Accepting my hearing loss, helped me to see it as a positive

Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from hearing aids use them. Recently,  l became one of the 20% of people with hearing loss to wear hearing aids, and they have truly empowered me to be more social and to accept myself for who I am.

I was someone who wasn't using hearing technology when I should have been, due to societal perceptions. I’ve always kept quiet about my hearing loss, as I was made fun of as a child in school and told only old people wore hearing aids, and I also didn’t want to stand out any more than I already did. I was also worried that hearing aids would be "annoying" and didn't give the process of getting used to wearing them a chance.

I started to really accept my hearing loss and started talking about it four years ago. I realized that although it feels vulnerable at first, once you truly accept your hearing loss and start mentioning it in everyday conversation, it becomes a positive instead of a hindrance.

Hearing loss affects all walks of life at all ages. Hearing aids should be seen as a symbol of empowerment and an integral part of enjoying life on a longer timeline. I can honestly say the ReSound Nexia hearing aids have been an absolute game changer for me and how I live my life.

As someone who has been a part of this community since birth, it feels right to finally be a part of changing the way we view people with hearing loss and to help others have the confidence to share their own stories. This gives me and my music a greater purpose, and it’s something I am now very vocal about in the hopes that others will feel confident enough to do the same.