#1

I really do not want the words “hearing aid” or Phonak, etc to show when connecting to anything (TV, Computer, Bluetooth, etc) Is there a way that I can rename it so everything will just show my chosen name “Streaming” ?

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#2

Yes, the name can be changed in the programming software. Your clinician can do it for you.

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#3

Do you have details on how-to? I did ask but I was told it cannot be done

#5

Thank you very much Baltazard!

I knew I was going to be asked. I am not saying that you should understand, but nobody (20+years) knows I use them. This is my choice and I don’t like it popping up all over the place. People use my devices and watch TV with me, etc so a rename is important to me.

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#6

@Confused No worries, have you thought about the TV connector or the roger on/select?

#7

Yes but I watch TV all over the place and I really don’t think a Roger device is actually hidden. All of my friends and family know I love technology so the questions will be flying if they saw it

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#8

I feel the same way. I changed mine to Earbud-L and Earbud-R

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#9

Interesting. I felt the same way until all the hip young people started walking around with all sorts of devices in and on their ears.
\I wear BTE’s because I have to but would choose them anyway now. And actually my hair covers them so it doesn[t really matter.
But I’m really over the stigma. I just don’t care. And in fact, I wonder if there IS any stigma any more?

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#10

I have to say I very much agree with your sentiments @jeffrey…… I also use BTE’s, they are fairly large Phonak Naida P90 UP BTE’s to be precise, in comparison to my Marvel 90 RIC’s, the Naida’s are massive, but I do not give a monkey’s who sees them, I have often said I would use hearing aid’s the colour, and size of a large banana, if I thought they would help me hear better…. Trying to hide the obvious, just draws attention to your loss, if I meet someone for the first time, I will immediately tell them, by pointing to my ears, and explain the basics of how to effectively communicate with me, saves me time, effort, and not having ask them to continually repeat, most folks, are usually accommodating on help with communication tactics…. In all truth, anyone whom is observant enough, and know you well, you are delusional if you think you can hide a fundamental sensory perception such as hearing loss, even if it’s a moderate loss…. Especially friends and family, they just know that you are HOH, they might not say anything, for fear of upsetting you…. My 2 cents worth, as always YMMV. Cheers Kev :wink:

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#11

@kevels55: Well said, Old Scot! :chair::chair: to you and Elspeth!

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#12

Thank you “ya auld bodach” :joy: :upside_down_face: :rofl: I hope you, Karen, and all the animals are bright eyed, and bushy tailed… Tis good tae see you posting up! On reflection, I often think back to my younger days Jim, living with my parents as a young adolescent, trying to hide all my indiscretions from my parents, turned out they could read me like a book, they knew all my faults…. You cannot hide the fundamental’s from friends & family, especially hearing loss…. They just know! Cheers Kev :wink:

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#13

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@kevels55 You’re so right, Kev. I have learned that the more open I am about my insufficiencies, the more my true friends and family want to help.

I believe, as you do, that it’s impossible for any significant hearing loss to go unnoticed, even with hearing aids. As @hass5744 oft says: hearing aids can’t cure. They just help.

Hearing loss and chronic pain are two biggies that friends and family deserve to be made aware of, as these things change how we live and react to situations .

My $0.02/FWIW

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#14

Eloquently put Jim, thank you for your observations…. In my life, I have often been completely gobsmacked at how observant some folks are, but we shouldn’t be surprised, as these friends & family care about our health, and our wellbeing, some can indeed read us like a book, we all try to holdback little secret’s or indiscretion’s for fear of embarrassment or guilt, or perhaps both? The truth is, they know us so well, they sense this embarrassment or fear…. As you say, they want to help, and like it or not, in most instances, they cannot help us for fear of upsetting us…. There is no embarrassment for me to reach out, I need all friends & family (and other acquaintances) to assist me to communicate more effectively, by doing so, these folks know they are making my life slightly better, they in turn feel good about themselves, and I feel slightly less stressed about life! Trying to go into denial mode doesn’t help anyone, being upfront and honest about your hearing loss is IMO, the best, and ultimately the most productive policy, most folks would absolutely love to help anyone struggling with a hearing loss, but most hearing folks don’t really know how…. Ironically, you only have to reach out, hearing loss isn’t something you can hide, so I see no point in even trying, and amongst your friends & family, this will almost certainly be, common knowledge!… As always, YMMV. Cheers Kev :wink:

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#15

A good way to keep others from knowing you are wearing hearing aids is to put a bag over your head.

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#16

Wonderful exchange here.
After I read it, I thought (partly in jest): “Cane. We need a cane. Can’t use white though…” edit: a cane would be visible as the white canes are… edit over.

I love the quote. “As @hass5744 oft says: hearing aids can’t cure. They just help.”

I’ve quoted that at home. I get, “your hearing aids don’t work” but I have to be 10 feet or less away to hear that.

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#17

LOL Brilliant @Psych1, my type of humour….I assume we are allowed to cut out 2 eye holes, in the bag, whilst hiding our hearing aids :joy: :upside_down_face: :rofl: On a more serious note, I believe things are improving on the stigma/hearing aid front, the younger generation have no qualms whatsoever about wearing streaming earphones, brilliant white, and they stick way out of their ears, seems to have become a fashion statement? Perhaps our older generation, might learn from them? And ultimately, maybe it is our generation whom created that stigma? Eye glasses where stigmatised when I was younger, nowadays they are the height of fashion, tis my earnest hope that at some point in the not too distant future, hearing aids will also become much more inclusive, perhaps cool or even a fashion extension, stranger things have happened…. Cheers Kev :wink:

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#18

I wear big BTE hearing aids and it’s amazing who doesn’t notice them!

Altho a few years ago, I had blue ear moulds and a service user at work asked why I had blue tac in my ears!

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#19

Interestingly when it comes to others’ reactions a number of what CBT practitioners call cognitive distortions often come into play.

Fortune telling: if I tell them, others will judge me or think x y z.

Mind reading: they are probably all thinking x y z.

Over generalising: they will all……there is no ‘they’.

Magnification: my hearing loss outweighs other positive parts of what makes me, me.

Fact is you simply cannot know the thoughts and reactions of others. Unless you ask.

They all already know. If their thoughts on your loss interest you, ask them about them then watch their humanity open up towards you. The wall is of your own making.

We are genetically social animals and barriers to that limit our pleasure from life.

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#20

My hearing aids came out of the closet, the 1st time I double tapped my ear and answered a phone call while in a gathering of friends.

There were immediately questions about their not hearing a ring, how did I do that…etc…

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#21

@davekstott

I was in a shopping checkout cue with my father (who end up people behind me) The phone rang, and I was taking to the other person while waiting my turn. According to my father, who was laughing his head off (post checkout). The two ladies were discussing between themselves about what a nutter I was talking to myself, until he interrupted and explained that I was deaf and taking on the phone directly into my HA’s. they were so embarrassed.

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