hearing aid battery users

[LeslieLouise47]

  I wonder if  AARP is aware of how many seniors are adversely affected by having to deal with hearing aid batteries that are impossible to open - or once opened, impossible to store - since mandated child-resistant packaging went into effect?

  Two work-arounds I've found: (1) save your old packaging, cut batteries out of new packaging, and store in old packaging OR (2) buy a rechargeable hearing aid batteries and charger set. 

  #1 is a lot of work & not at all easy for someone w/arthritis or tremors, etc... and #2 is dicey for those who live in rural areas with frequent winter power outages.

  As with pill bottles, we should have a choice between easy-open and child-proof.

 

[KathyinCentralCA]

Amen! Thankfully, my husband and I still have the physical dexterity to open them, but it's difficult. And who wants to carry scissors everywhere? From what I'm reading online, the only acceptable practical solution is to use a battery carrying case that keeps each one in a separate compartment. Apparently, if they're kept together they will lose power. But that still requires wrestling with the package to get them out in the first place. 

This was not a well-thought-out plan. I suggest everyone who sees this contact AARP and ask them to get on the case. 

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@LeslieLouise47 wrote:

  I wonder if  AARP is aware of how many seniors are adversely affected by having to deal with hearing aid batteries that are impossible to open - or once opened, impossible to store - since mandated child-resistant packaging went into effect?

  Two work-arounds I've found: (1) save your old packaging, cut batteries out of new packaging, and store in old packaging OR (2) buy a rechargeable hearing aid batteries and charger set. 

  #1 is a lot of work & not at all easy for someone w/arthritis or tremors, etc... and #2 is dicey for those who live in rural areas with frequent winter power outages.

  As with pill bottles, we should have a choice between easy-open and child-proof.

[jl1417184]

Could AARP lobby for an exception for households with no small children?

We have such an exception for prescription bottle caps.

The new packaging for hearing aid batteries are MUCH HARDER to open.

[GailL1]

Amen to that Sister -  I use to have to change the batteries for my mom and now that my hands and fingers don’t work so well I could just imagine what it would be like to have to do it now.  I might even go to one of those “hearing horns”. they work without batteries but aren’t pretty or hidden.

Just getting into the packaging would be hard on me - they want to keep kids from opening the battery pack and swallowing one of these batteries - that’s well and good but what about us ?????