Hearing Aid Acceptance

Once you have had your hearing evaluated and learned that you have a hearing loss that cannot be corrected, what should you expect?  The most common response is often one of denial.  This is not to suggest that denial is necessarily bad.  It can afford you time to consider the situation and overcome the initial shock.  But before you can progress, you must overcome the denial and move toward acceptance of the problem.

In order to reach acceptance of the problem, you must first recognize the denial and what is really taking place.  Some of the statements generally given by those in denial to justify their condition are:

"I'll get hearing aids when I need to, but I don't need them now."

This is usually in stark contrast to what our family and friends are telling us.  Usually family, friends, co-workers, notice the hearing loss long before you’re ready to admit it.  Listen to those around you and heed what they are telling you, which is that you do have a hearing problem and may need a hearing aid.

“I hear what I want to hear.”

In fact, you only hear what you’re capable of hearing.  This deception to oneself has two parts: you may not only get some information that is important, but you are not even aware that you are not getting it.  In addition, others may think you have heard and understand when, in fact, you did not.

"If others would speak up, then I wouldn't have a hearing problem."  

This means we are blaming others, rather than taking responsibility for our loss.  The hearing loss is your problem, you should not rely on others to make adjustments in their lifestyle to accommodate you.  This is often seen as selfishness on your part and can lead to family disharmony.

"Hearing aids cost too much for a piece of plastic and a couple of speakers." 

Here you are obviously making excuses to not even try one.  It you felt you needed it and that it would help you to hear and understand better, the cost would not matter.  An old adage of selling notes that an objection to price means that there is not enough WANT.

                "I've talked to my friends and none of them feel that hearing aids help."

While some people may not be satisfied with their hearing aids, this does not mean hearing aids cannot help you. Most people that are satisfied with their hearing aids do not bother to tell others. 

HOW TO REACH ACCEPTANCE:

Hearing aids may not be successful for everybody. This can be due in part to the type of hearing loss or the type of listening environment the hearing aid user is trying to overcome. However, many times it is due to resistance of the use of hearing aids and unrealistic expectations.

In order to accept your hearing problem, you must be totally honest with yourself.  Here is a little exercise to help you understand your hearing problem.  Take a few minutes and consider three or four different listening situations, your expectations and your actual performance.  For example:

                Situation                                                               Expectations                                         Actual Results

Listening in a restaurant.                    I think I hear everything     I cannot understand the waitress

Now ask your spouse, family member or friends to take the same situations and note what they think your expectations are and how you actually perform.  This should give you a better understanding of the problem and how others view it.  Once you have begun to understand your hearing problem and how it affects others, you can move toward acceptance and then move forward.  A qualified hearing care professional can help you obtain appropriate hearing aids and learn to overcome the hearing loss.  For more information on Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids you can return to Hear2Health.

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