Why Are People Ashamed of Hearing Loss?

Admitting that you are experiencing hearing loss can be difficult as you don’t want to be treated any differently by family or friends. You may think that having hearing loss makes you seem old but in reality, getting the right treatment for your hearing should not be considered any different than going to get glasses if you notice changes to your vision. If people are not ashamed of going to get their eyes checked over, then why are people ashamed of hearing loss? 

The stereotypes surrounding hearing loss

For a lot of people who experience problems with their hearing, one of the reasons they feel ashamed is because it is often associated with seniors. However, hearing issues can affect children, teenagers, and adults. If you still feel and consider yourself to be young, then admitting you are having hearing problems can make you feel old. 

You may fear being singled out if you speak up about your hearing loss, and as it is an invisible disability, not everyone is very understanding of it. It can be embarrassing asking someone to repeat something as it can make you seem like you didn’t understand what they said and you may be afraid they will think you are unintelligent. 

People can get flustered or annoyed when asked to repeat themselves and you may want to avoid this. People who have hearing loss can sometimes appear rude or unfriendly to others and you may be afraid of coming across this way. For example, if you are in line at the grocery store and someone behind you asks you something and you don’t hear them, they may think that you are just ignoring them which is not the case at all. 

Don’t be afraid to seek treatment for hearing loss

Although you may be embarrassed to admit to experiencing hearing loss, you should arrange an appointment with an audiologist as soon as possible. If you don’t seek treatment for your hearing loss, you could end up making the situation much worse and you may end up feeling withdrawn from family and friends, or feeling stressed and anxious all the time.

If you can’t understand what people are saying and you don’t want to ask them to repeat themselves, it can make socializing with others more difficult. This can result in you wanting to stay home and isolate yourself to avoid feeling ashamed for not being able to hear so well or coming across as rude to others, and you may not want to draw attention to your loss of hearing. 

Seeking treatment for hearing loss is the best thing you can do as it will help reduce any feelings of shame. It will also help improve your relationships with family and friends as it will make communicating much easier and you will be able to have conversations where you can hear clearly without asking others to repeat what they have said. 

Be open with others about your hearing loss

It may be the last thing you want to do but try to be open and honest with those around you if you are experiencing hearing loss. Those who are closest to you may not know you are having hearing problems and are unable to help you with it. By speaking to them about it, you can raise awareness of the issue and they will be able to help you get the right treatment. 

One thing that may be concerning you about talking about your hearing problems to family and friends is that they may start treating you differently. Your loved ones will just want to help and support you in any way they can, whether that’s being patient and understanding, or helping you find an audiologist who can treat your hearing loss. Explain to your family and friends that you don’t wish you be treated any differently and together you can learn how to handle your hearing problems. 

Booking an appointment with an audiologist and talking to them about your hearing problems can benefit you greatly. They will be able to evaluate and diagnose your hearing loss, and they will be able to help you treat it and give you advice on how to manage your hearing health. 

By talking about hearing problems to those close to you and those who can help treat it, you won’t feel ashamed of your hearing loss for much longer. If you have any concerns about hearing loss, get in touch with The Hearing Clinic at Woodlake by calling (612) 246-4868.