What would you do in a storm with rechargeable hearing aids?!

Hearing Aids
#101

I think the likelihood of such dire situations must be considered. Implicit to such a scenario is that one has no friends or relatives who could bring your essentials to the hospital, etc. And hospital personnel will be so clueless they won’t be able to communicate with you. Maybe they have a device that does Live Transcribe, even Live Translate. You’ll be half-dead and incapacitated for days, and the main worry is, “Will I have my hearing aids?” Folks are hypothesizing situations as crucial determiners that will rarely, if ever, happen to most people, especially if they plan ahead. Likewise, the ability to cope in such situations is being seriously downplayed, such as carrying a rechargeable case, which can be worn on a belt and recharged with a USB cable (and wall adapter), which is available ~everywhere, and recharging one HA at a time while you still use the other, etc.

There’s a lot of potent emotional charge going on that’s clouding consideration of what’s likely and feasible. If you absolutely can’t get by an hour, a day, or a week without hearing aids, you shouldn’t go anywhere without carrying a backup HA pair, be it rechargeable or disposable. What if one of your regular hearing aids just breaks? You won’t be able to hear in one ear, and the world will come to an end…

Edit_Update: To go to a parallel world with vision, what if you really need glasses and can’t see anything very well without them? Shouldn’t you always buy extremely rugged “sports” frames and carry a spare pair with you in case you fall and smash your glasses and your head against a concrete sidewalk and have to be taken to the hospital and lie in bed for days? What will you do not being able to see without that spare pair of glasses you should have always been carrying? That’s kinda parallel to the extreme situations I see people hypothesizing here in which one absolutely needs disposable battery-powered HA’s to be able to cope…

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#102

I have, I guess, an average amount of experience in hospitals as a patient, as a care partner, and as a visitor. Given what I think is likely and what degree of uncertainty I’m willing to tolerate, I’m satisfied with disposable battery aids and a pack of batteries to take care of my hearing needs. You’re the one spinning scenarios…I need an extra pair of aids, I’ll be half-dead and incapacitated for days, I need sports glasses plus an extra pair of glasses.

Is there some externality associated with my (and everyone else’s) cheap, small and convenient hearing aid batteries that’s impacting you in some way?

#103

That’s simply not true. I’m replying to the emergency away-from-home scenario that you spun up with conditions in which you imagined rechargeable aids simply would not work. I wore rechargeable ReSound HA’s for 3 1/2 years. In any situation where I’d be away from home for any length of time, I took my CHARGED recharging case with me on a belt pouch. I never had a situation in 3 1/2 years where either of my HA’s ran out of charge whereas the pro-disposable group here is trying to conjure up situations, such as you tried to do in the post I replied to, in which rechargeables just won’t work, no friends or family or hospital employees will find a way to help you out, etc.

I just don’t accept that in a real emergency, hurricane, tornado, wind storm, etc., one won’t be able to cope, with or without hearing aids. People managed to get by in calamities long before there were even hearing aids. Caring human beings don’t abandon the disadvantaged. They find a way.

I also don’t buy “I’m such a civilized comfort-creature that I can’t live a minute, an hour, a day, a week, … without all the comforts of HA’s that I love.” What would one do back in mid-20th century during whatever emergency you want to conjure up? There weren’t even mass-market analog HA’s then…

The scenarios that I included in my reply were to mirror the “you’re going to be caught in this emergency situation with HA’s and disposables are the only answer” improbability. Trying to parallel in a cartoonish way the stretch you’re going to with being laid up in the hospital and no way to deal with rechargeable HA’s.

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#104

I guess I was lucky? I was over on Kauai for 3 mos when 2020 began. As the weeks trickled by, I was more worried about getting Covid on an island with 11 ICU beds.

I don’t recall if I’d packed a 3-mo supply, cuz Costco and Amazon would (presumably!) bail me out? However, there wasn’t a drug store, grocery store or hardware store that had any Purel, face mask or sani wipes left. Seriously. We heard from one clerk at the local Longs (still in biz over there) that one guy would come in at store opening every Thu to buy up all the hand sanitizers delivered.

Wish I coulda met him in a back alley with my SUP oar. :face_with_spiral_eyes:

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#105

If I had to use rechargeable aids, I would of course try to make them work for me. From what I read here it seems doable, if inconvenient at times. If my aids stopped working, I would of course have no choice but to try to cope with the situation.

Now that I’ve said that, do you still object to my advocating for the technology that I, and some others, consider most convenient and reliable?

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#106

Both Jim and I wear hearing aids with disposable batteries. They definitely have their pluses. I can’t speak for Jim, but it’s the catastrophizing that I find annoying. It seems like there are better things to worry about.

