Since becoming the editor of a magazine dedicated to hearing health care products, I’ve been told stories by professionals in the industry of how their attempts to get patients to wear hearing aids are met with a simple, but firm, no. I’ve even heard similar stories from friends and coworkers who have begged, pleaded, and even negotiated with their loved ones to wear the devices—usually with the same negative response. More often than not, the reasoning for this response lies with the stigmas often associated with wearing a hearing aid: being viewed as old and infirm.

I experienced this a few weeks ago, when I noticed a friend having difficulty following conversations and communicating on his cell phone, I asked if he’d ever had his hearing checked. He had, and apparently was diagnosed with hearing loss about 10 years ago. Since that time—and as his hearing loss continues to worsen—he has steadfastly refused to wear hearing aids. He prefers instead to compensate for his hearing loss by having the people around him speak up or repeat themselves. His hearing loss also has begun to affect his speech, which now sounds a bit mumbled at times as he cannot clearly hear himself talk.

I was told I needed to wear corrective lenses when I was 18; believe me when I tell you that was traumatic. I told my optometrist that I didn’t want to wear glasses, to which he responded that it was my decision, but he would be forced to take my driver’s license from me if I didn’t. Needless to say, I wear my glasses or contact lenses every day. Without them, I would be missing out on a lot of things in life, walking around in a very blurry daze. No amount of squinting helps.

While the hearing health care industry continues to create cutting-edge components and devices, the field—from the manufacturers to the audiologists to the hearing aid dispensers—also needs to continue and step up its efforts in battling the stigma associated with hearing aids. The continued introduction of smaller devices with a variety of options, further educational campaigns, and even more celebrity endorsements are just some of the weapons to use in the battle.

Everything that can be done must be done to ensure that individuals with hearing loss use the help that is available to them through the various devices on the market and don’t give in to the stigmas associated with wearing hearing aids. The only shame here comes from missing out on the sounds of life.

Manufacturers’ Index

Company
Phone
Company
Phone
Audina Hearing Instrument CorpClarity,
a Division of Plantronics Inc

Phone: (407) 331-0077

Connections Unlimited Inc (ELT Group)
Phone: (561) 665-8523

ETS Lundgren/Acoustic Systems
Phone: (512) 444-1961

Deltek, a Knowles Company
Phone: (630) 250-5100

EAR Inc
Phone: (303) 447-2619

Etymotic Research Inc
Phone: (847) 228-0006

Frye Electronics
Phone: (503) 620-2722

Gennum Corporation
Phone: (905) 632-2996

Hal-Hen Company Inc
Phone: (516) 294-3200

Hermetic Switch Inc
Phone: (405) 224-4046

In’Tech Industries Inc
Phone: (763) 576-8100

jodi-vac LLC
Phone: (503) 284-1906

Kingwood Industrial Products
Phone: (908) 852-8655

Knowles Electronics
Phone: (630) 250-5100

Lisound Hearing Aid Co Ltd
Phone: 011-86-592-83519006

Magnatone Hearing Aid Corporation
Phone: (407) 339-2422

Micropower Battery Company
Phone: (305) 371-9200

Microsonic Inc
Phone: (724) 266-7270

MiraCell Inc
Phone: (801) 434-8165

Pehratek Products
Phone: (952) 470-9063

Rayovac Corp
Phone: (+44) 1784 411 411

SeboTek Hearing Systems LLC
Phone: (918) 388-9000

Sonion
Phone: (952) 543-8400

Spectrum Hearing Systems
Phone: (704) 237-9100

Starkey Laboratories Inc
Phone: +49 9131 308-0

VanB Enterprises
Phone: (716) 942-6313

Vivatone Hearing Systems LLC
Phone: (203) 373-7553

Vortis Technologies Ltd
Phone: 011 44 141 353 1330

Williams Sound
Phone: (952) 943-2252

ZeniPower Batteries
756 2526620