| If you are surfing the web to get information about | | | | it. That's because the most common type of hearing |
| hearing aids before you buy, you are doing the right | | | | loss is high frequency hearing loss. Which means you |
| thing. The internet has begun to provide competition to | | | | can hear low frequency (bass) sounds quite well but |
| an industry that has a unique and powerful hold over | | | | will have trouble hearing the high frequency (treble) |
| the sale of personal sound amplifying instruments. | | | | sounds. A high frequency hearing loss is most |
| More and more companies are offering hearing aids, | | | | commonly associated with aging, noise exposure and |
| assisted listening devices, starter amplifiers and a | | | | tinnitus. |
| variety of other instruments. From the simple buy it | | | | Conventional hearing aids plug the ear, helping to |
| direct on line to the more complicated three or four | | | | amplify the needed high frequency sounds, however all |
| step process; these buying opportunities are helping a | | | | sound has to pass through the device so all sounds |
| very large and growing market discover that hearing | | | | are amplified. To compensate, these devices require |
| help can be affordable. | | | | individual testing, custom programming and custom |
| The hearing industry has been a highly regulated | | | | fitting to the wearer, making them expensive and often |
| industry for no apparent reason. The rational and | | | | causing annoying side-effects such as, feedback, |
| methods implemented to maintain their hold on the | | | | occlusion, discomfort and more. |
| dispensing of hearing aids and thus control the cost is | | | | The common high frequency loss makes it difficult to |
| beginning to erode. Like our eyes our ears ability | | | | hear soft voices and to discern the spoken |
| diminishes as we age. With the advent of advanced | | | | consonants, therefore understanding what is being said |
| medical science we will all live longer and better lives. | | | | is troublesome normally, and becomes almost |
| But right now there are no pills for the eyes or ears. | | | | impossible when you are in noisy environments. |
| Ready made eyeglass magnifiers have been available | | | | Specifically designed to increase amplification in the |
| for many years. No exams, medical waivers, fittings, | | | | voice range frequencies while minimizing the |
| and associated fees, they are readily available and | | | | amplification of background noise frequencies, the |
| affordable. Senior citizens thanks to new | | | | open ear style provides volume and clarity for |
| developments are now able to easily purchase an | | | | increased speech recognition. Pre-programming the |
| affordable hearing aid and control their own volume. | | | | open ear to provide hearing help for the vast majority |
| Leading the way the open ear style hearing aid (also | | | | and removing the expenses of testing, office visits, |
| called open fit) brings a very effective and affordable | | | | individual programming and custom molds makes |
| solution to the 3rd most common ailment of aging, | | | | sense. |
| (hearing loss is only behind arthritis and hypertension). | | | | Anybody who is having hearing difficulty needs to see |
| The open ear style is a very small, highly sophisticated, | | | | a medical doctor and find out if simple amplification is |
| 100% digital hearing device that provides comfortable, | | | | appropriate for their condition, as you do with any |
| clear and natural sound quality while being nearly | | | | ailment. Hearing aids are becoming available in two |
| invisible when worn, and it does not plug the ear. The | | | | categories: those that require a professional for |
| open ear style incorporates the best of amplification | | | | programming or fitting (molds etc.), and those hearing |
| technology and universal fit components into an | | | | aids that do not need a professional for fitting. For the |
| instrument designed to help you hear and understand | | | | last category, the open ear style will lead the way and |
| speech. The open ear can also be manufactured and | | | | become just like other items over the counter that do |
| distributed affordably. | | | | not require a professional or a prescription. |
| The open ear style benefits: | | | | The hearing industry argument that hearing |
| *No occlusion effect - the plugged sensation of | | | | amplification should not be readily available for health or |
| traditional hearing aids. | | | | safety issues holds no water. Has anyone ever died |
| *When you wear the open ear own voice sounds | | | | using a generic hearing device? IPOD users put plugs |
| natural. | | | | into their ears, and the sounds they produce sometime |
| *Most include advanced feedback cancellation which | | | | exceed 120Db - a dangerous level. Open ear hearing |
| helps eliminate the whistling that can occur with | | | | aids deserve the same uninhibited access by |
| traditional hearing aids. | | | | consumers. They will not work for everybody but will |
| *Helps you hear and understand conversations in noisy | | | | allow the majority of more than 25 million seniors that |
| rooms and listen to the TV without disturbing others. | | | | need hearing help, but cannot afford it, an opportunity |
| *It is difficult for anyone to see the device. | | | | to improve their lifestyle. |
| *No custom ear molds required. | | | | They deserve it. |
| Many of us can hear speech we but can't understand | | | | |