Hearing Aids are Cool

Project Description

This design research study explores the stigma surrounding hearing aids, especially internalized stigma, within the hard of hearing (HoH) community. Through a combination of qualitative research—including user interviews, social media insights, and field visits to hearing aid centers—this project aims to gather personal stories, analyze the social challenges surrounding hearing aid usage, and reframe these devices as empowering tools. By showcasing user stories, quotes, and insights, the project seeks to inspire confidence in users and encourage broader societal acceptance of hearing aids.

Background

For many individuals in the HoH community, using hearing aids is often complicated by social stigma. Internalized stigma, rooted in societal biases, discourages some from wearing their aids, especially in public. Additionally, practical issues such as discomfort with visibility, unwanted attention, or technological drawbacks impact user confidence. By addressing the intersection of hearing aid design, functionality, and public perception, this project seeks to understand how these challenges shape user attitudes and behavior.

Objectives

Identify and analyze stigma: Examine the types and sources of stigma affecting hearing aid users.

Encourage confidence: Gather user stories and insights to promote positive experiences with hearing aids.

Design solutions: Develop visual aids, quotes, and posters to foster confidence and normalize the use of hearing aids in public.

Methodology

1. Data Collection:

Conducted interviews with hearing aid users and audiologists across multiple clinics to understand both the user experience and professional perspectives.

Engaged with online communities (e.g., r/deaf on Reddit) to collect anonymous insights, focusing on posts and comments related to the experience of wearing hearing aids publicly and overcoming internalized stigma.

Interviewed audiologists across different clinic settings, ranging from affordable public facilities to premium hearing centers, to understand the diversity of user attitudes and common barriers to hearing aid acceptance.

2. Story Collection and Analysis:

Collected personal stories from individuals with hearing loss, particularly focusing on the emotional and social dimensions of wearing hearing aids.

Selected inspirational quotes from community members, aiming to convey self-acceptance, resilience, and pride.

Analysis centered on identifying recurring themes, including financial constraints, stigma from peers, and the evolution of user confidence over time.

3. Exploration and Prototyping:

Modeled hearing aids in Fusion 360 to produce visual assets representing modern and customizable designs.

Created posters and graphics using inspirational quotes and sketches that represent user stories, meant for display in hearing aid centers to empower new users.

Explored design aesthetics (e.g., skin-tone matching, vibrant colors) to assess whether less discreet options could contribute to destigmatizing hearing aids.

Interviews

The interviews with hearing aid users and audiologists offered essential insights into the challenges that come with wearing a hearing aid, especially regarding internalized stigma. Individuals across different age groups and professions shared candid stories about their journeys—from initial insecurity about the visibility of their devices to eventual acceptance and even pride in using technology that helps them connect with their surroundings. For instance, one audiologist recounted a touching story of a schoolteacher who concealed her hearing aid from both students and fellow staff out of fear that it would make her seem less capable. Another user, Alice, shared her childhood memories of self-consciousness and the social pressures that led her to hide her hearing aid for years. Now, with increased self-confidence, she sports a purple, over-the-ear model with pride, seeing it as a statement rather than a vulnerability. These narratives highlighted how hearing aids can be both liberating and stigmatizing, depending largely on social perceptions and the user’s self-image.

First Iterations

The initial iterations of the posters took a more literal approach to the challenges and fears expressed by the hearing aid community, attempting to visually represent the deeper emotional and psychological struggles associated with internalized stigma. These early designs leaned into imagery that directly communicated themes of isolation, fear of deterioration, and the sometimes subtle but profound sense of feeling “less human” compared to others. This approach was intended to reflect the raw reality of living with hearing loss in a society that often fails to recognize it as a unique experience.

While these designs accurately captured the seriousness of internalized stigma, they ultimately felt heavy and, at times, discouraging. Feedback from peers and community members suggested that while it’s crucial to acknowledge these fears, the posters risked reinforcing negative associations rather than promoting empowerment and acceptance. This input guided the evolution of the designs, shifting them away from a literal representation of stigma and fear, toward a more empowering visual narrative that emphasizes and commemorates journeys of other people from the community.

Online Community

In parallel, members of online communities such as Reddit’s r/deaf offered valuable perspectives on internalized stigma and the strategies they’ve developed to combat it. From covering hearing aids with hair to choosing the smallest possible models, many shared their initial attempts to minimize visibility due to self-consciousness or fear of judgment. Several users spoke of how, over time, allowing their hearing aids to remain visible made daily life easier and interactions smoother. Others acknowledged that the most significant challenge wasn’t public perception but rather their own internal struggle with the “differentness” hearing aids represented. This message recurred frequently: while society might notice or comment on hearing aids, the inner voice—the one that questions one’s worth or worries about standing out—often presents the biggest obstacle.