I hate that there is a stigma around wearing hearing aids. Mainly because I've seen first hand how significantly someone's life can improve with the use of hearing aids.
But I also dislike the stigma because it's completely irrational if you think about it. People wear shoes, glasses, gloves, contacts, wigs, and so forth. These are all technological upgrades that improve people's lives.
Fortunately, some awesome people (as you'll see below) have really stepped up to create cute and cool decorations for hearing devices (mostly hearing aids and cochlear implants). In addition, their back stories are absolutely touching.
So, at the very least make sure you check out their shop or say hey on Facebook.
Best Shops for Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Decorations
We scoured and searched and used our audiological super powers (if only those really existed) to find some awesome people making awesome decorations for hearing aids.
Hayleigh's Cherished Charms
Founder: Hayleigh Rachel Scott
Back Story: “When I was little and attended a school for hard of hearing and deaf children I noticed that a lot of kids tried to hide their hearing aids behind their hair. I wanted to make my hearing aids shine and be fancy and proud of my hearing aids.
I started drawing pictures along with my sisters showing how I could make my hearing aids shine. My mom helped me make our designs into jewelry for my hearing aids and they were so fancy. Other kids and adults started wanting them too!
And so with the help of my mom and dad, I started my own little business… Hayleigh’s Cherished Charms. I have my own work area at my house where my sisters and I make all the jewelry. I even have a provisional patent on my creations and will have a full patent soon!”
Website: http://www.hayleighscherishedcharms.com/
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HayleighsCharms
The Bebop Shop
Founder: Michelle Wright
Back Story: “As a parent with a beautiful, silly 4 year old daughter, who happens to be Deaf, it has been a challenge to keep track of her hearing aids. From being used as chew toys, to being washed in the shower, we have had our mishaps with them.
When she was about 9 mos. old we took her on a hike in a backpack carrier and didn't notice until about halfway through the hike that she had pulled out one of her hearing aids and thew it. I was able to locate it the next day after a few gray hairs and a search and rescue effort. That is where the idea for the jelly cord and The Bebop Shop was born…”
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/thebebopshop
My Lugs
Founder: Sarah Ivermee
Back Story: “At 3 months old our first child Freddie, was diagnosed as profoundly deaf in his right ear and moderately to severely deaf in his left ear caused by CMV (cytomegalovirus) during my pregnancy.
Soon after diagnosis he was given his first hearing aid, a small beige coloured device with a clear mould. Not the best looking but it did the job! Then last year, at 3 years old he had a cochlear implant fitted and the device choices were mildly better, but still just simple colours.
We have always been so lucky with Freddie when it comes to wearing his hearing aid and cochlear implant, they are rarely off.
But as we met other families with children who had hearing aids and implants we discovered that not all children were as happy to wear their devices.
Most didn’t like the way they looked boring and plain, and unfortunately a lot were embarrassed about wearing them because it made them look different.
A friend of ours has a 9yr old daughter who hates being different and having to have hearing aids. I happened to have some flowery nail stickers lying around at home and gave them to her to decorate her aids and she loved them!
I thought to myself that it seemed such a simple solution there must be some kind of product on the market that did the same. It was a real shame to find there was hardly anything out there that was simple to use and readily available, and this got me thinking!
So my research began! Many stickers, vinyls, gems, charms, packages in the post and a whole lot of trial and error later, Lugs was born!”
Website: http://www.mylugs.co.uk/
Tubetastic Pimps
Creator: Sarah Smith
Back Story: In 2012 I helped create a group on Facebook to help pimp their Hearing Aids & CI's. Through this group people started to create their own charms to wear. I started to make them for my daughter and the business started from there.
In July 2013 I started the Etsy shop to help spread the word to those who are either don't have facebook or are unable to go on Facebook.
As the business has grown so has the range, from just charms, to storage pouches and safety clips. I am the original UK seller of charms. Don't accept imitations.
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TubetasticPimp
Hearing Aid Headbands
Founder: Unknown
Back Story: “My daughter Lauren was diagnosed with a severe hearing loss at birth and was fitted with her first hearing aid at 6 weeks of age.
At first she kept her aids in fine until she got to about 4 months old, she then started to pull them out so I invented the Hearing Aid Headband with its special patent pending pockets that hold the aid behind the ear.
These made an immediate difference. Because the headband holds the aids in place it feels more secure to her so it stops her from pulling it out as much but also as the aid is attached to the headband that when she does pull them out they are harder to lose and the risk of her getting to the battery is greatly reduced.
I was then approached by other parents and teachers of the deaf to make them for them too. So I started a Facebook page and have now made over 100 headbands for children of all different ages.
They are suitable for behind the ear hearing aids and also for cochlear implant users too. Each headband is handmade to order and tailor made for the user. So if you only have one hearing aid then I only make 1 pocket.
The headband can also be used for older children/adults for sports to hold the aid in place.”
Website: https://www.hearingaidheadbands.co.uk/
Ear Suspenders
Founder: Ahavah M
Back Story: Unknown
Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarSuspenders
Hearing Aid Hats and Clips
Little Angels Wear
Founder: @littleangelswear
Back Story: If you have trouble keeping your child's hearing aids in Little Angels Wear has hats and clips that may help. They make beautiful hats and headbands to help parent with children with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/littleangelswear
2 More Place for Hearing Aid Decorations
The above shops are smaller shops created by individuals with hearing loss. I don't say this to detract from the two shops below (because they look great), but they are larger shops with more options, and that's the reason we separated them from above.
Smartear
Founder: Unknown
Back Story: Polish manufacturer of accessories for cochlear implants and hearing aids. You can find different types of cochlear implants and hearing aids accessories: various types of headband, hooks, boxes, EarGear accesoriess and more.
Website: https://www.smartear.pl/main-eng.html
ADCO Hearing Products
Founder: Unknown
Back Story: ADCO Hearing Products is a little different than most of the above shops. Instead of focusing on just one aspect of hearing aid decorations they carry pretty much every hearing product on the market.
Website: https://adcohearing.com/categories/ear-care-hearing-aid-supplies
Have you used any of these companies (or others) to decorate your hearing aids? If so, we'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
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