Have you ever experienced a scenario like this: You’re having a conversation with a new friend or kind stranger at Old Majestic Brewing, when you turn your head and notice they’ve caught a glimpse of your hearing aids. Your natural conversation takes a turn as your conversation partner begins to shout and make overly-dramatic mouth movements. If so, you’re not alone. It’s, unfortunately, a situation many people who wear hearing aids find themselves in.
Situations like these are frustrating enough to shake anyone’s confidence. If it’s happened to you, remember the following:
Wearing Hearing Aids Is as Natural as Wearing Glasses
Both wearing glasses and wearing hearing aids fulfill the same purpose: to compensate for a sensory deficit. Most people would never feel embarrassed or ashamed about their glasses, so why should you feel that way about your hearing aids? Stigma around wearing glasses is a thing of the past, and stigma around hearing aids soon will be, too.
Wearable Tech Is Becoming Increasingly Popular
From smartwatches to earbuds, wearable technology is becoming increasingly popular, especially among younger generations. While you still might run into people like those described in the scenario above, most people won’t think twice about seeing a piece of modern technology in or on your ear.
Wearing Hearing Aids Is Less Noticeable than Struggling with Hearing Loss
Many people are resistant to wearing hearing aids because they mistakenly believe they’re just for “old people.” But what is more noticeable: wearing a piece of state-of-the-art technology on your ears or struggling to keep up with the conversation, frequently asking people to repeat themselves and misunderstanding what’s being said?
You Can Educate People About the Benefits of Hearing Aids
If you encounter someone like in the situation described previously, you can educate them about the benefits of hearing aids, including how well you can hear while wearing them. While it’s important to educate people about your communication needs, you can also educate them about what you don’t need if they’re trying to compensate for your hearing loss that is already well-managed with hearing aids.
Hearing Aids Offer Amazing Features
In addition to amplifying sounds to a level your ears can easily hear, today’s hearing aids boast amazing features such as rechargeability, Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone compatibility, automatic programming, machine learning and more.
While hearing aid stigma is associated with altered feelings of self-perception, it’s also the case that hearing aid stigma is becoming a thing of the past. The more confident you are about wearing hearing aids, the less stigma you’ll encounter.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Premier Medical Group today.