An 8th grader from Rochester MN has found a way to prolong the life of hearing aid batteries by an astounding 80%.
Not all significant discoveries come out of academic medical meccas. An 8th grader from Rochester MN–who also wears hearing aids–found a way to prolong the life of hearing aid batteries by an astounding 80%. The cost savings could be significant and the discovery is quite simple.
To activate a hearing aid battery, users must remove a sticker on the battery which allows oxygen to mix with zinc-oxide inside the battery. Ethan Manuell did tests to see if waiting a little longer before putting the battery into the device would make a difference. What he found was if users wait 5 minutes after pulling off the sticker, the battery will last 2-3 days longer, which is significant considering batteries usually last anywhere from 2-7 days depending on the model.
Ethan has won several awards and received recognition for his “5 minute rule” discovery, including earning a US Naval Science Award.