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Comment by DanBC | Hacker News Reader

Yes. Plenty of people prefer behind the ear devices because they are either rechargable, or brightly coloured. Young people in particular benefit from being able to chose an aid that's brightly coloured, and you see some YP modify their aids with skins or stickers.

Here's the colour range for one modern aid: https://www.fmhearingsystems.co.uk/PDF/FocusColours.jpg

Rechargable: https://www.phonak.com/uk/en/about-us/rechargeable-technolog...

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Having a brightly coloured hearing aid as an adult doesn’t look professional. Are these marketed towards younger people?

As an adult, I want a brightly colored hearing aid. I don't care about hiding my disability—in fact I'd rather it be difficult for others to ignore—and I want it to be easy to find if my kids knock one out of my ears which happens less now that they're six but still happens.

Why not? People wear brightly colored jewelry or “statement” eyewear in a professional context all the time.

Are you saying that it’s “professional” to hide your disability if you have hearing loss? If so, then I strongly disagree. It’s a personal choice.

Indeed, to make an even more direct comparison: brightly coloured glasses are very common these days. They seem to be treated like neckties: it's acceptable for them to standout even in very formal situations.

I didn’t mean it to be about ‘hiding’ your disability. I wear glasses and I would never wear brightly coloured rims in a professional environment. By my own standards, in a work place you stand out by the merits of your work, not on what you’re wearing.

Dude... chill.

Even if you can be “right” you’ll be alone on Merit Island, let it go it doesn’t matter have some fun and let others have their “things” too.

This is your opinion. In many parts of the world, criticizing a piece of accessibility equipment as unprofessional is likely an HR violation, and probably grounds for termination.

It is and you are correct. It’s not unreasonable for someone to want a more neutral colour if that is their preference though. Some HA users are self conscious and hide that they are wearing them.

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