TXDON:
I cannot tell you if there is a difference between battery brands as to their longevity. I use only one kind, supplied to me by my audiology clinic. I doubt that there are many differences, however. Shelf life is one issue..it is about three years unopened. I would avoid buying batteries at a dollar store, as those are cheap because their shelf life is about expired when they are sold. I use fresh RAY-O-VAC zinc-air batteries number 312 size. When I remove the aids at night, I always open the battery doors so they do not expend themselves uselessly sqeauling away to each other in the dry box. If I forget to do that, they last only two days.
My hearing aids are BTE digital Starkey VI 70 (analogue hearing aids are way obsolete) with a remote volume control and four noise environment programs, There are no tubes into my ear, only a very thin wire that terminates in the canal speaker element. That speaker is about the size of a grain of rice, but is has a skirt made of some kind of black rubber (Not silicone) that looks like a little parasol. It is an open mold type and is easily replaceable and cleanable with soap (not hydrogen peroxide, which is a carcinogen) I clean my ear canals, against doctors orders, with the looped end of a bobby pin. It is necessary for me becoz I have Ecxema on my ear canals..nothing helps with that, except open molds. I have tried everything available. Ecxema causes itching, which causes a lot of ear wax. If it gets bad, I have a prescription medication called VIOSOL, which is are antibiotic drops with a little vinegar in it. The doctor tried me with hydrocortisone ointment, but that stuff promotes fungus and fungus in the ears is really nasty. I find the best thing is to keep my ear canals cleaned out with a bobby pin, and dry inside.
if you do get a hard wax buildup way deep in the canal, warmed mineral oil drops will soften it so you can get it out with a bobby pin...VERY CAREFULLY..
DO NOT USE Q-TIPSs..they only push the crud in farther, until you have to goan ENT doctor for a hospital visit..and that removal is painful, by crikey!
Of course, you must be very careful with bobby pins,too. Only do it if you are seated, relaxed and can concentrate on being delicate and careful. Sterilize the bobby pin with alcohol and a tissues before and after, then wipe out the ear bell with a baby wipe tissues... My wife says you only need baby wipes if you have poop for brains.. Ha Ha. Bless my dear, dry-humoured, long-suffering wife. She can hear me thinking.
My doctor always scolds me for doing my ears with a bobby pin. But he cannot get me any other kind of a fix, so I do it anyways... Have been for thirty years...no problem. Itchey ears are a definite curse.
Somebody said, use yoghurt like the girls do...NO COMMENT...don't go there..and no smart-*** remarks either, please.
Ok boys, that is me done about hearing aids...and about time too. Rather be playing with my Kubota tractor. Gosh I like the sound of a little diesel rattling away, using hardly any fuel and happily gobbling up the hard work for me. I used to work with a team of Percheron horses, which are much, much more trouble, but still, they are enjoyable beasts to talk to, as you plow, harrow, mow, rake, and bind the grain, a thousand acres of it a year. Talking to a tractor, not so much. My problem is that I loved farming, but didn't like all that hard, hard work. Dairy is better income, but cows do not like a poor farmer to get much time off... Now I only farm snow...and mow grass and weeds
Darn trouble with a little Kubota is that you like it so much you look for things to do..eventually you are busier than you want to be somedays, so you go out and get a bigger tractor to keep up with the work you created for yourself..and it is a never-ending circle,....until you run outa money.
So I swear..I am NOT NEVER going to get a bigger tractor. Farming snow is enuff!
JIX
