See that? Career suicide? Nope. It’s simply the end of a bad 10 years of me missing things. Struggling to hear basic conversations. Freaking out for not hearing what some of my coworkers were saying. Being made fun of for not hearing questions from across a chaotic production booth. It’s the end of awkward professional situations and the beginning of everything else. No more conversations I‘m a part of but apart from. Today I got hearing aids. Am I afraid people will see them and I’ll never get hired again? I’m 60. I’m a woman. I work in television. I’m never getting hired again anyway. And why TF should I deny my comprehension just in case some hiring exec thinks wearing them must mean I’m too old for the job? Fun fact: I’m not. I’ll actually be doing the job even better. So I’m rocking these things proudly. I can hear again. I’m eliminating a risk factor for dementia. At the same time I never need to wear headphones or EarPods again. Everything feeds straight to these bad boys. So if you see me walking down the street and it looks as if I’m talking to myself, I’m probably on a call. Being a working woman means you’re constantly accommodating everyone else’s biases. I also put off starting a family for years because I was worried it would somehow make me less hirable. Any men out there have to face that dilemma? Don’t bother answering. Also, if you can master negotiating with a 2 year old, you’re perfect for working in the entertainment industry. I no longer GAF what anyone thinks of me and my hearing aids. Cause my hearing is none of anybody’s business. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, get some help if you can. There’s no shame in wanting to hear and it’s much more important than just about anything else. You hear me? #hearing #bias #disability #heardingaids #hiring
Are they comfortable??
Hear! Hear!
What I find interesting about this post is that I couldn't tell what the picture was until I read the post. I can't see the hearing aid unless I'm looking at it. It's not very visible. This makes me think most people wouldn't see it, certainly not in an initial hiring conversation. Ableism, sexism, all that is very real. But I think that often people hold themselves back more than others. Not getting a hearing aid because you're afraid people might judge you for it when, in fact, people are judging you for not hearing what they're saying already. I would imagine that more opportunities were lost by not having one than by having one. Not because people are good and don't discriminate, but because more people will notice that they have to repeat themselves a lot for you than will notice a hearing aid. I would say that everyone should do what they can to be the best they can be and let the chips fall where they may. If someone is going to judge you for something, then let it be the thing you chose to be the best, not the thing you can't control or did to try to make them happy. Do what you need to do. And if people have a problem with that, fuck 'em.
fowler marki
5d
Promotion of inclusivity (which I also support) but doesn’t it just cause division? True inclusivity is when we don’t acknowledge it’s existence. Less pushing, everyone gets what they want.
The way I see it wearing hearing aids is a path to self improvement. Anything done in the name of self improvement is good 👍. On that note, I wouldn’t even waste time being concerned about what tv executives think. Sure making career moves going upwards is good, but in general I think self improvement is actually better. Because when you improve upon yourself, naturally your career should go upwards in alignment anyway. Awesome 😎 decision getting those hearing aids Wendy!
Dan Smolen
5d
I'm 63 and I've worn hearing aids that look like that for nearly 6 years. And it's made a huge positive difference in my life--in the workplace and in my personal relationships. I think gone are the days when people saw hearing aids as career suicide. Actually, the opposite is now true. Having them means I rarely miss important conversations or exchanges. Further, there is some high correlation between the absence of hearing aids and early onset dementia; I suspected that that was the case with my late father. One more thing: young people are experiencing frequency hearing loss in increasing numbers. So, I expect that as younger members of the workplace getting hearing aids, the tech will gain broader acceptance. Good on you for telling your story.
Rick Bennett
5d
Grow your hair longer, over your years. Nobody will see them, then. Nobody knows my wife has hearing aids.
Paul Garrett
6d
As a creative director I was occasionally accused of going my own way and not listening! Not true of course! I’ve known since my thirties that I was missing some mid frequencies. Now in my seventies I took my wife’s advice. Here in the UK, a hearing specialist prescribed a very expensive hearing aid option. Before biting the bullet I checked out the National Health. The result was an amazing solution. Greatly restored hearing linked to my iPhone. Meaning I can take a call even in noisy environments and have the ability to listen to my music and bother no one. Winning on all fronts. My advice, don’t doubt yourself for a moment. You’re being the best you can be. Any employer is lucky to have that.
Bravo, Wendy. I had my hearing tested for the first time almost four years ago. The audiologist and the ENT doc told me I was a candidate for hearing aids. I must have looked bummed. The doc said, "What's the matter, don't you want to get hearing aids?" I said, "Yes, I do." The audiologist said, "Then why do you look so troubled?" I said, "Now I have to go home and tell my wife she was right." Kidding aside, they changed my life. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
WPTV
6dDon’t you wear on IBF in your ear on air?