Are you embarrassed to wear hearing aids?

Hearing Aids
#31

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 “as needed” basis. I feel that if I am not having problems understanding someone, there is no need to announce that I am wearing HA’s.

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 couldn’t hear him well. I was like no, I don’t have bionic ears. I am looking forward to hearing the peepers (baby frogs) in the pond this spring and also the crickets this summer.

#32

This is an interesting thread and I’m 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 “acceptance” 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 it’s less of an issue.

I’m saying this, at the moment anyway, not based on personal experience because I’m getting my first pair in 2 weeks, so I may feel differently about this topic once I am “out in the world” with them.

#33

This is embarrassing…

#34

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.
:smiley:

#35

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.

#36

Great point.

#37

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! I’m gonna be loud and proud and drawing a crowd!

Age 56

#38

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 don’t always notice hearing aids though. :slight_smile:

#39

I’ve worn HAs since 2nd grade, and back then you dont want to be seen as “different”, so yeah, back then it was embarrassing. Since growing up, it’s not an issue, as people earlier in this thread said, it’s 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 :slight_smile: )

BTW, once you explain what they are, they don’t give it a second thought.

#40

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.

#41

Ask your friends that wear glasses full time if they are embarrassed with those “things” 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, I’m not any more embarrassed to wear HA than to wear my reading glasses.:cool:

#42

I’ve been wearing my HA’s 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. I’m not as embarrassed as before, however, my world has changed since getting them!!!

I don’t know why it took me so long to get them and my first thought was “Gee, it sure it a noisy world out there.” I’m 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 didn’t 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 I’ll post to another thread…

#43

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 you’re wearing them. I do agree with most everyone here though - it’s more embarrassing to not hear what’s going on esp when you make believe you do and you’re wrong.

#44

Same here - shaved head. Like Renovator said - most people don’t notice and I really don’t care if they do. If anything it tends to make them speak a little louder. I’ve joked about making the right one bright red and the left one bright blue. With my white head in between I’d be patriotic.

#45

Heck no! But I’m embarrassed when I say “what did you say?” a million times a day.

#46

Never, got over that along time ago. The hearing loss was more noticeable than these hearing aids.

#47

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 don’t make fun of us about this, they probably will about something else. Accept it and move along.

#48

Instead of trying to hide them, you can always “rock” them! My audi has a male patient who wears bright pink ones during breast cancer awareness month, because his wife’s a survivor. Put in that perspective, a little hearing loss is a minor thing. And I don’t consider it a disability anymore than having bad eyesight (which I certainly have).

#49

“We probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of us if we could know how seldom they do.” ~Olin Miller

#50

I tried something like that, went for some white ones 10 years back when iPods started coming around. Most people didn’t notice or care but a few jumped to the conclusion that I had cordless iHeadphones. :slight_smile: