Have you been hiding your hearing loss?
Some of us avoid hearing aids completely. Others leave them in the drawer, or make efforts to disguise them while wearing them. There’s a trend towards seeking out the most ‘invisible’ hearing devices on the market. And advances in technology mean we have been able to go from whopping ear trumpets to barely perceptible models. But is this trend perpetuating a social stigma and affecting the way people who need assistive hearing technology feel about their hearing loss?
Do you feel there is a social stigma surrounding hearing aids? Do you let it keep you from addressing your hearing loss?
If so, you’ll be pleased to know that recent studies show most people have no negative feelings towards people wearing hearing aids whatsoever. They actually find them more trustworthy than those without them!
So there you go. A hearing loss is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. The sooner you can truly believe that, the sooner you’ll be able to make life easier for yourself. Letting people know you have hearing loss can dramatically improve your daily interactions – people need to be able to see your hearing aids at a glance to know you’re hearing impaired.
Forgoing hearing aids altogether only makes you more susceptible to the negative secondary impacts of hearing loss -like depression, isolation and even dementia; Keeping them in a draw is just a waste of money; And hiding your hearing loss doesn’t help others with hearing loss come to terms with it.
Like jewellery, personal medical wearables – like hearing aids, should be about wellness and self-expression (Julie is pictured wearing Ear Jewellery by Israeli designer Yael Salomon). That’s the future of health as we see it.
Have you had enough of hiding your hearing loss? We think it’s time to get ‘libEARated’ (boom-tish)! All you need to do is email a picture of yourself wearing a creatively adorned hearing aid to info@blameysaunders.com.au. The more inventive the better. You could win a lifetime supply of hearing aid batteries.
Conditions apply. Call us on 03 9008 6371 for more information.