“I don’t want anyone to see my hearing aids. What’s the smallest type you have?”
How many times a week does an audiologist get asked this question? Probably too many to count. I made the same request at the start of my hearing loss journey. Beaten down by the shame and embarrassment I had learned as a child watching my father hide his hearing loss, my main priority was that nobody would know about mine.
Small devices were a critical part of my plan.
I was in my mid-20s, and didn’t want the beige devices I saw dangling behind the ears of older adults any more than I wanted their sensible footwear. Hearing loss stigma and its cousin, aging stigma, hovered over my decisions like dark clouds. I ordered the smallest in-the-ear devices my audiologist could provide.
My hearing aids were hidden behind my long hair, but I still wore them only when absolutely necessary, sneaking them in before important meetings at work. I never wore them socially or at home, where my then-mild hearing loss allowed me to “get by.”
For years, I never spoke of the devices that, despite being my lifeline to better communication, reminded me of everything I didn’t want to be—old, bland, and uncool.
What if Hearing Devices were Cool?
This was 30 years ago, and there wasn’t much an audiologist could offer a reluctant hearing aid user besides a small in-the-ear device. Would cooler options have eased my transition to treating my hearing loss? I think so.
Even today, only 20% of people who could benefit from using a hearing aid actually use one. Most of the non-users are in the mild-to-moderate category, probably because they can still function without help in many situations. Why battle the stigma if you are “doing just fine” much of the time?
More enticing options for both all-day and situational use could help timid users take a first step towards treating their hearing loss sooner.
Things like:
- Alternate form factors (i.e., glasses or earbuds)
- Apps that turn existing consumer devices (i.e., AirPods) into hearing helpers
- Built-in connectivity via classic Bluetooth, telecoil, and Auracast
- Hearing aids in fun colors
It’s exciting to see new options in the over-the-counter (OTC) and professional hearing aid markets embracing these trends. I’d love to see more. And for hearing care professionals to include these alternatives in their treatment recommendations.
Flipping the Script
Consider this. When devices look less like traditional hearing aids, uneasy users may feel less compelled to hide them. They may even brag about them. Openness and discussion will beat back stigma and normalize hearing help.
“These cool glasses are helping me hear better at this loud restaurant! Try them on!”
“Did you know that your AirPods can help you hear better on the phone?”
“Check out this speech-to-text app. It’s cool how I can read what you are saying.”
Whatever it takes to get people to address their hearing health is fine by me. And it should be for the industry, too. When we meet consumers where they are, usage will increase, and we all benefit.
For more discussion on hearing loss stigma, watch the panel discussion “Hearing Loss and Stigma: Breaking down Barriers to Care” from HHTM’s 2025 Future of Hearing Healthcare Conference.
Shari Eberts is a passionate hearing health advocate and internationally recognized author and speaker on hearing loss issues. She is the founder of Living with Hearing Loss, a popular blog and online community for people with hearing loss, and an executive producer of We Hear You, an award-winning documentary about the hearing loss experience. Her book, Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss, (co-authored with Gael Hannan) is the ultimate survival guide to living well with hearing loss. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story, she will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues. Connect with Shari: Blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.
