My 5 biggest misconceptions about hearing aids—and how I overcame them
/This post originally appeared on Starkey.com
In his newest blog written exclusively for Starkey, Justin Osmond—who was born with a severe-to-profound hearing loss and has been wearing hearing aids since he was two years old—talks about his personal misconceptions about hearing aids and how he overcame them to reclaim sound, confidence, connection, and quality of life.
Growing up with a severe-to-profound hearing loss, hearing has always been a complex and deeply personal part of my identity. I was born without the ability to hear and received my first hearing aids around the age of two. For as long as I can remember, they’ve been part of my world, yet the misconceptions that surround hearing aids have followed me throughout my life.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the way we see hearing loss and the devices that help us bridge that gap say a lot about how we understand inclusion, identity, and strength. For many people, the idea of wearing hearing aids comes with a long list of misconceptions—and for a while, I carried some of them, myself.
Here are some of the biggest misconceptions I’ve encountered about hearing aids, and what I’ve come to understand through my own journey.
Misconception #1: “Hearing aids are for old people.”
This is probably the most common myth out there.
When my parents first realized I needed hearing support, they resisted the idea because they associated hearing aids with aging. The reality, though, is that hearing loss can affect anyone—young or old. It’s not a sign of weakness or age; it’s simply a health condition that can be supported with technology, just like wearing glasses for vision.
Once my parents embraced that perspective, their mindset shifted. Instead of viewing hearing aids as a symbol of limitation, they began to see them as tools for empowerment—a way to reconnect with life’s sounds and experiences that I had been missing.
Misconception #2: “Hearing aids make you ‘normal.’”
Reality: Hearing aids are a tool, not a cure.
When I was young, people often assumed that once I had hearing aids, I could “hear normally.” The truth is, hearing aids don’t magically make things heard the same way that people with normal hearing hear them. They amplify sound, but they don’t replace “natural” hearing.
For me, learning to navigate a world that’s built for people with normal hearing meant understanding that my hearing aids are just one piece of the puzzle. They help me access sound, but they don’t define my ability to communicate, connect, or belong. I’ve had to advocate for myself, learn to read lips, and rely on both technology and human connection to thrive.
Over time, I realized that “normal” isn’t the goal—connection is. My hearing aids help me experience the world on my own terms, and that’s what truly matters.
Misconception #3: “Hearing aids are something to hide.”
Reality: They’re something to be proud of.
As a kid, I sometimes felt self-conscious about my hearing aids. They were visible, they whistled sometimes, and I worried about standing out. But as I grew older, I realized that what made me different also made me strong.
Instead of hiding them, I started seeing them as a symbol of resilience—tiny pieces of technology that gave me access to sound, laughter, and music.
Today’s hearing aids are sleek and advanced, but even the older ones were incredible in what they could do. The real change wasn’t in the design. It was in how I saw myself.
When I stopped viewing my hearing aids as something to be ashamed of and started embracing them as part of my identity, everything shifted. Confidence, I learned, is the best amplifier there is.
Misconception #4: “Hearing aids are big, ugly, and noticeable.”
That might’ve been true decades ago, but technology has evolved tremendously. Today’s hearing aids are sleek, discreet, and even smart. Some connect directly to phones, stream music, and adapt automatically to different environments.
When I first started using my big hardware devices in the 1970s, they stood out like dandelions in a green lawn. Fast forward 50 years, and the hardware is almost invisible!
Today, I’m amazed how natural they feel—and most people don’t even notice I even wear hearing devices.
More importantly, I realized that even if people did notice, it didn’t matter. What truly mattered was how much more connected I felt to conversations, to laughter, and to the world around me.
Misconception #5: “Hearing aids won’t really make a difference.”
Before trying hearing aids for the first time, we underestimate just how much sound we are missing. Sometimes we tell ourselves that our hearing isn’t “that bad.” But once we put on our hearing aids for the first time, we become stunned. We can now hear the rustle of leaves again, the clarity in voices, and the music we love—in full detail. The world becomes richer, fuller, and more alive.
Moments like these remind me how powerful technology can be when we allow it to enhance our lives rather than define them.
Overcoming these misconceptions wasn’t an overnight process. It took education, self-compassion, and a willingness to understand from a different perspective.
I learned to let go of the stigma and to embrace the truth:
Hearing aids don’t make me “less than.” They make me more connected, more confident, and more myself.
Today, I wear my Starkey hearing aids with pride. I talk openly about them because I want others to know that there’s no shame in seeking help for your hearing. In fact, there’s incredible strength in it.
When we challenge our own misconceptions, we not only reclaim sound—we reclaim confidence, connection, and quality of life.
You can follow Justin Osmond on Facebook at JAOsmond; on Instagram at justin_osmond; on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinosmond/ or at his website www.justinosmond.com
This blog reflects the opinions and experiences of a Starkey hearing aid wearer. They were aware that this blog would be used by Starkey and have been compensated as a partner of Starkey.
