It seems common for people to worry about the downsides of hearing aids and be concerned that people will think less of them if they notice one’s hearing aids. Today was the first time in my 8 years of wearing hearing aids that somebody noticed them. I was at the climbing gym climbing with my son. A young man in a climbing harness approached our vicinity. He seemed somewhat uncomfortable so I asked if he wanted a belay (somebody to hold the other end of the rope for protection in climbing) He said he’d love it and then asked if I wore two hearing aids and if I signed. (He’d clearly noticed one of my hearing aids) I then noticed he had BTE tubes (but didn’t notice the hearing aids that must have accompanied them) I belayed him for a couple of climbs and we chatted. He’s a teacher for the hearing impaired.
Now that is Cool!
I like “obvious” hearing aids so that anyone who tries to converse with me is sort-of “forewarned” not to get too frustrated if my reply is “What?” - and maybe to short-circuit any attempts to draw me into a frustrating situation (conversation); but having someone view one’s hearing aids as an ice-breaker in simply excellent.
That is a wonderful story to share about the guy at the climbing gym! With my long hair, I’ve never had anyone NOTICE the aids, but now I’m showing them off cuz I LOVE my Phonak 312-battery aids in Precious Pink. I’ve had a handful of people wowed when I tell them I can answer my phone on a different floor of the house just by pressing my aids; also that I stream TV at night like I’m wearing a headset. These conveniences really get their attention.
I’m also glad the fellow climber approached you cuz it shows that people are curious, they notice things and they reach out to connect to others. 
I have been approached by a few individuals that noticed my aids to say they had found out that they needed hearing aids and wanted to know everything I could tell them.
Same here. The ONLY 1 or 2 times in 20 years that anyone has ever noticed mine, they’ve asked about them and wanted to talk/information/to share. Always fun conversations.