Are you embarrassed to wear hearing aids?

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…

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.

@Renovator said:

I am as embarrased about wearing my hearing aids as I am a ring or a hat.

Actually, as others have stated, it is making my friends say “you know, I really should get my hearing checked as I cannot seem to hear as well as I used to!”

My head is completely shaved and I still could care less, most people are so wrapped in themselves, they don’t even notice!

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.

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

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).

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

@Arggg said:

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).

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.

Hey Guys,
Some people could be interested in alternatives to hearing aids if they feel that hearing aids aren’t for them…
Have a look at this assistive listening device (Comfort Contego FM loop system(Hearing Aid alternative) for sale on ebay for less than half the retail price. I dont need it and someone else could use it.

Regards,
Anyad Audiologist

Embarressed!?? NO!. Well, maybe at first…
Hearing Aids? That’s so… 1980’s!! I’ll explain -
But… FIRST!.. It’s 2011 -

• The world is INSANE!!
• Gas is pushing $4 a gallon!!
• The found 'HIM'
(just staying polically correct). Ok - I'm not!!

You’re still looking at it just the right way…

1. I don't see a need to tell anyone - ANYthing.[LIST=1]
2. Would I start listing all ailments and family history?
3. I wear hard contact lenses... They hiurt, but you can't see them! And, I can almost see you!
4. There's a steal pin or three in my knee.
5. I have diabetes too!
6. Hell... :confused: Do we have to do meds too!??

I just changed the name - Marketing people… .Call me!!

They are no Longer HEARING AIDS…

Let’s call them Communication Gateways.
Seriously… Today - They are sooooo much more…
People, It’s those my age and younger (50) are the edge of technology. Meaning we either went with it - or still think it’s stupid!f I went the techno side…

With hearing aids in, powered up and finely connected I can…

Have a conversation with someone who babbles on and on… What to do??
WIthout Communication Gateways…
Listen on and on… until he shuts up or forgets what he was saying…

With Communication Gateways…

1. Stick the finger up (pointer people, pointer finger)
2. Say..... Excure me, I have a phone call!
• Hello, oh yes.... blah blah..
• Bye..
3. Now, Where were we?
4. Oh, look at the time..
5. I have to go to bed...

@Betty said:

Hi All,
I was wondering if anyone else feels uncomfortable and embarrassed to wear hearing aids? I know they are great and very helpful ---- but I still am not comfortable telling people I have a hearing loss and wear hearing aids. I welcome your thoughts on how to deal with this. Thank you! Betty

Sorry folks, but I have a right to feel embarrassed about wearing hearing aids. Why, because it was my stupid firing of “the most powerful handgun in existence” without using hearing protection that caused the effects you see listed below. I had just gotten out of the Army where use of ear plugs was mandatory on the range, but thoughts of my own hearing were nowhere in sight after I bought the .44 Mag revolver. If you didn’t screw up your own sense of hearing, then you should not feel embarrassed to try to make your ears useful again.

Are you embarrassed by putting your buttons in the right holes, by wearing the same color socks on both feet, I thought not. wearing contacts and going for the least obtrusive HAs you can live with is fine, but being embarrassed is just plain silly.

Just my $0.02 but I have been known to be stupid at least one time in the past,

TerryB