A new UK survey reveals a stark disconnect: The reasons people avoid hearing aids have little to do with reality.
Why it matters
Stigma—not performance—blocks treatment. Paul Surridge, chair of the British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA), calls it "a mindset issue."
That mindset costs measurable losses: nearly half of non-adopters miss the safety improvements (49%), stronger home relationships (47%), and confidence gains (50%) that users report.
The context: These barriers haven't budged since the last EuroTrak survey three years ago, despite technological advances.
Reality check
The survey polled 567 non-users with documented hearing loss and 718 current users—one of the UK’s larger national hearing aid adoption studies. EuroTrak surveys are industry-standard national studies across multiple European markets. The feared rejection never happens: 70% of users say nobody mocks or rejects them for wearing hearing aids.
What stops people from adopting hearing aids:
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63%: "I hear well enough."
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62%: "My hearing loss isn't severe."
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58%: "Hearing aids don't work in noisy places."
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52%: Cannot afford one (economics, not stigma)
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51%: "I'd be embarrassed."
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43%: "I don't want to admit it publicly."
What users experience:
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70%: Better communication
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59%: Improved group participation
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50%: More confidence
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49%: Greater safety
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47%: Stronger relationships
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44%: Improved self-esteem
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40%: Improved mental health
Zoom in—the embarrassment barrier
Over half of the non-adopters worry about public perception. Users report the opposite: stronger relationships at home (47%), better mental health (40%), and improved self-esteem (44%).
The devices they fear wearing deliver the exact confidence boost they're trying to preserve by avoiding them.
Click to download this infographic
A difficult truth
Saying "my hearing isn't bad enough" is a form of self-protection. People aren't evaluating devices—they're protecting identity. Saying "I have bigger priorities" means people avoid confronting the loss. They protect self-image.
The problem
People reject solutions based on outdated impressions. Complaints about design, comfort, and performance likely reflect old technology or abandoned fitting processes. Modern hearing aids require multiple fitting sessions, which the survey suggests many abandon prematurely.
What to avoid: Judging hearing aids after initial fitting. The survey suggests discomfort complaints stem from abandoning the adjustment process too early.
The pattern:
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Someone delays for years, citing "not bad enough yet."
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Finally adopts at family insistence, and reports within weeks: "I didn't realize how much I was missing."
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This survey captures the pattern: fears before, relief after.
Bottom line
The survey demolishes these excuses.
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Hearing aids are effective.
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The social consequences non-users fear don't exist.
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A perception problem driven by stigma—keeping people isolated, unsafe, and disconnected from needed improvements.
The gap between fear and experience is measurable. And solvable. It's a failure of marketing and education to address stigma in consultations and by manufacturers to communicate real-world user outcomes during the decision phase.
In practice:
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Lead consultations with user outcome data (hearing aids improve communication by 70%) before discussing device specifications.
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Frame adoption as confidence-building, not disability acknowledgment.
Our approach
We're committed to supporting you through every conversation, challenge, and concern in your hearing health. Our audiologists provide guidance beyond technology, helping you navigate social interactions, build confidence, and rediscover your communication potential.
Protect your hearing, preserve your connections
Choosing hearing aids is about improving your life, not hiding a problem. Our audiologists provide professional support that goes beyond the device fitting.
Your free 15-minute screening includes:
- Honest assessment of your hearing health
- Discussion of device options—visible or concealed
- Strategies for handling social situations with confidence
- Ongoing support for all your hearing concerns
No pressure. No stigma. Just expert care tailored for you.
★ Call 708-599-9500 to schedule your free screening.
★ For facts about hearing loss and hearing aid options, grab your copy of The Hearing Loss Guide.
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Crest Hill, IL - 630-633-5060 | Palos Hills, IL - 708-599-9500
