Doug5

I just got new ha's and have had a few comments "you can barely see them!"

Ive gotten over being self concious about them. I actually ordered them in blue but they sent tan ones instead.

Now Im feeling a little paranoid and wonder if I should grow out my hair to cover them.

I wonder if people will treat me differently if they see them.

What do you guys do?

Deafness

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

mideyebrow

I wear my hair short, and my hearing aids are not noticeable. Once you get comfortable with them, you will forget they are even in, and enjoy being part of the activity.

I have worn long hair to cover the aids, and had to get used to the sounds of my hair moving.

AJWSmith

I used to grow my hair long enough to cover my HAs then I went bald...

__________________
Born deaf. Profound hearing loss in both ears (90-105dB). Wears Oticon Spirit Zest C SP (Chili)
You can also find me on twitter as @AJWSmith and on Google+ as AJW Smith

Jane B.

Have worn a BTE aid since the 1970's and never thought of covering it. I do have long hair but is is worn up in order to keep it out of my eyes (fine and soft hair).

hotdog654321

The Oticon Zest are so small that no one sees them unless I tell them. And my hair isn't covering them.

DeafCaroline

I used to be self-conscious but now I don't care if anyone sees them. Bummer about the colour though, can you exchange them for the blue ones?

DeafBadger

The last time I did that was in grade school. Then in junior high I decided I wasn't going to do that anymore, and I haven't.

Most people don't seem to notice the hearing aids anyway.

__________________
"Ad Astra Per Aspera" - Through hardships, to the stars.

severe-to-profound in both ears, since birth. My Blog

Pale Blue Dot (cc: Select Italian captions, then Translate Captions to English--English)

"Labels are mentally lazy ways by which people assert they know you without knowing you." ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

VacationGuy234

I can't do that, but I don't feel self conscious about the aid anymore. I'm just more cautious of how people treat me with it, aid itself doesn't matter.

whatdidyousay!

I got bright purple HA and ear molds so people will see them! I am hoping people will see my HA and not think I am being rude for not moving for them. I got purple HA after my beloved hearing dog dies , as I do not want people ramming their shopping carts into me if I do not move for them!
When I had a HA that you wore on your body , I wore it on the outside when I got older , I made myself a strap with a pocket for my HA and wore it over a shoulder and you could see the HA and
cord running down my neck. I did not care what people thought , I do not like being HOH but I am not
to hide it.

Lavender

.

__________________

shel90

I used to make sure my hair covered them when I was a kid. Now, I don't even think about it.

__________________
"Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it."

--- Anonymous

deafskeptic

I've never worn my hair long to cover my HAs. When I do grow hair long, it's always because I want a new look. I currently have shoulder length hair.

__________________
Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007.
Activated on May 9th.
Upgraded to Opus 2 9/10/2010
Think Pink.
FREE JILLIO!

Doug5

I am not self concious about them at all, but I do know people treat you differently if they see them.

I am looking for a job and think it could have a negative affect if the employer sees them. Maybe even subconciously, like it distracts the employer during the interview.

There have been studies on this called "the hearing aid affect". It studies peoples perception to those wearing ha's and it tends to be negative.

Ausrider

I wouldnt consider myself self concious about them at all, but the amount of people that are amazes me. I was in my audi's waiting room recently and a old guy told me that my aids were hardly visable (Naida UP) i just couldnt help but laugh to myself, i think the Naida UP would have to be the least discreet aid currently available.

shel90

That's fine because I will be negative right back at them! I have no use for these idiots.

__________________
"Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it."

--- Anonymous

Sarfarigirl2011

I have a mini dark/bright purple hearing aid and I'm proud of it

__________________
18 yr old girl with a moderate/severe in the right and severe on the left.
currently wearing purple Oticon Safari P 600s

deafdyke

I used to have long hair to hide my aids....now I don't give a shit....says the girl with bright purple aids and molds.

