AB and battery life

[Guest guest]

Greetings everyone! I have been off list for the last couple of

months. It was nice to read the posts again and how well most people

react to questions about brands. It is a very confusing time for

candidates that have to choose. Most CI centers will not choose for

the candidate, unless there is a very direct advantage from pretest

results and health issues of the inner ear.

There is still some misinformation being given on this list about

battery life. The latest rechargeable batteries now being offered by

AB and being used with the 90K implant last 17-20 hours. My implant

was activated late April 04. With the then new maps and only being

volume maps I was getting 14-16 hours. I was not concerned but knew

they were not lasting as advertised. Each new map seesion did bring

results closer to what I expected. This meant I did not have to

change batteries all day during waking hours. If I thought I was

going to be out late I would change before the dreaded silence came.

I carry one spare on a key chain with me at all times.

I am happy to report with my latest map I have not run out of battery

life even when I was out late at night. I do believe I am now getting

the 17-20 hours. I tried to run a battery down to nothing, but I kept

falling asleep :-). The new batteries do not have the memory problems

like older rechargeable batteries of years ago. With one battery in

use and the slim battery on the key chain, plus the two in the

charger represent about three and a half days of hearing. I have used

the 12 volt charger when traveling by car. I have never been less

than three and a half days of hearing with my four batteries at any

time because a completely drained down battery charges in about 4-5

hours.

I agree the old battery issue was a weakness in using the AB CI. But

let us all know that they corrected that problem just as all

manufacturers of CI's have addressed problems. That happens because

there are three manufacturers and they are all getting better and

creating a larger market.

Greetings to all my " old " :-) friends and to the new people here as

well. Let me say these last four months of hearing again has been the

most surprising event in my life. Uh you know besides my lovely wife

<in case she reads this>

L. in RI

late deafened.............very late :-)