From school grades to making friends to trying out for a Savannah soccer team, it seems like the world is constantly testing your teen’s confidence. One factor you might not have expected them to contend with is hearing loss.
How Does Hearing Loss Affect Confidence?
A lack of confidence can come from both hearing loss and the hearing aids used to manage it. When hearing loss is the cause, teens may struggle to keep up in school if they cannot hear the teacher clearly or find it harder to make friends. These experiences can take a toll on how they see themselves.
Challenges related to hearing aids are often tied to how teens think others will view them. Concerns about appearance and standing out are common among teenagers. Research findings vary based on how we define body image, but the Mental Health Foundation[1] offers several surveys that illustrate how strongly appearance concerns can impact children and teens.
In one survey of 11 to 16-year-olds, 79% said their appearance matters to them, and 52% reported worrying about how they look. Another survey of adolescents aged 13 to 19 found that 35% reported frequent or ongoing concerns about body image. Given how common concerns about body image are, it’s not hard to see why teens may worry about wearing visible hearing aids.
Tips To Boost Your Child’s Confidence
Try the following to boost your child’s confidence while they get used to hearing aids:
- Encourage social involvement. Hearing loss can sometimes lead teens to pull back from friends and activities. Help your child stay connected by encouraging them to participate in social opportunities that match their interests, such as sports teams, clubs or creative classes.
- Give genuine compliments. Your teen may brush it off, but consistent encouragement can make a huge difference in their confidence. Offer compliments when they make new friends, get good grades or try out for new sports or clubs.
- Give them agency. Teens with hearing loss often feel like their agency has been stripped away. That feeling arises because they don’t have any choice in developing hearing loss, and it can worsen if they’re not involved in their treatment. Letting them choose the color of their devices or buy accessories to dress them up will help them feel more in control.
- Focus on the positives. Your teen may see hearing aids as a negative—something that’s happening to them rather than for them. Remind them of the benefits of their devices, such as clear communication and better background awareness. The goal is for them to see hearing aids as a helper, not a hindrance.
With your support, your teen can embrace their hearing aids and all the joy they bring. If they have any questions about their treatment, reach out to our specialists at Audiology and Hearing Aid Services. We’re more than happy to offer any help your teen needs.
[1] Mental Health Foundation. (n.d.). Body image in childhood. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/body-image-report-executive-summary/body-image-childhood