Stigma Around Using Hearing Aids Waning

Wearing hearing aids is something that many people feel uncomfortable about, both due to their own feelings on the matter and the views of others. It often carries a stigma that can be difficult to ignore, in the same way that wearing glasses has also had a stigma attached. People will often associate hearing aids with old age or disability, both of which have a stigma attached. Older people and disabled people often experience discrimination and there is often a stigma around things that people associate with either.

However, the more people do something and the more it’s openly discussed, the less the stigma can become. This is something that is starting to happen with hearing aids, thanks to more people wearing them when experiencing hearing loss. Many seniors do use hearing aids, but it’s also something many younger people do too.

People with hearing loss who are deaf or hard of hearing often use hearing aids to help improve their quality of life in various ways. The ways that people perceive hearing aids are beginning to change due to not only the people who use them but also advances in technology and changing attitudes. Hearing aids are becoming more akin to eyeglasses as a common and necessary medical device.

Advances in Hearing Aid Technology

One reason the stigma surrounding wearing hearing aids is declining is due to the advances in hearing aid technology that have taken place. People love technology, gadgets and hearing aids have developed in leaps and bounds over recent years. They can be made a lot smaller than they once were, are available in a range of different styles and can include various features and technologies, such as Bluetooth or wireless connection. Even the smallest hearing aids that are barely noticeable can do a lot.

Today’s hearing aids can connect to your smartphone or your TV. If you wear two hearing aids, they can connect to each other so that they work in tandem. Smart hearing aids can do all kinds of things, including streaming music and helping you to keep track of your health. You can program different settings into your hearing aids that can be used for different environments and situations, whether you’re in a crowded and noisy place or watching a movie at the theater.

Not everybody has to have fancy hearing aids with the latest technology if it’s not your sort of thing. However, if you enjoy technology and want your hearing aids to do more, there are plenty of different options to explore.

The Importance of Hearing Aids

Not too long ago, eyeglasses also had a pretty big stigma attached. Some people still feel reluctant about wearing them or may have been teased or bullied at school for needing them. However, many people wear glasses and contact lenses today, and it’s no big deal due to how common it is. Wearing hearing aids is also becoming more common and accepted, especially as more younger people experience hearing loss and as more people get their hearing tested regularly.

If you need hearing aids, wearing them can feel embarrassing or strange at first. It’s not something you’re used to, you might feel as if it draws attention to you and perhaps you think they make you look old. But hearing aids can help you to hear better and improve your quality of life. When you wear hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear everything better, from music and media to people talking to you. At the same time, you can filter out less important sounds, such as background noise, so you can focus on the most important things.

Wearing hearing aids allows you to participate more fully in life. You can engage in social situations more, and you will be able to manage working environments more easily too. You even protect your brain when you wear hearing aids. Your brain doesn’t have to work so hard to process conversations, which frees up brainpower for other things and could even reduce your risk of developing dementia as you get older. Hearing aids can treat tinnitus too, and you can prevent further damage to your hearing by listening to music and TV at safe volumes, instead of turning them up too loud.

Contact ENT Physicians Inc. to learn more about our services and how we can help you with your hearing health. Call us at (419) 318-4987 to speak to a member of our team or make an appointment.