Our Story

Lady wearing hearing aid jewelry
young girl wearing hearing aid jewelry

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WHO WEAR HEARING DEVICES

DEAFMETAL® is an award winning, bold, fashion-forward jewelry innovation created and designed for hearing aid and cochlear implant users by Finnish fashion designer, Jenni Ahtiainen, who herself wears hearing aids. Through the collaboration of Jenni and US audiologist, Jen Aslin, they have designed a collection for all ages. Some chains are a safety chain. Some chains are a statement. Our safety retention cuffs have been worn from pediatrics to customers in their 90’s. They are definitely a conversation piece and a way to destigmative wearing hearing aids.

creator of DEAFMETAL®

JENNI AHTIAINEN

My name is Jenni Ahtiainen and I am the creator of DEAFMETAL®. DEAFMETAL® is an accessory brand for hearing aids. I have been working as a fashion designer for 15 years. I’ve sold my designs for consumers in Japan, Europe, and in the US. I have also designed stage costumes to bands and musicians like Marilyn Manson, Snoop Dogg, and Bono. These opportunities have been incredible for a Finnish fashion designer who loves to listen to music. But then I lost my hearing and I was shocked. And got hearing aids.

It made me wonder…why is it that if you have bad eyesight, you get to choose whatever kind of eyeglasses that suit your style? You have something regardless of if you are a woman, man, child, rocker, hipster, or even goth. However, if you have bad hearing, you don’t have that choice. You can’t even see one single beautiful picture of a hard of hearing people in lifestyle, fashion, or beauty magazines. Well, not until now…we started to take beauty shots and fine art pictures of hard of hearing people to make hearing problems more common and visual.

When I received my hearing aids, I put the aids behind my ears and started to think. I innovated a small holster around the hearing aids and then I hung some leather strips into the holster. Suddenly, the hearing aids felt more like me. They looked like me and I looked like me. This is how DEAFMETAL® was born—very naturally and organically by the hands of a hard of hearing fashion designer.

audiologist and Jenni’s DEAFMETAL® partner

JEN ASLIN, AU.D.

I’m Jen Aslin! I am an audiologist and Jenni’s DEAFMETAL® partner for the USA. I first saw DEAFMETAL® in Summer 2020 while visiting an audiology website. Her story inspired me. Through several calls and much collaboration, I knew promoting the DEAFMETAL® hearing aid and cochlear implant jewelry brand in the USA was the right thing to do. I’ve never seen anything like it and loved the idea of “embracing and empowering” people with hearing loss with a product that seeks to destigmatize the wearing of hearing aids or cochlear implants.
As an audiologist in 4 different states, I have seen patients ranging from newborn to seniors. I have always loved trying to instill confidence in patients who are fit with hearing aids or cochlear implants for the first time. The awesome thing about DEAFMETAL® hearing aid jewelry is that it can be worn by people of all ages. At first, you might think only younger generations wear this jewelry…but this is not true! Once someone puts on the DEAFMETAL® jewelry, it creates a level of confidence and fun. I saw it during photoshoots of my models with hearing loss. My favorite story from Jenni is of a Finnish woman in her 80’s who purchased a pink owl DEAFMETAL® jewelry to hang from her holster. When asked why she wanted the owl, she stated she hoped that by wearing it, her granddaughter would want to sit on her lap more often. I now have a purple owl on my desk that reminds me of that sweet story. This story was one of many reasons we entitled this The Hope Collection.
My hope is that this collection of DEAFMETAL will bring some fun and attitude for people with hearing loss worldwide! In talking to patients with hearing loss, they are thankful that we have designed a product to help celebrate hearing loss. Jenni and I hope you love your DEAFMETAL® jewelry and would love if you share stories and send pictures wearing them!

AWARDS


Creative Business Cup 2019
2nd Place Winner, Global FinalsCreative Business Cup 2019
Winner, Representative, FinlandLinnan Business Turnajaiset 2019
Winner, FinlandDeafmetal Collection Is The Winner
“The New Product Of The Year 2018″Designer’s Cinderella Jewelry Is The Winner Of
Stylefellow’s “Jewelry Of The Year 2018”

Kind Words

"So I just received my double safety ring and holster for my Advanced Bionics CI and it's amazing! So much nicer than all the other grips that the company provided that are so cumbersome and awkward to use! And this looks like something one wants to wear not has to wear! Thank you for creating this beautiful piece of jewelry."

Bev Canada 5 months ago

"I can't stop RAVING about this retention ring! I can wear my hearing aids to do yoga now and it stays put. Life changing and looks super cute!"

Jessie 5 months ago

"Just received and I'm in love. There is no one else who has produced something like this and it works like a charm. I can't wait to order more! To top it off, Had many questions that were received with phenomenal customer service"

Palochhead 5 months ago

Love this product! Made me feel like me wearing my hearing aids! I was able to let my personality show thanks to Deafmetal. Also I don't worry that my mask will pull off my hearing aid or if I bend upside down they'll wiggle out. So much security built into something so small and fun. Truly grateful

Rachel 5 months ago

"Very Cute! My daughter was very excited and said they hold her hearing aid in place while baton twirling."

Tammy USA 5 months ago

“I just wanted to say, thank you for making your product. I started losing my hearing 2 years ago at age 20 and I have had a really difficult relationship with my hearing aids and their “old lady” look. I am so happy that I now found a way to make them look cool

Andrea Poland 5 months ago

“I am new to the HoH (hard of hearing) community. Thanks for creating a product that makes the transition welcoming and celebrated. It makes me feel confident that my device is secure and an expression of me.”

Adrianna USA 10 months ago

“I tried these out when I went to an event last night-not only did my hearing aids stay firmly in place, but I got some compliments on my "ear cuffs" - no one even seemed to notice that I was wearing hearing aids! I will definitely buy more from this shop, thank you!"

Kathleen USA 10 months ago

Absolutely amazing! I ride horses and can't wear my hearing aid due to fear of it falling. With the holster I can secure it to my ear and ride!! I can even canter through a whole course of jumps without it moving. Thank you for giving me my life back!

Hannah New York 10 months ago

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BECOME AN AMBASSADOR​

Deafmetal USA is looking for individuals who wear either hearing aids or cochlear implants who have a large social media platform to do some promotional work for compensation. We would be able to send various Deafmetal products (i.e Deafmetal hearing aid jewelry, Deafmetal holsters, Headpiece covers, promotional materials, etc) to be used during videos/postings related to Deafmetal. If you are interested, please reach out to our DEAFMETAL® team at contact@deafmetalusa.com with the subject of your email being ambassador. Thank you!