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#107

I have no problem at all. My Omnias are powered by size 13 disposable batteries. I chose that option not because I didn’t think I couldn’t handle power outages or other emergencies with rechargeables. I think the real problem with rechargeables is that after the warranty period is up, there is no easy, inexpensive way to deal with a rechargeable battery weakening from age and extensive use. With disposables, my HA’s are more likely to be functional long after the warranty period ends.

It seems disposable battery HA fans try to conjure scenarios in which rechargeables just won’t work. If someone points out there’s a way to make rechargeables work, that’s not being against disposable battery-powered HAs. In capitalism and in democracies, minorities sometimes end up on the short end of the stick. There are lots of items I liked that I can no longer buy because they didn’t get the $ vote from the majority of folks. Unfortunately, disposable battery power HA’s are likely to be subject to the same economic vicissitudes. Hot competition may be good for driving prices down - it also drives less popular choices out of the market, unfortunately, for giving a poorer R.O.I.

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#108

Not everyone is you tho!

You have to consider that because it hasn’t happened to you, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen to others!

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#109

Have you noticed that Climate Change is making UK weather more extreme?

How can you be prepared when an emergency happens and because you weren’t aware of the emergency, you haven’t topped up the charge of your hearing aids?!

We aren’t talking about not being able to charge your Aids for weeks on end!

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#110

A lot of good suggestions made here by readers.
Myself, I have 2 back-up HAs, one set always charged, the other is battery operated, and I have plenty of batteries. I also have a solar power pack that can provide electricity for recharging. It also has a hand-crank.
I’m very glad I kept my previous pair of HAs, which work fine, use batteries (last almost 2 wks), and I have a decent supply of fresh batteries. My current pair are rechargables, my first such. I feel that I’m covered.

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#111

Regarding the hospital situation, a year or so back I had both cataracts sorted in one session. Obviously I didn’t have my hearing aids in while I was in the operating theatre. I was a bit anxious about having both done one after the other, so the surgeon said he would do the worse eye and then ask me whether I wanted him to stop there or go on to the second eye.

I said I won’t be able to hear you well because of not having my hearing aids in. He said “That’s ok. I’ll shout. I need the exercise!”

It all went just as he said and by mutual agreement he went on to do the second eye half an hour later

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#112

I don’t think any subject gets more emotive than when we debate, disposable v rechargeable aids, each have their own merits… I think we can all see hypothetical situations where one v the other, might be deemed challenging… But, in certain circumstances, we cannot cover all of the bases, especially with rechargeable aids, you are in effect tethered too your charger, and without this base, your aids are absolutely useless! Logic tells us then, we need some form of backup, and the most efficient/effective solution is probably going to be a good set of spare disposable battery aids… Personally, I always take a spare set of aids & custom moulds with me, on holiday, overnight or long weekends, a 6 pack of spare batteries fits inside their small case, they fit comfortably inside my jacket pocket, usually a zipper pocket, the former “Boy Scout” in me, will not pick a jacket for aesthetics, but more to do with practical purposes, I am very wary of lost luggage on flights, so the spare aids are always on me… Like @jim_lewis, I have found the most ignorant folk to deal with hearing loss, are indeed the medical professionals, perhaps with hindsight, I was unlucky, but you would think, given their experience/knowledge/training, they might be more astute than most, in actual fact, I found ENT specialists the worst, totally oblivious to the needs of the HOH, and no concept of communication tactics whatsoever!!! Unfortunately, they don’t make rechargeable aids powerful enough to accommodate my hearing loss, so disposable is the only effective solution, 105db RIC’s don’t really cut it, BTE 675’s are a much more viable option, they suit my lifestyle, and cover most of my needs, they are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but at present the best solution, I have… Cheers Kev :wink:

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#113

@jim_lewis

Sounds like ReSound HA’s has it worked out.

Phonak doesn’t.

My charge-case has a USB cord on it. That’s all. It doesn’t have any source of power.
I regret that I have rechargeable hearing aids. They didn’t work in the hospital for me when I stayed overnight. I couldn’t hear the way they were set up; I couldn’t charge them. It was as stressful for me as having 3 stents put in. I’m grateful for the stents!

DaveL

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#114

When I started I had the most incredible audiologist who solved every problem I brought her way.

After she sold her business I started having issues and couldn’t hear as well with my hearing aids…I went looking for a forum for help. I found this one before the name was changed to what it is now.

One of the things that has helped me the most is a recommendation for a book that someone wrote here. It changed my life; I keep referring to it.

Book is:

HEAR & BEYOND

Live Skillfully with Hearing Kiss’’

Shari Eberts
Gael Hannan.

It’s as close as I’ve found to an Owner’s Manual for my damaged sense of hearing. It’s changed my life. I’ve recommended it to my audiologist who quit on me, and the hearing aid practitioner who fixed my horrible HA setup that the audiologist left me with. It was that awful setup that made my time in Hospital dangerous to me.

