Poor manners to change hearing aid batteries in public?

Posted by bobbiefriend @bobbiefriend, May 12, 2019

Is it poor manners to change my hearing aid batteries in public? My HAs give me very little warning before they go dead when the batteries expire, and it only takes me a short time to change the batteries in both aids. Am I supposed to go do this in private?

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bobbiefriend, Absolutely not. We can use devices to listen to this with absolutely no problem. Now I use rechargeable hearing aids and don't need to change the batteries. I think this hearing aid is convenience.

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I hope the fear about changing hearing aid batteries in public has dissipated. đŸ™‚ The stigmas need to go away! Do you clean your glasses in public?

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I have no qualms changing my batteries or cleaning my glasses in public.

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@chud2

Best tatic is to make sure your batteries are up to date before getting into a social or business gathering. Otherwise change when necessary. Also impolite to not hear people's conversation or asking them to speak louder or clearer so changeaway

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My audiologist encouraged me to ask people to talk more slowly when needed. Talking louder does not help my sensorineural hearing loss. Reducing background noise and talking slowly does.

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Is it more impolite to hold a conversation? without hearing a lot of what the other party is saying. Do you just smile and nod like an idiot when the other persons mouth is moving or do you really want to hear and participate? If so change the battery. If you are embarassed then take a bathroom break and change them there.

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@julieo4

Of course it's not bad manners. Do you clean your glasses in public? Let it show. It shows you care enough to want to hear.

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Yes & it creates awareness 👍

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@sgolterman

bobbiefriend, Absolutely not. We can use devices to listen to this with absolutely no problem. Now I use rechargeable hearing aids and don't need to change the batteries. I think this hearing aid is convenience.

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My experience with rechargeable batteries is that, in time, they start lasting for a shorter time. What happens when those rechargeable batteries stop working?

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@julieo4

My experience with rechargeable batteries is that, in time, they start lasting for a shorter time. What happens when those rechargeable batteries stop working?

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you spend more $$$

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@chud2

you spend more $$$

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Not only that, but if you cannot use regular batteries in your device as well as rechargeable ones, the device may have to be sent in to be upgraded. That means being without for who knows how long. My hearing aid uses regular batteries. My cochlear processor has rechargeables, but also has a 'battery cage' that fits like the batteries do. I can use regular batteries if needed , and I often do. While having rechargeable batteries seems to be 'an advancement', I'm not so sure. When traveling it's a lot easier to have a supply of regular batteries rather than a half dozen chargers for all the stuff we tend to haul around that needs charging! đŸ™‚ Two steps forward; one step back. And yes, always lots of $$.

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Not at all! I used to be embarrassed to do so and take a bathroom break, but now I just do it when I need to. I'm glad I'm not embarrassed as ther is no need to be, And I agree with the other person who wrote that it creates awareness.

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