Time to remove the stigma?

Paul K · 25-07-2005, 11:38

El Reg

Quote:

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is hosting an exhibition of high-fashion hearing aids, called Hearwear, in a bid to rehabilitate the devices and make them seem more attractive to those who might need them.
The exhibition, supported by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), will showcase a range of designs, from more attractively designed hearing aids to devices that could be used by anyone to play around with sound, the BBC reports.
The exhibition, which opens this week, will include a concept called Goldfish. It records and can replay the last 10 seconds of a conversation, in case the wearer misses a person's name when they are introduced. It also includes hearing aids that have been designed to look like jewellery or gadgets, a device for blocking out annoying sounds, and another to reduce background noise.
The RNID's chief executive, John Low, says that it is time for more investment in the consumer appeal of hearing aids.

Anything that helps make people more comfortable wearing hearing aids is a good thing in my mind. Hopefully someone will produce a relatively attractive, fully functional hearing aid that is cheap enough to be accesible for anyone that needs them.
Link to the V&A site
Hearwear

Graham · 25-07-2005, 12:18

I saw this on the BBC yesterday and thought "damn, that's a good idea!"

Given that many people are now walking around with Ipods or Bluetooth headsets etc, why not *make* hearing aids etc look like them?!

Congrats to these guys for thinking of it

**Maggy** · 25-07-2005, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

El Reg

Anything that helps make people more comfortable wearing hearing aids is a good thing in my mind. Hopefully someone will produce a relatively attractive, fully functional hearing aid that is cheap enough to be accesible for anyone that needs them.
Link to the V&A site
Hearwear

Why they still should feel this way amazes me.In this age of plug in and tune out and people who use those ear aids for their mobile phones how anyone can be embarrassed to have a hearing aid beats me..What is the shame in being deaf? I would never think the less of someone for being deaf and admitting it.

I have in the past been very irritated however by a family member that just wouldn't try using one.We had to live in a world of overloud TV and radio and having to repeat everything at least 3 times.This person had an exceptional mind and a great sense of humour but eventually trying to include them in conversations was just too wearing and they became more and more isolated.

Ramrod · 25-07-2005, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I have in the past been very irritated however by a family member that just wouldn't try using one.We had to live in a world of overloud TV and radio and having to repeat everything at least 3 times.

I know exactly what you are on about--my father in law refuses to acknowledge that he has a hearing problem, the deaf old coot always has the tv up high

Stuart · 25-07-2005, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

Given that many people are now walking around with Ipods or Bluetooth headsets etc, why not *make* hearing aids etc look like them?!

Or, in the case of Bluetooth headsets, build the functionality in. After all, a hearing aid is a microphone, amp and earphone. A bluetooth headset has these, and a blue tooth transciever.

Paul K · 25-07-2005, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I have in the past been very irritated however by a family member that just wouldn't try using one.We had to live in a world of overloud TV and radio and having to repeat everything at least 3 times.

I know exactly what you are on about--my father in law refuses to acknowledge that he has a hearing problem, the deaf old coot always has the tv up high

Think we all have a family member like that lol

Jules · 25-07-2005, 12:41

I wonder if they will become available on the NHS, as it stands at the moment there is a two year waiting list in Leeds just to update the old ones to digital ones

Ramrod · 25-07-2005, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by whyme38

I wonder if they will become available on the NHS, as it stands at the moment there is a two year waiting list in Leeds just to update the old ones to digital ones

Which ties in nicely with Pauls thread about lack of NHS/social money for oldies

Jules · 25-07-2005, 12:44

Rotflmao I will tell Maki that as he is waiting for his and at 35 I don't think he considers him self to be an oldie

Graham · 25-07-2005, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Why they still should feel this way amazes me.

Have you *seen* the sort of hearing aids that get given out, especially those by the NHS? You'd almost think they run on valves they're so clunky.

Imagine if you're a kid and need to wear something like that. Street cred? Not a chance

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Or, in the case of Bluetooth headsets, build the functionality in.

Good point, although if you see someone with one of these in a school lesson or a meeting, check they're not bopping along to their MP3 collection

Keytops · 25-07-2005, 13:04

Pardon?

Stuart · 25-07-2005, 14:15

Actually, I never have understood why there is such a problem making hearing aids look nice. They manage it with glasses..

Jules · 25-07-2005, 15:15

It is because you pay for glasses were as hearing aids are free on the NHS

Stuart · 25-07-2005, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by whyme38

It is because you pay for glasses were as hearing aids are free on the NHS

True, but even paid for hearing aids can look a bit dodgy..

zoombini · 25-07-2005, 15:37

Are they free to all?

Glasses are still free to kids & those on benifits.