who has a hearing aid? cause I am getting one

I am in the process of getting one. It’s a little elaborate and convoluted (partly because my insurance is very particular about who I see).

The only surprise so far is that the doctor who performed my initial hearing test, and who decided I needed a hearing aid, initially started showing me color samples that matched my hair or skin. I said no, I want a brightly colored one that stands out as a hearing aid. She was a little nonplussed by this. I explained that I personally don’t get the “be discreet about it” approach and would just as soon that people I encounter KNOW I have a hearing aid. To me that makes the whole social situation simpler and clearer. She acted as if I said I wanted my eyeballs tattooed. (No offense to anyone here with tattooed eyeballs.)

When my youngest daughter heard this story she wanted me to get a spiderman hearing aid.

I declined (and this was joking) and said that I was going to get one based on the design of Eric Clapton’s 1967 guitar.

I was kidding around, but, I think my daughter thinks I am serious. (“That would be so cool!” )

For years I would use the same joke to ease the moment when I had to tell someone to speak up.

After telling them I have trouble hearing, I always add “I even have a joke about it–it’s: “my doctor told me what the problem is, but I couldn’t hear him.”

Youngsters these days talk lower. The one type I have the most trouble with is the shy 20-something young woman (let’s say a cashier in a drug store) and when I say I have trouble hearing, this type will get embarassed and as a result, speak lower than before. I then say (all smiling and friendly) “you may have to do what you personally usually consider shouting.”

Anyway I am finding out that there is a huge amount I don’t know or understand about hearing aids.

So if anyone has thoughts, advice, or stories, I am all ears (so to speak).