Hearing aids have come a long way and in the digital age, they bear almost no resemblance to the clunky, awkward earpieces that an older generation hated to wear. In fact people in their 70s and 80s tend not to wear their hearing aids, because of all the problems – the static and hissing sounds that drowned out what they were actually trying to hear, the erratic controls and the large, embarrassing earpieces.
However, the new generation of digital listening devices and hearing aids can be customized for individual needs and specifications. They can amplify sound in a natural way, and even connect to telephones, TVs and music systems to give people back the world of sounds and music.

Hearing loss can happen at any age
Hearing loss can happen at any age, and about three child out of a thousand are born with hearing loss in one or both ears. The incidence of hearing loss at birth cannot be predicted, and more than 90% of the children born with hearing loss have parents who can hear.
Hearing loss can happen in childhood. Infections and illnesses can lead to hearing loss. The consequences for children can be serious. It affects their ability to make friends, to participate in games and sports, and to understand lessons in the classroom. Even with mild hearing loss, children can miss up to half of the classroom discussion.

Consequences of hearing loss
Hearing loss tends to cut the sufferers off from friends and coworkers. For children this withdrawal from activity comes at an especially bad time, just as they should be learning about the world and forming friendships.
For both children and adults, loss of hearing can also pose dangers in traffic and around worksites. Sound is an essential part of our way of interacting with the world. For older people living alone, hearing loss compounds the problems that go with aging. And for their families, it’s no longer possible to just call up a senior living alone, because even a simple thing like talking on the telephone becomes nearly impossible. Hearing loss becomes another source of anxiety for seniors and their families.

Digital hearing aids can be customized
The new generation of hearing aids are comfortable and invisible. They can be customized to match the wearer’s comfort level, and come in many different types. They can even connect wirelessly to TVs, cell phones, MP3 players and other devices, allowing wearers to reconnect with the world.
Hearing consultants offer a full range of services including:

• Hearing aid tests and fittings
• Hearing aid repair
• Assistive listening devices
• Custom hearing protection
• Musician monitors
• Follow-up care

Studies have found that people with hearing loss tend not to use their hearing aids, whatever their age. Given the old, clunky, inefficient models, that’s hardly surprising. New digital hearing aids are log height, nearly invisible and are fitted using computerized connections. They can help end the isolation that becomes a second affliction for those suffering from hearing loss.