I used to use a vest that was intended to be used by people who carry hidden firearms. (I’m not one of those.) The advantage is that you can carry a lot of stuff and all you have to do in the morning is put the vest on. It’s made by Scott E Vest in the US. After every day wear I know it works. I also know it doesn’t last as long as I expected.

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#115

In truth Dave, I do appreciate your kind offer, your dedication, and promotion’s of Hear & Beyond, is extremely admirable, I am sure it is a wonderful book, and is a godsend to it’s many readers, but unfortunately, it’s not for me… There isn’t much I haven’t learned (the hard way) about hearing loss, it’s pitfalls, trials & tribulations are etched on my memory, I worked first hand with deaf services in the community, I sign, I Lipread, I was trained in communication tactics & deaf awareness, and ultimately, many years ago, I learned how to be totally excepting of my hearing loss, and just embrace it, and yes, occasionally like everyone else, we lose our way, feel sorry for oneself, but that is just a passing phrase, we get over it, and move on… But thank you again, I am much obliged for being in your thoughts… I am at peace with myself. Cheers Kev :wink:

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#116

Say 15% of users want disposable. In a competitive market where companies are vying for sales, you don’t think that 15% is worth going for? My guess is that the extra potential profit on rechargeables is only a fraction of the profit on the aids themselves. As for cost advantages on larger quantities manufactured, how much is the advantage for, say, 15K vs 100K units? My point is, there’s still money to be made on disposables. I imagine both kinds can be made in the same factory with mostly shared parts, and disposables get the advantage of whatever the price break is for the shared parts.

It seems clear that more disposable sales now = more chance they remain available. I figure I can try to make a difference by posting on the subject on this site. I believe lots more people read this site than post on it, and many of them come here to research before they buy. I’d rather they find out, before buying, whether rechargeables or disposables fit their needs and lifestyle better. I think that education will lead to more sales of disposables.

If I’m right about all this, then each additional buyer of disposables will be to your benefit too. Even the buyers who choose them for a reason other than what you’ve declared is the “real problem” with rechargeables.

#117

My Signias came with a charge/carrying case in addition to the usual charger. As has been pointed out many times, these charge cases will hold three full charges without needing any sort of power input. Mine fits easily in a pocket. It weighs about six ounces. Also, my normal charger has a USB port, which I plug into a $2.50 adapter that allows it to charge from a wall socket. I believe hospitals have wall sockets these days. I just don’t understand how a hospital stay makes using rechargeable aids impossible. Not at all. And it’s not like one has to perform a ton of contortions to bring along a carry case, or have someone bring a charger when they visit. Or add an adapter to a USB port.
Yes, there’s always the miniscule chance of a perfect storm striking. I don’[t make my buying decisions based on highly unlikely possibilities. I weigh what works best for me in normal circumstances and normal contingencies–travel etc. My rechargeables are easy in this regard, and trouble free.

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#118

@kevels55

Great post.
As for me it’s time to move on. My hearing aids are so much better now

I shall watch for news. I appreciate the questions Zebras asked. @Zebras you made me think.

Thank you

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#119

Think you’re missing the point.

Firstly we are in different parts of the world.

Secondary we have said many times on this thread, it looks like eventually all hearing aids will be rechargeable.

Thirdly you don’t stop asking advice throughout life because no one will know everything.

Forth it’s nothing to do with charging!

A few years ago I was racing yachts round Europe and we were in the North Sea.

We had to evacuate the boat in the middle of the night, due to severe damage from storm force winds. And no it was not predicted weather!!

Everyone response is, oh wait hang on, I’ll just charge my hearing aids! Can you just hold on!

Clearly there will be situations where rechargeable’s don’t work! :roll_eyes:

Yes I do realise there was a chance my hearing aids would have stopped working anyway.

We ended up in one of these and had to wait 5 hours for rescue.

Picture of sea was not the same calmness.

IMG_2621
IMG_26211200×858 105 KB

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#120

Well…right back atcha! First however let me say that your North sea adventure is pretty darn cool. And of course you didn’t jsut start out with this. Clearly you do or did lead a life filled with outdoor ventures. I spent fifty years of my life wandering several times a year through the mountains. True, this was before I needed hearing aids. You do present special circumstances.

which brings me back to my quote above. The vast, vast majority of HA users aren’t spending a lot of time out paddling in the arctic, or doing similar adventures…as you know. We’re living our daily lives with the modern amenities of western culture, that includes electricity delivered to our homes, or stored in batteries. Zebras, you’re entire case against rechargeables seems based on circumstances like what you show in the picture above. I’m glad that you posted that. I for one am not ever going to be in those circumstances at this stage in my life. And if I am, I will indeed plan ahead and bring a backup pair of HAs.
For everyday use? You’re missing the point. Rechargeables work fine.

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