reasons your kid/friend/partner might hate their hearing device
They hate sound
Its hard to explain to hearing people, but I don't like sound (especially through my device. I prefer listening with the “hearing” I have. Unless I'm listening to hearing people, then I don't want to listen to them. Okay that sounded horrible and harsh. That was meant to be funny sorry.)
They aren't used to it.
The majority have already adapted to living in a hearing world and then all of a sudden they have to adjust AGAIN. (or they just have to adjust to having a hearing device and that sucks enough.) I’ve had my Cochlear Implant for at least fifteen years and there are still things (mostly noises) I'm not used to.
They prefer being deaf/hoh
Its just more relaxing and less tiring then hearing/listening.
They hate the misconceptions about it
Growing up I HATED my ci. there were many reasons but one reason was because everyone expected me to hear them so much better then I really did. I only heard maybe 60-80% of what they said with my cochlear on. I always missed snippets while they were talking and I hated having to put pieces together. now I don’t mind as much but it still is annoying when people think I hear more then I do.
They don't like the device
Maybe they don't like how different everything sounds, maybe they don't like how it looks, maybe its uncomfortable, there are a million reasons for why they don't like the device. you’ll have to ask them.
They’re bullied or are worried about being bullied
I never had this problem, but I do often worry about potential dating partners changing their mind when they find out I'm deaf and prefer to sign a lot of the time.
They don't want to admit they're deaf or HoH / they're in denial that they’re deaf/HoH
It happens. When I mention I'm deaf people usually think it means I want to talk about my cochlear implant/my deafness when I don't want to. Now I'm open to questions but I usually remember that if I don't want to talk about it I don't have to.
They’re disappointed/angry that its not working as well as they thought it would
We hear so many good positive things about hearing devices that we feel angry/disappointed when it doesn't reach our expectations.
Its painful
wither sound is the culprit or the device, it can be painful. The area where my magnet is hurts a lot but no one knows why. plus I get headaches from loud sounds.
These are only a few reasons. You’ll have to talk them about why they hate their device/don't want to wear it.
By the way if you’re a hearing parent/hearing device parent (who loves the device) and your child dosen’t want to wear it please don't force them to wear it (I'm not saying throw away their device but don't force them to wear it at that moment. Provide a compromise. For example if they wear it at school they don't have to wear it at home. If they still hate it please respect that.) Its frustrating enough to live in a hearing world and a world where cochlear implants are considered better than they actually are.
Also we can hate the device and have no idea why. I hated it for years and didn't understand it.
