Over the past few months we’ve been featuring lots of real-life questions to our news section. They’re the sort of things people ask us every day, either during appointments or by email, and often they’re questions that others are wondering about too.
Recently we were looking back through some of our patient emails and came across another common question/concern that we thought deserved to be shared. It’s something we hear often, yet many people are reluctant to ask it face to face.
So, if you’ve ever wondered whether hearing aids will be obvious or worried about what other people might think, this one’s for you.
I Need Hearing Aids But I Don’t Want Anyone to Know I’m Wearing Them. What Should I Do?
It’s one of the most common concerns we hear and it’s completely understandable.
Many people worry that hearing aids will make them look older or that other people will notice them. Others have already tried very small hearing aids that sit entirely inside the ear, only to find they feel blocked or don’t provide the hearing improvement they expected.
The good news is that modern hearing technology offers many different options – including hearing aids which are effectively ‘invisible’ – but, it’s also worth noting, the smallest hearing aid isn’t always the best hearing aid.
Our First Priority Is Helping You Hear Well
As audiologists, our first priority is helping you hear as well as your hearing allows. In some cases this may not be ‘invisible’ or ‘in the ear’ hearing aids – as these designs do not offer the best solutions for some people.
We design every treatment plan around achieving the best possible hearing outcome while also choosing the smallest, neatest and most discreet solution that will do the job.
If appearance matters to you, it matters to us too. You’re not being vain or silly. We understand that confidence plays a huge part in wearing hearing aids every day.
Our aim is to find a solution that gives you excellent hearing and one that you feel happy wearing.
Will People Notice My Hearing Aids?
Here’s a simple question.
How often do you look at somebody else’s ears when you’re talking to them?
For most people, the answer is almost never.
As audiologists, we spend our working lives looking into people’s ears. Most other people simply don’t.
You may notice your hearing aids during the first few days because you know they’re there and you’ll naturally be looking for them. Everyone else is far more likely to notice something completely different.
- They’ll notice conversations are easier.
- They’ll notice they don’t have to repeat themselves.
- They’ll notice you seem more relaxed and more engaged.
Hearing Loss Can Affect Relationships
Untreated hearing loss often causes frustration without anyone realising why.
You may have heard comments like these:
“You weren’t listening!”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“I think you need to get your hearing checked.”
These situations are rarely anyone’s fault. Hearing loss simply makes conversations much harder than people realise.
The right hearing aids can remove much of that frustration and make everyday conversations enjoyable again.
Our Advice
If you’ve been advised to wear hearing aids but you’re worried about how they’ll look, please tell your audiologist. It’s a perfectly reasonable concern and one we discuss every day.
There are more hearing aid styles and technology options available than ever before. Together, we can find a solution that suits both your hearing and your confidence.
You deserve to hear your best. So do the people around you.
Get in Touch
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We’d be very happy to help you.