BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Deafness Brits favour sight over hearing

It's true there has been a stigma about wearing hearing aids. For me they signified that I was stupid... now I'm not (of course) but people think we are when we answer or react inappropriately because we don't hear.

There is also a mistaken assumption that hearing aids will restore good hearing (in the way glasses give us back good vision). But of course that's not the case is it!

Having said that I do think there is a change in attitude. I couldn't care less who knows about my cochlear implant/processor. For me the reason for this is because the Cochlear Implant/processor does restore my hearing (I am 100%deaf without wearing it) and it's so amazing to be able to hear again that I want to shout about it from the roof tops.

Seasons greetings to you and your family.

Hi Bit of an update. I had my hearing tested again back in January as I felt my hearing in my unaided left ear wasn't as good as it used to be. Strange isn't it how we go for years living in denial then when we are first diagnosed and told that we are really hard of hearing and get a first hearing aid, how we then become more ready to notice or suspect that our hearing has changed! Anyway my tests showed that my deafness has gotten worse particularly in my left ear, and I've got a "moderate ski-slope high frequency loss" in that ear to go with the previously diagnosed moderate flat high frequency loss in my right ear. In March I was fitted with a BTE hearing aid for my left ear and now I feel great! My hearing feels more balanced, I'm comfortable with being hard of hearing, and this may sound strange to some or a lot of people, but I'm finding that I love wearing my hearing aids as I can hear much, much better! Ian

Ian It is great that you are enjoying wearing your hearing aids. If they help you hear then that's why you like it. Unfortunately for many people though a hearing aid can't help. I was one of those. I got only a small amount of help from my hearing aid and often the additional sound was distorted. I was always being asked why I wouldn't wear it all the time but sound was just horrible. So for me having the Cochlear implants removed that distortion and allowed me to hear properly - probably better than I have for about 40 years.