IGNORANCE ISN’T BLISS- FIGHTING THE HEARING AID TABOO Many people don’t understand the meaning and importance of hearing loss and hearing aids. Wearing a hearing aid is considered a stigma in society. It is important to fight the hearing aid taboo in every aspect of life. It is important to encourage the ones suffering from hearing loss to view a hearing aid as a positive feature and not as a stigma Some people have tried using hearing aids and said it didn’t help. What we must understand is that ‘Hearing-aids’ are called ‘aids’ because they only help hear better, they can’t cure. A hearing aid helps the brain to pick up the sounds that hearing loss has conditioned to skip or miss. A major concern for many hearing impaired individuals not only in India but around the globe is that hearing loss will affect their livelihood. Someone suffering from hearing loss may develop a misconception that hearing aids imply a kind of handicap. This may develop into an inferiority complex within the society they live in. It gets very difficult when such ignorance becomes wilful ignorance. This inferiority complex eventually leads them to live in denial and ignore the need to use hearing aids for fear that the use will be poorly received by their peers or there will be jokes at their expense. They must understand that hearing aids simply improve one’s ability to get better quality hearing. With the hearing aid technology improving as rapidly as any other technology, hearing loss treatments in India would be underutilized if people remain ignorant of the advanced benefits these devices can bring. It is wise and important to be aware and knowledgeable about hearing loss & hearing aids today. It is very important to accept what you’re suffering from and give it the necessary attention by looking for a solution. The right treatment will improve life positively and this should be encouraged not only among elders but also youngsters and children. Today Hearing aids are very small, behind the ear and with a thin wire that goes down into the ear canal. They are absolutely invisible!