I have been wearing HA since I was 6. That was 46 years ago. Have worn all types of HA in the past. Have a new set of Phonex Smart IX and ICOM now. I have told many people that I wear HA over the years. I am in sales and depend on what the customers are saying. And yes still I feel there is a stigma with wearing HA, but it is my own stigma. After telling people that I have a hearing problem they understand and its not really a issue. So stick them in your ears and hear life.
Yepā¦ I thought the same thingā¦ I was sure that we did not have crickets at our 20 acre farm. We also have a 3 acre pond and I just found out we have bullfrogsā¦ Ahhh the things that I was missing. I wore my new aids for 2 weeks before I told everyone at work that I had them. None noticed as they were behined the ear ric. I was sure that the coworkers would see them and I was timid about wearing them the first time. Now I wear them from wake up until bedtime.
I am 47 and started wearing Rexton Cobalt 16 RIC from Costco 6 weeks ago. They are practically invisible. I have long black hair and the shell casing is black.
I tell people on an āas neededā basis. I feel that if I am not having problems understanding someone, there is no need to announce that I am wearing HAās.
So far, my husband knows of course. I told a friend because she was calling my name from 50 feet across the street and I had no clue. She understood because her father has them. A relative, who always sounded like he had a mouthful of marbles, got huffy and exasperated when I still couldnāt hear him well. I was like no, I donāt have bionic ears. I am looking forward to hearing the peepers (baby frogs) in the pond this spring and also the crickets this summer.
This is an interesting thread and Iām glad to read that others have thought about the same thing that I have considered.
I think that had it been years ago, before these almost miniature devices have been introduced, I might have been concerned re: public āacceptanceā or view of my disability. That was due to the types of devices (in the ear) that were very noticeable and rather ugly, if you ask me, and make it immediately clear to others that you have this issue.
However, now that the devices are very, very small and can be colored to match your hair, they are so much less noticeable that I would imagine that itās less of an issue.
Iām saying this, at the moment anyway, not based on personal experience because Iām getting my first pair in 2 weeks, so I may feel differently about this topic once I am āout in the worldā with them.
This is embarrassingā¦
NayTatas
I have to agree with you. Now the only problem I have is that I can be talking in the phone and people wonder is I am talking to myself.
For I have the duals and the streamer with bluetooth connection to the cell phone.
I have only had mine a week and its like when I wear my glasses instead of contacts,people seem to just move on or it starts a whole new subject of conversation. Some people wonder if they might have a need also, Possibly you might help someone else.
Great point.
New member, just ordered my HA today. Should be picking them up tomorrow or Tuesday from Costco. Bernafon Verite. I have put this off for over three years since my ENT advised. I agree with the poster that said they were embarrassed by the not hearing and having to request people to repeat themselves.
I got my with a bright blue shell! Iām gonna be loud and proud and drawing a crowd!
Age 56
I have to say everyone is different. But in my experience, I think a hearing loss is very noticeable, and I can usually tell after a few minutes speaking w/ someone, almost always. I donāt always notice hearing aids though. 
Iāve worn HAs since 2nd grade, and back then you dont want to be seen as ādifferentā, so yeah, back then it was embarrassing. Since growing up, itās not an issue, as people earlier in this thread said, itās like wearing glasses.
I actually use that analogy when asked by a child what those things are (watch the parents cringe when their kids ask that question )
BTW, once you explain what they are, they donāt give it a second thought.
Hi Betty, my Mum was actually really embarrassed wearing hearing aids at first and in-fact would generally go without wearing them at all and preferred to struggle just getting by with lip reading mostly through conversations. She has just been fitted with the octicon acto which she absolutely loves and they came at a great price too so maybe have a look at trying them and see if they help with your confidence of wearing them.
Ask your friends that wear glasses full time if they are embarrassed with those āthingsā hanging on their ears.
Most will say no, glasses are acceptable, but somehow wearing corrective equipment for hearing is different than corrective equipment for vision?
No, Iām not any more embarrassed to wear HA than to wear my reading glasses.
Iāve been wearing my HAās since October and was very self conscious about them although no one really noticed them unless I told them. My hair was short when I got them and I have since let my hair grow a little longer. Iām not as embarrassed as before, however, my world has changed since getting them!!!
I donāt know why it took me so long to get them and my first thought was āGee, it sure it a noisy world out there.ā Iām hearing things I never heard before and it is nice to have someone ask me a question only once and i hear them whereas before I didnāt or mistook their words for something totally way off, lol.
I love them with the exception of having issues with one (not fitting right) of them which Iāll post to another threadā¦
I was a little self conscience and only wore them where I had to - work and golf. Today a got a paIr of starkey soundlens (otolens) and you can not see them at all. Also, your cell phone controls the volume and a few diff programs. No one will ever know youāre wearing them. I do agree with most everyone here though - itās more embarrassing to not hear whatās going on esp when you make believe you do and youāre wrong.
Same here - shaved head. Like Renovator said - most people donāt notice and I really donāt care if they do. If anything it tends to make them speak a little louder. Iāve joked about making the right one bright red and the left one bright blue. With my white head in between Iād be patriotic.
Heck no! But Iām embarrassed when I say āwhat did you say?ā a million times a day.
Never, got over that along time ago. The hearing loss was more noticeable than these hearing aids.
What is your reaction when you see someone in a wheelchair or walking with a cane or a walker? What would you do if you had some other kind of disability? Perhaps the way you see people with other kinds of disabilities might be a clue to how you feel about having one yourself. You are not going to hide in a closet because of hearing loss, just as people with other disabilities do not. Just go about your business. People will react one way or another - positive, negative or in an indifferent manner. People with big noses or big ears or a funny walk are all out there. Think of how some people look in shorts. We, as hearing loss individuals, should be out there too and not think much of it. If they donāt make fun of us about this, they probably will about something else. Accept it and move along.
Instead of trying to hide them, you can always ārockā them! My audi has a male patient who wears bright pink ones during breast cancer awareness month, because his wifeās a survivor. Put in that perspective, a little hearing loss is a minor thing. And I donāt consider it a disability anymore than having bad eyesight (which I certainly have).