FDA Approves Rechargeable Batteries for the N5

I just received an email from my audiologist that the FDA has approved the rechargeable batteries for the Nucleus 5 processor. Here are some of the details:

• Cochlear will begin shipping rechargeable batteries starting this upcoming Monday to current Nucleus 5 recipients. People who already have the N5 will receive two standard rechargeable batteries in their primary processor color.
• These shipments will take 8-12 weeks
• All new Nucleus 5 system orders will begin shipping with a rechargeable battery kit effective June 21, 2010.
• Starting July 1st, Cochlear will change it from two rechargeable batteries to three, adding a compact rechargeable to new patient kits. These will not be included in the rechargeable battery kit shipped to patients who received their Nucleus 5 prior to July 1st.
• For those who would like to purchase the compact battery, Cochlear will be running a special promotion offer on the price of rechargeables, bringing it down to $99 from July 13th-September 30th
• When using rechargeable batteries, the Nucleus 5 Sound Processor is the world’s ONLY submersible sound processor.
• However, the newsletter recommends not using it in swimming that involves going underwater, under a high pressure nozzle, or when using soap or shampoo. 

I know this is welcome news too many! I probably will not be using the rechargeable batteries too much, since I already have a pretty short battery life. I'd be interested to hear if current recipients will be paying the money to get the (amazingly tiny) compact batteries.

Free Batteries, News

A reader of this blog who I've become pretty good friends with shared some links with me about free hearing aid batteries. I thought I'd pass them along to anyone who may be interested.
*Disclaimer* I have never used, nor do I endorse any of the websites mentioned for free batteries. I advise anyone to take caution when giving out information to an unknown site. If anyone has experiences with these sites (good or bad), please let me know so that I can edit this post appropriately. 

FreeHearingAidBatteries.net
Energizer

If you have other sites where you've gotten free battery samples, feel free to share!

Now there are only three long weeks left until summer! I could say "wow, this year has flown by!" or "I'm going to miss being in school everyday, and getting absolutely no sleep!" , but we all know that would be a lie!

I'm very much looking forward to this summer. I'm volunteering at a local pediatric hospital again, which should, at the very least, keep me busy. I had a bit of an eye opener while working there last year.  I must say, I've come quite a long way in the past year, and am much less anxiety-ridden about using the phone. I'm also attending the AG Bell Convention in Orlando, and am very much looking forward to seeing all of my friends that I haven't seen in two years! I'm not sure what else I'm doing... We may go on a short vacation (but we're staying in the country this year!) I'm taking an online PE class- ha, talk about an oxymoron. Not exactly exciting, but it's one more credit I can get out of the way. I'll also be taking the majority of my driving lessons, so that I'm able to get my license on time, in less than four months! :D

I have a pretty big announcement coming up. It's neither good nor bad, just a change that I have no doubt will surprise quite a few of you. I am waiting to share until I am 100% sure I'm making the right choice, but I've thought long and hard about it, so I think I am. My teenage brain can occasionally be indecisive, so I'd rather wait until all is said and done. I'm hoping that when I choose to announce it that no one jumps to any irrational conclusions :) Hint: The announcement is not about me changing schools. I'm still staying where I currently attend. So, stay tuned!