Embarrassed to wear hearing aids! :'(?

Question

I've had hearing aids since i was 9 and i have to say i am embarrassed of wearing them. I hate them with a passion. Sometimes i feel like i rather be completely deaf then wear them. Thats how much i hate them. I hate the fact thaat people look at me differently when they see that i am wearing hearing aidst or my siblings would whisper to each other and say to "what did we just say?" and they would laugh when i would try to guess. I am 26 almost 27 and to this day i do not wear them . I used have small hearing aids, not too small but small enough but i lost them so i had to get new ones and they pretty big so i dont bother to wear them. (check link below for example)! since i got them in 2011 end of 2011 or 2012, i have only wore them only twice, no longer then 4 hours each.

http://educationdev.net/how-a-hearing-aid-works/

I had a job which required talking to people (retail) , and my boss notice that sometimes i wouldnt hear her or she thought i ignored her but when i explained to hear and told her that I am deaf (I can still talk and hear people, just sometimes not as what people can hear) and what do you know next,a month later i get layed off. She said it wasnt because she found out i was deaf but coz they needed someone that was onto it, in other hand, basically we have to repeat ourselfs. I Dont wear my hair down ever because i hate the feeling of hair on my skin so i cant hide the hearing aids.

Hardly anyone knows I wear hearing aids because i dont tell them and because im embarrassed of them, always have been and always will be.

I will never tell any guy ive dated or will be dating i got hearing aids! its just too embarrassing for me!

And now my sister just told me not long ago that im starting to get a lip, like how some deaf people talk! now this makes me more self conscious but yet i still dont wanna wear my hearing aids! I just dont know what to do! :'( I feel like crying!

I have searched up invisible hearing aids but i cant afford them nor i think the government will pay for it since they already paid for my new ones i freaking hate! I never asked them to give me the ones they gave me.

Answer 1

Are you truly that immature at 27? Really no one cares if you wear hearing aids or not. They do care if you can hear them or not. You lost your job not because you were deaf, but because you couldn't hear well enough without your hearing aids to do your job. Get over what people did to you as a kid. You are an adult now and either learn to read lips and use ASL or use your hearing aids.



BTW - I do wear hearing aids - two of them.

Answer 2

If you are embarrassed about wearing hearing aids here are some ideas-

1. wear your hair over the hearing aids.Your hairdresser is likely to give you the option even when cutting your hair.

2. Don't wear jewellery on your ears (such as earrings) or wear bangles (because when you raise your hand,it will usually in the direction of your face,and is likely to slightly emphasise the aids)

3. Wear interesting features such as a pretty buckle on a belt (if you are slim around the hips) or a contrasting colour away from your face. Perhaps you might choose some colourful pantihose or shoes.

Hearing aids are not such a big deal for you really and you are likely to find them more helpful; than not.Just be glad you don't have to cart an ear trumpet around with you like they did in the old days! But as you can hold down a job and are not fully Deaf and at nearly 27 should be building the kind of confidence which means that you don't care what other people say or what you think other people say-what is your problem? Perhaps it has nothing to do with hearing aids and instead you need to build your confidence?Do a course in Self-Esteem .

Look, as we move on through life,we do gather a collection of spare parts along the way.That's the way it goes.The idea is to be able to live life to the full. So put on your hearing aids and live your life!

Answer 3

I can totally relate to you. Im going 20 now and its only been 4 years Ive worn this and it has already killed my self esteem. I grew up silent, not because I was having hard time hearing I was also shy, meek, passive introverted in nature. Growing up I didn't really had that much of high confidence and the moment I was told that I'll be wearing hearing aids for life it was just ice cold knife stabbed into my heart. I know how you feel/felt everytime I remember that I have these things in my ear it gives me a sense of isolation or difference among others. And every time I see this person I am really attracted with all I can do for myself is just stare at her couldn't even say hi and now she has a boyfriend. That's how it always went for me anyway. I just wanna thank you for sharing this knowing I wasn't the only one who felt this way. This is not a matter of being optimist or pessimist.hope that you doing better now with this stuff if you are still not I hope that one day you will.

Answer 4

Don't feel embarrassed about wearing hearing aids.It is not something you should be embarrassed about. Also don't pay attention to people that are not being nice. I have a lot of friends that are deaf and hard of hearing. Most of them wear hearing aids and don't care what other people think.

Answer 5

I come to the issue when I had hearing loss in my late 60's so my perspective is different than yours. Your problem stems from the fact that other people, particularly family members, have treated you cruelly when you were quite young and unable to deal with that abuse. I would suggest that you try to find a therapist or a group situation for people with similar problems to help you to cope with them. And I wold also suggest that you should get as far as you possibly can from people who make personal remarks as your sister does. You cannot make her stop her cruel behavior but you sure don't have to invite it. No doubt she will say it is for your own good. Don't believe her.



Wearing hearing aids is no more embarrassing than wearing glasses. At this point you are an adult and you do have to make your own way in life and choose what you want to do. But you owe it to yourself so get some supportive therapy and not be influenced by those who wish to harm you.

Answer 6

At some point you are going to have to come terms with your deafness



many deaf people would be thrilled if all they had to do was wear hearing aids & be able to properly hear



you have a gift in that you have this option



I hope, for your sake, that you find a way to cope & wear your hearing aids



If you are on disability & could work if you were to wear your hearing aids, then it is likely you will find yourself as no longer eligible for disability funding as a result of not being compliant with a "treatment" that would make you able to work



If you are faced with supporting yourself, then you might decide you would rather wear your hearing aid than be without an income



sorry if that sounds mean.... but it is a true fact that in the US when they do a disability review you can be determined no longer eligible if you are not doing all you can do to be employable

Answer 7

you have no idea how much your hurting yourself by what your doing. Tell me this would it been better for you if you leaned sign language rather then having hearing aids?

Answer 8

Embarred