Hearing aids that look like earrings? Reframing hearing loss in 2025.
Hearing aid technology has been researched and developed for over a century. Throughout this time, hearing aid styles have gradually grown smaller, slimmer, more discreet. There’s been a massive surge in demand for more user-friendly and aesthetic - or less obviously visible - hearing aids, as people with reduced hearing ability expect more discreet, up-to-date options. And the demand from individuals experiencing hearing loss keeps growing.
The tide is turning. Recently there’s also been growing demand for hearing aid accessories and jewellery that help make a hearing loss, which is often concealed, more visible and worth flaunting. And why on earth not?
Interestingly, the paediatric hearing aid accessories are probably in the lead, with adult styles of hearing aids that look like earbuds or jewellery, taking their cue for novelty from that.
Children generally experience more awkwardness and curiosity from others, relating to their hearing aids, in the classroom and playground. In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in parents accessorising their child's hearing devices themselves, often changing the style daily. The result: a cool fashion accessory which gives the child a fashion identity they can feel good about, and even flaunt.
The young adult sector started preparing for take-off with this trend when a young entrepreneur in the US began making charms for her own hearing aids. Essentially, making hearing aid earrings. This novel idea created demand among her school friends. It wasn’t long before this fledgling creator’s idea took off and soon she was selling hearing charms and accessories to people around the world.
A powerful project by artist Elana Langer and photographer Hanna Agar, called Tools of Life, aimed to challenge the social stigma and discomfort associated with reduced hearing ability. The images show a woman in every-day scenarios wearing glam diamond-encrusted hearing aids. Amazing how a physical human challenge can kickstart a trend! She liked the idea of having hearing aids be just as beautiful as earrings.
Today’s hearing aids have transformed in ways that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. Modern devices are sleeker, smarter, and so discreet that they look almost identical to popular in-ear wireless earphones, like earbuds, making them virtually unnoticeable. This makes them practical as earbuds are worn by all sorts of people, from trendy youths to older adults, to anyone exercising outdoors or at the gym. For those who might have hesitated to embrace hearing technology in the past, this new wave of devices is a game-changer, eliminating any social concern about wearing a hearing aid.
It’s wonderful that more people are finding ways to wear their hearing devices proudly, making them work quite seamlessly with their individual style. Hearing aids that look like popular in-ear headphones and jewellery that has hearing technology built into it, is a trend to watch. In recent years, hearing aids have been designed with far more personalisation capability. Combined with the now universal trend of wearing earbud-style headphones, we are looking forward to seeing people wanting to both improve their hearing, with ear devices as accessories as a normal part of life, much the same as wearing spectacles to improve sight.
Practical Examples
Two standout innovations that are making waves this year are the Phonak Audéo Sphere™ Infinio and Oticon Intent™ hearing aids—both devices are not only revolutionising how people hear but also how they live. While both of these hearing aids are leading the charge, there are many other options designed to meet your specific hearing needs and budget.
Call us for help and advice when choosing which type of hearing aid is best for you. It’s an important investment that you want to get right. It may be that when you first think about it, you’d like your hearing aid to look like earrings, but that is not always practical for everyone. For instance, you may not want to wear the same ‘earrings’ with every outfit and not everyone is able to have multiple sets that each look different. In addition, it is quite easy for this type to become dislodged and lost. On the other hand, the in-ear type of hearing aid fits in well with modern life and today’s apparel. They are more discreet than traditional hearing devices and are suitable for any age or gender.
Tailored for You
When you come in for a personalisation session with our clinicians, we ensure that your hearing aids are custom-fitted to your unique hearing profile and lifestyle. From Bluetooth connectivity to easy mobile control, today’s hearing aids are more user-friendly than ever. You can enjoy conversations, stream calls, listen to music, and adjust settings with just a tap on your phone, integrating seamlessly with your day-to-day tech.
2024 marked a turning point in hearing aid design and functionality. Devices that look like everyday earbuds make wearing hearing aids a non-issue, really. With incredible advancements like those found in Phonak and Oticon’s latest products, hearing loss no longer has to mean compromise.
When comparing hearing aid earrings and in-ear hearing aids, both are discreet, but the ones that resemble earbuds typically offer more advanced features like Bluetooth and custom programming. In-ear aids tend to be more secure and stable and offer greater technical customisation - and they tend to be more versatile in addressing a broader range of audiological issues.
Hearing Aid Personalisation
Your choice of hearing aid depends on your priorities. If advanced features, connectivity, and performance are critical for you, in-ear hearing aids might be a better option than an ‘earring’ kind of look, especially for those with more severe hearing loss. At The Well Being by CUBEX, we’re excited to help you explore these life-changing solutions.
Contact us for more information.