Why are People Ashamed of Hearing Loss?

Are you living with untreated hearing loss? It can be hard to admit to yourself and to others that your hearing isn’t as sharp as it once was. You’re worried that your loved ones might think of you as old, or that your friends will treat you differently. Wearing glasses is nothing to be ashamed about, so why are changes in hearing seen with such negative stigma that people choose to live with untreated hearing loss rather than finding a solution for their hearing needs?

Social Stigma

Why are people ashamed of hearing loss? The answer is that people are worried about facing the social stigma of hearing loss. Hearing loss is an invisible disability, and many people are afraid of being singled out if they talk about their hearing loss. Unlike a vision impairment, where everyone can see that you wear glasses, hearing loss doesn’t have any clear markers. We don’t realize that, just like vision problems, hearing problems can affect people of all ages, including children, teens, and adults.

The social stigma around hearing loss is centered in the false belief that only seniors struggle to hear, and you may be worried that admitting to hearing loss will make you seem old. You still feel young, and don’t want others to think of your as old.

Living with Untreated Hearing Loss

If you feel ashamed about your hearing loss, living with untreated hearing loss will exaggerate the problem. You’ll feel embarrassed to ask people to repeat themselves, and worried you might draw attention to your hearing loss by mishearing a question or answering inappropriately. You may choose to stay home rather than meet your friends, for fear that they will discover that you can’t hear, and view you differently. Living with untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, and feelings of stress, anxiety, loneliness, and even depression.

When you have untreated hearing loss, people may think you’re being rude. When you’re in the store, for example, someone may come up behind you and say hello, or ask to pass you in the isle. When you don’t hear them or respond, you’ll appear to be ignoring them, and those around you could get annoyed at your behavior. This leads to more discomfort, and you’ll stress even more about your hearing loss.

Treating Hearing Loss

Do you want to appear rude, withdraw from your social life, or live in fear that someone may discover your hearing loss? The best thing you can do for your physical, mental, and hearing health is to treat your hearing loss early, and shake off the social stigma of hearing loss. Educate your family and friends about hearing loss, and remind them that 40 million Americans of all ages have hearing loss. The benefits of treating hearing loss include strong relationships and a healthy social life. You won’t need to ask people to repeat themselves, but can easily follow conversations, even in challenging listening environments. With hearing aids you’ll be more active, and feel confident in every situation.

Hearing Consultants

Do you struggle to hear in places with a lot of background noise, or feel stressed about your hearing when you’re doing errands, or walking your dog in the park? Call us today at Hearing Consultants to book an appointment for an initial hearing test. A comprehensive hearing test will give us a clear picture of your unique hearing needs, and help you identify the listening environments where you have the most trouble hearing. Work with our team of expert hearing health specialists, and find the hearing aids with the programs and settings that will help you hear when you need it the most.

At Hearing Consultants, we have a wide selection of the world’s best hearing aids, including sleek behind the ear devices and nearly invisible hearing aids that sit within your ear canal. Whatever your level of hearing loss, power requirements, or hearing needs, we have a range of devices to choose from, and will calibrate the programs to match your exact needs. No one will notice your hearing loss, or think that you seem old. The only thing people will be noticing is how well you can hear. Don’t wait any longer, or allow your hearing loss to get worse, but visit us today to start your journey to clear hearing.