Too Embarrassed to Wear Hearing Aids?

Pair of Bleutooth earphones next to phone; hearing aids help tinnitus concept

We've talked about how hearing aids can help with tinnitus: They don't cure the condition, but they do reduce the noise of tinnitus.

And hearing aids help in other ways too. They amplify external sounds, so distract from the tinnitus noise. Some have built-in sound therapy features, like white noise. Plus, hearing aids improve speech comprehension, reducing stress and allowing you to take part in your social environment.

But there's a problem. Even with all the positives that hearing aids provide, especially for people with tinnitus, many are too embarrassed to wear them.

In fact, a recent study finds that "1 in 3 people aged between 45 and 70 would or do feel a degree of embarrassment wearing an assisted hearing device. This is in sharp contrast to only 1 in 10 people who feel the same way about wearing glasses."

Because of the stigma attached to wearing hearing aids, people tend to wait an average of seven years before seeking treatment for hearing loss. Not only does untreated hearing loss isolate people, preventing them from taking part in group gatherings and social outings where it's hard to hear, it is also a large risk factor for dementia in later life.

New products, like wireless or Bluetooth earbuds, may be the answer. Everyone wears wireless earbuds these days, listening to podcasts or music on their phones and other electronic devices. These in-ear headphones fit into the ear canal, and are pretty inconspicuous to wear.

There are drawbacks to earbuds, however. Ironically, the main problem is noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. If you use your hearing aid earbuds correctly, though, most notably keeping the volume at a reasonable level, you shouldn't have any negative results.

In fact, audiologist Mandy Mroz writes that "hearing aids with Bluetooth technology help you stay connected to iOS and Android phones, televisions, tablets and other favorite audio devices." In other words, you can connect with your own personal electronic devices and stream the audio directly to your hearing aids. That way, you can listen to your own choice of music or podcast and then pause it to take a call.

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