May 5, 2025, by Helen Henshaw
In pursuit of colour
Hearing aid manufacturers have invested much time and resource to make hearing aids (HAs) smaller and less conspicuous. This has probably enabled a lot of people to pluck up courage and start wearing HAs. The technology that packs so much sophisticated function into a device the size of a kidney bean is awe-inspiring. For adult HAs, the makers have opted for concealment by hair colour, so we choose from shades like grey, champagne and dark brown.
The downside of this is perhaps that we are thus still buying into a stigmatised perception of hearing loss. Camouflage and not display. The offer for children, however, is rather different, and there’s often a choice of colours for the aid itself, the hook over the top of the ear, and the ear moulds. These can be chosen to match or to create interesting contrasts.
I’m starting to feel disruptive. Maybe it’s my getting old and maybe just closer to retirement, but I would like to be more visible in my hearing aids (or maybe the HA should be more visible on me?). I enjoy being a HA user and I try to advocate for people to get tested and to use HAs when they would benefit from them. I have a pair of HAs that are getting close to needing replacement, so now is an opportunity to do something a bit different.
So, I recently tentatively began a conversation with my audiologist: ‘I would like coloured, much more visible HAs but they only seem to be available for children.’ Next question: ‘Do children’s HAs differ technically from adult ones?’ In fact, no, they have the same internal functionality. They are programmed differently because of the different sound environments of children compared to adults, but they can easily be reset for adult requirements. Hmm, this is starting to sound possible…
Also relevant: children’s HAs usually have a hook that comes round the top of the ear, and a shorter tube into the ear than an adult HA, which just has a wire running from the behind-the-ear device that feeds into the receiver and dome in the ear canal. Because of this difference in design, and also to prevent juvenile rumbustiousness dislodging the aid, children’s HAs usually require a mould sitting in the concha and the ear canal to hold them in place.
‘Yes, I’d be interested in doing this. What are the next steps?’ First involves looking at the manufacturer’s website for more information, though actually I’m most interested in the colour chart for the HAs and ear hooks. Some of the colours are subdued, so not what I am looking for, but there are some great ones for both components. The question then is whether to go for high contrast, e.g. purple with yellow, or to be more co-ordinated, e.g. red with pink or orange. It was only after I thought I had decided that I realised that the ear moulds can be coloured too. A lot to consider.
https://www.phonak.com/en-uk/hearing-devices/hearing-aids/sky-marvel-kids
The next step with the audiologist is to have impressions made of my ear for making the mould. There are some useful YouTube videos, so I have an idea what to expect. Having obtained the impressions, we will send in our order and await developments.
In advance of all this happening, I am not sure how it will all work out. Mainly I am enthusiastic, and I am very curious as to how people may react when they see HAs refusing to be discreet and shy. I do of course have some trepidation but overall I think it will be fun. Enormous appreciation for Kirsty, my audiologist. She has always been very encouraging even when I start to wonder if what I am asking for is a bit crazy. My approach is that, if you gotta have HAs, you may as well enjoy the experience and try things out. There’s another blog waiting to be written after these babies get fitted, I’ll keep you posted.
Tom Dening
24th April 2025
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