Refusing Help: Why People Don’t Wear Hearing Aids

Hearing loss can interfere with a person’s career, relationships, quality of life, and personal safety (ability to hear smoke alarms, etc). Many people with this condition complain that it leaves them feeling isolated from friends and family. Despite these problems, research has shown that up to one in ten people with hearing loss refuse to wear the hearing aids that could help them.

It may be difficult to understand why anyone would turn down assistance with a frustrating and potentially dangerous condition. The truth is that our society sends many powerful messages to people with hearing disabilities that can dissuade them from seeking help. Some of the more commonly named reasons for now wearing hearing aids include:

• Stigma associated with age and disability. Sadly, many people still think of hearing loss and other health conditions as weaknesses or personal faults. Senior citizens also face a good deal of negative stereotypes related to their age. Hearing aids are considered a symbol of both advanced age and disability, creating a fear of social backlash for wearing them.
• Fear of change. Hearing aids can change people’s lives in many positive ways, making it easier for them to converse with loved ones and enjoy audio entertainment. Unfortunately, fear of any kind of change – even for the better – is a common part of human nature. Some people resist hearing aid use simply because it could create many differences in their lives.
• Cosmetic concerns. Everyone wants to look good; physical appearance is highly valued in our culture. To some people, hearing aids are simply unattractive. While this may seem somewhat petty, physical appearance is linked to self esteem, which is turn is related to overall mental health.

Why Use a Hearing Aid?

With all of these objections, you may be wondering why anyone wears hearing aids at all. In reality, people’s fears about hearing aids are often overblown. Hearing aids are available today that are comfortable, effective, and even designed for attractive appearances. For many of their users, the benefits like ease of communication and increased independence far outweigh potential problems.

Contact Us

HearingPlanet strives to connect people with hearing loss and knowledgeable hearing aid experts. To learn more about hearing aids and how they could improve your life, contact us at 1-800-432-7669.