of all the free batteries I got from two plus years ago. Wow, some of us have it good in life...;)
 
One piece of advice for new CI users: Don't sacrifice good hearing for better battery life. I've heard of a few CI users who tried switching processing speeds (for example, switching from ACE at 1200 Hz to 900 Hz) so they could obtain improved battery life only to discover that they couldn't hear as well.
 
Hear Again said:
One piece of advice for new CI users: Don't sacrifice good hearing for better battery life. I've heard of a few CI users who tried switching processing speeds (for example, switching from ACE at 1200 Hz to 900 Hz) so they could obtain improved battery life only to discover that they couldn't hear as well.
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so does that apply to freedom user? I cannot change the HZ unless i see an audiologist.

i remember i complained to the audiologist.. that nucleus says have a battery life of up to 5 days... and i only get 3 days.. so she changed the program and now i get mostly 5 days sometimes 6... and am having hard time hearing some quiet whispers or so.

but i don't know if she (my audiologist) changed the HZ.

by the way i use power one implant plus and love it since.
 
sr171soars said:
I can't believe that I still have over a year left of all the free batteries I got from two plus years ago. Wow, some of us have it good in life...;)
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I wish I were in your shoes. :) When I use Power One or Zenipower batteries with my Freedom processors, they only last me 2 days. When I use Power One Implant Plus batteries, they last me 3 days.

I know a CI user who uses SPEAK. She receives 14 days of battery power and is still going through batteries she received back in 2004. :)
 
Hear Again said:
One piece of advice for new CI users: Don't sacrifice good hearing for better battery life. I've heard of a few CI users who tried switching processing speeds (for example, switching from ACE at 1200 Hz to 900 Hz) so they could obtain improved battery life only to discover that they couldn't hear as well.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, do not sacrifice good hearing for better battery life. Another point with batteries is that batteries has to be constancy with each other otherwise you will only have the battery life of the weakest battery in the group. I am using 1200 on Ace and have one program that's 1800 ACE but that program has a 40% hit on battery life. Usually with the Freedom they start users on 900 but in short time I did not like it and I am much happier on 1200 Ace. But everyone is different and some people can not handle higher speeds. I getting a battery life of 3 to 4 days depending on how much noise or music in my environment.
 
I'd love to be able to get the rechargeable battery packs, but the initial cost is just TOOO expen$ive.
 
deafscuba,

Yes, that advice applies to all Cochlear CI users.

You might want to let your audi know that you're not hearing high frequencies as well as you used to.

An audi student at my CI center unknowingly switched me from ACE 900 Hz to 1200 Hz. I didn't realize what had happened until I started having more difficulty understanding speech. High frequencies in music also sounded off-key.

When I explained this to my audi, she noticed that my Hz had been changed and switched me back to 900 Hz. Once I was switched back, I was able to hear much better and music sounded "normal" once again.

You might also try using Whisper on your Freedom -- Whisper is designed to emphasize soft speech.
 
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neecy said:
I'd love to be able to get the rechargeable battery packs, but the initial cost is just TOOO expen$ive.
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same with me.... those who opt for it at their newly implant gets them by insurance. wish my insurance would cover it.

but i think the only cons with it is you had to charge it daily.
 
neecy said:
I'd love to be able to get the rechargeable battery packs, but the initial cost is just TOOO expen$ive.
Click to expand...

I happen to have the rechargeable battery pack (a friend paid for mine as a gift last month), but I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. I need to have my CI audi explain how to insert and remove the battery from the battery charger. I'd try it myself, but given its expense, I don't want to damage the battery.
 
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Hear Again said:
One piece of advice for new CI users: Don't sacrifice good hearing for better battery life. I've heard of a few CI users who tried switching processing speeds (for example, switching from ACE at 1200 Hz to 900 Hz) so they could obtain improved battery life only to discover that they couldn't hear as well.
Click to expand...

Good advice. Without thinking about that issue early on, I was bouncing between 2400 Hz and 1800 Hz. I had no problem staying with 2400 Hz but I found that 1800 Hz was a little better for me. Later on, I realized the impact that had on my battery life. Whew! You are absolutely correct that good hearing trumps battery life any day. If I liked 2400 Hz better, I would definitely stayed with it but my battery life would have gone south. Oh well, one really can't put a price tag on hearing.
 
sr171soars,

Yes, sometimes it takes a little trial and error. :)

I never had the opportunity to try 2400 Hz or 1800 Hz.
My former CI audi (who left the field last year) told me most people do well with 900 Hz, so that's what many audis start people with.

I tried 1200 Hz at 3 months post activation (1st CI) and found that I couldn't make heads or tails out of what I was hearing. Everything I heard sounded extremely high pitched and distorted. This just goes to show that we are all different and what works well for one person may not work for another.

I thought about asking my audi if I could try 2400 and 1800 Hz just out of curiosity, but changed my mind since I'm hearing quite well with 900 Hz. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." :)
 
Hear Again,

As we are discussing CI frequencies, I just pass along what my Audi said about it. She had only one person who liked 2400 Hz and one or two that liked 1800 Hz (of which I'm one of those), a several that liked 1200 Hz and the rest on 900 Hz. I believe the fact that I was in the trials for the Freedom allowed us to experiment with the various Hz speeds on me. This was mainly because I had frequent mappings for the trials. I'm glad I got a chance at the 2400 Hz and I wouldn't mind trying that again just to see how I like it. I suspect I probably do fine with it. My brain just loves speed. :D Ohhhh, I wanted to experience that yesterday... :laugh2:

If I recall, she started using 900 Hz right off the bat a year or so after I started with mine. This was after she started noticing that a great majority of her patients preferred 900 Hz. Only once in a while does she increase it for those that she thinks would benefit from it.
 
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