Well, I'd like to speak up for the ability to blend in with all the people in the room. Call me shallow, call me vain, call me in denial, but let's be clear that calling it anything is judging, which I don't think anyone gets to do. On top of judging, it's inaccurate to characterize it as denial. What is bad about not wanting to be treated differently unless I ask to to be? The device does not get to announce my hearing disability to all who see me, and no one gets to assume what I need or want. I control the message. It will be me, not the device, who says, sorry, I can't hear you, can we move away from this noise, will you please speak up. That is my choice. No one, and no device, gets to take that away from me.

Think of it this way, would you consider it vain, or denial, for those who have undergone chemotherapy to wear a wig in public? To be sure, some people choose to forgo the wig, and they get to do that if they like, but those who would rather wear a wig, do we call that denial? I think not. It's hard enough for anyone with disabilities, health conditions, etc. to make their way in the world, who are we to say, do it this way or that way?

People have a range of responses in deciding how they present themselves in public. We respect their choices. It is not for us to disparage them if we have chosen a different way.