LDNanna

When I absolutely must wear them I proudly show off my sparkled blue swirled molds. I often use self stick rhinestones or stickers to hide the ugly beige has.
I do pull my longer hair up and dont care who seems them. It's the attitude that will help you. It is confidence. Good luck in your job hunting I just know that something good is out there for you.

__________________
I have discovered that the word "diet" begins with d i e.

Jiro

good! I have short hair and they do treat me differently when they see my HA. how? by accommodating me

__________________
- Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

Jiro

all my interviewers knew beforehand and they had no problem with it. all they asked was - "will you be able to understand me?"

__________________
- Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

omegaman

I couldn't care less if people can see my HA. I admit, they are not the nicest things to see, but they have become part of me.

The funny thing is, I used to feel uncomfortable around people with my tan coloured HA (which I still wear today). So, I used to contemplate covering them up. Yet, I have always wanted coloured HA that would stand out. I guess I see coloured HA as an accessory, like an earring or bluetooth.

__________________

Doug5

I agree, it can go both ways. The last interview, I was open about them and got the job.

People are naturally curious, theyre not something you see everyday, especially on a younger people. So when people see them, they probably have questions but are afraid to ask. Kinda like seeing someone with a missing finger. You wanna know how they lost it

AlleyCat

My HAs have never bothered me in the least. I wear a ponytail a lot or have my hair up in curls and my HAs are very visible. I never gave it a second thought.

Jazzberry

In the past I've encountered a lot of resistance from my haircutters when I asked them to change my hair style that involved going from when where my HAs were covered to where they couldn't be covered. I was just interested in a different look and they would be hung up over my HAs showing.

Anyone else experience this?

__________________
I was a mainstreamed "solitaire". I'm currently learning ASL. My hearing loss ranges from moderate to profound; my audiogram and speech discrimination are posted here.

LDNanna

@ Jazzberry - yup. I just withered them with my best Granny Glare. lol

When I got my blue swirly mold I did really like it. The stylist was wanting my hair to cover my ears because of the ha's. After a lengthy convo about ha's and such.... well, let's just say that now he only tells me if he thinks the style would flatter my face or not. lol He now says.."oh yes girl, that style is working for you!!" or "oh no honey, that one is sooo not for you".

I love that guy.


@OP - Congrats on the new job!!

__________________
I have discovered that the word "diet" begins with d i e.

Jazzberry

Well, I'll just have to work on my glare than!

BTW, of course I always end up getting the haircut I want or at least a good try at it (it always looks better in the magazines though ), but I do find it very curious that some of my stylists had care more about whether my HAs showed than I did. {Shrug}

@Doug5 -- Congrats on the new job! No small feat in this economy!

__________________
I was a mainstreamed "solitaire". I'm currently learning ASL. My hearing loss ranges from moderate to profound; my audiogram and speech discrimination are posted here.

LDNanna

@ Jazz - so true - I guess because they dont have the ha's and dont know deaf pride? "shrug"??

Granny glare lesson - think of a very adorable 5 year old who stands in front of you in a crowded, small space such as a sealed elevator. Now imagine that the li'l darling silently passes the worst gas imaginable. Now the sweet, blameless, innocent and adorable child turns to you and says loudly and with great surprise - "MMOMM" !!!! Of course, everyone turns to look at you....That should give you an idea of my best glare. (true story) I will not name names in order to protect the privacy of one of my 5 adorable, now grown, children. Hmph.

__________________
I have discovered that the word "diet" begins with d i e.

Bottesini

That was always my father's theory, that HA should be visible so people interacting knew they were dealing with a deaf person.

But that said, in my teen years, I did have very long hair covering my ears.

Now of course, I am old and only care about comfort.

But my hearing aid is bright translucent blue.

__________________

Sarfarigirl2011

U got that right dude!

__________________
18 yr old girl with a moderate/severe in the right and severe on the left.
currently wearing purple Oticon Safari P 600s

Jazzberry

That made me laugh outloud! Kids can do the darndest thing sometimes.

__________________
I was a mainstreamed "solitaire". I'm currently learning ASL. My hearing loss ranges from moderate to profound; my audiogram and speech discrimination are posted here.