WHAT is in my child's ear?

Top 12 things removed from kids' ears - by Lexi Walters

found on babyzone.com. Find the full article HERE.

Little kids have little ears—but are enormously curious. And the results of their "What if I ..." experiments often land them in the ER. The top docs at Children's Hospital Yale-New Haven know these tendencies well: There's even a collection on display in their waiting room of common items removed from kids' ears.

Here is their list of top repeat extractions:
1. Cotton Swabs
2. Buttons
3. Pen parts
4. Earrings
5. Springs
6. Moths, flies and other flying insects
7. Beetles and bugs
8. Seeds
9. Pits (think: cherry)
10. Peanuts
11. Button batteries (think: HEARING AID BATTERIES!)
12. Erasers

Simple Hearing Aid Battery Tips

Batteries provide the fuel for hearing aids. Depending on the size of the battery, the features of the hearing aid and the amount of time you wear your hearing aid(s) daily - you may get anywhere from 5 days to 4 weeks from you batteries.  Here is some information about hearing aid batteries, as well as tips for using them.

Battery Sizes and Colors

#675 - BLUE - used in behind-the-ear hearing aids with super power needs.
#13 - ORANGE    \         all 3 of these sizes may
#312 - BROWN     |-   be found in behind-the-ear
#10 - YELLOW    /              or in-the ear aids

Batteries should be kept away from metal objects such as keys and coins when stored.
Batteries frequently have a longer shelf life when stored in a cool (not cold) environment, but don't store them in the refridgerator!
Some hearing aids beep when batteries need to be replaced. Poor hearing aid performance is frequently a sign that the battery needs to be replaced.
A battery tester is an excellent way to chec the status of battery life.

Battery Installation
Wash your hands before and after replacing a battery since oil from the skin can prevent proper battery function. The positive (+) side of the battery must be matched with teh postivie side marking in the hearing aid.
Look for signs of damaged batteries, such as moisture, leaking or a clogged battery opening.
While wearing the hearing aid, increase and decrease the volume control (if applicable) or change programs on your hearing aid to ensre that the hearing aid is working properly.

Troubleshooting
If the hearing aid is not operating, the hearing aid may be turned off, the battery may be dead, weak or inserted incorrectly. The hearing aid may also be plugged with wax or other debris.
If there is intermittent operation, the battery may need to be replaced or there may be poor battery contact.
A buzzing sound may indicate the battery power is low or the hearing aid is in the telephone (or t-coil) program.
If the volume sounds low, the battery may need to be replaced.

WARNING
Hearing aid batteries (and other kinds of batteries) may explode if exposed to intense heat.
Batteries are dangerous if swallowed. If a battery is swallowed, call the Battery Hotline at 202-625-3333.
Batteries must be kept away from small children and pets.

Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries?

As Reported in the Hearing Journal:

While disposable zinc-air batteries have long dominated the hearing aid battery market, that may change. So says Ross Dueber, PhD, president and CEO of ZPower, a high-tech company based in Camarillo, CA. In an interview in December, he said, "the world really wants to move away from disposable to rechargeable batteries whenever possible." To that end, ZPower, which makes rechargeable batteries for various mobile applications including notebook computers and cell phones, has begun making silver-zinc rechargeable batteries in the 13 and 312 sizes - even though at this point no hearing aid can use them.

The advantages of rechargeable batteries for hearing aids are numerous, said Dueber, a former Air Force officer who holds a doctorate in chemistry from Oxford University. Among them are the lower cost of buying just one battery a year or so, reduced wear on hearing aid battery doors, and the environmental benefits of reusing rather than constantly discarding batteries.

Currently, said Dueber, ZPower is the only company to have developed rechargeable silver-zinc batteries for hearing aids. Previously, this technology has been used primarily for military and aerospace applications, with which he became familiar while helping define battery and energy storage strategies for such organizations as the US Air Force, Department of Defense, Department of Energy and NASA.

Deuber credits his wife, Sandy, who is an audiologist, for persuading him to turn his battery expertise toward hearing aids. He said that silver-zinc batteries are well suited for the demands of use in hearing aids, in part because being hermetically sealed they are more resistant to moisture in the ear than zinc-air batteries.

While there is no current demand for these batteries, ZPower will be explaining their benefits to hearing aid manufacturers and trying to interest them in developing instruments that can use them.