According to the American Academy of Audiology, 28 million Americans suffer from some kind of hearing loss.

The major causes of hearing loss are aging, noise exposure, disease and injury.

Approximately 30% of adults who are age 65 or older have some hearing loss.

18% of "baby boomers" (ages 45 to 64) have a hearing loss.

The estimated annual cost of lost productivity, special education, and medical care because of untreated hearing loss is $56 billion - an annual per capita tax of $216.

About 30 million Americans are exposed to potentially harmful sound levels every day, many of them at work (National Institute of Health).

Noise is the most common occupational and environmental hazard in the US (American Family Physician).

It is estimated that over 80% of people with hearing loss have only a mild to moderate hearing impairment.

The ear has over 25,000 tiny hair cells to help you hear the nuances of sound.

Only about 22% of persons with reported hearing difficulties owned a hearing instrument. (The Hearing Review, 2001)

Three out of five older Americans with hearing loss and six out of seven middle-aged Americans with hearing loss do not use hearing aids. (The Hearing Review, 2000)

The three main reasons for not wearing a hearing aid are

    a. a perception that hearing loss is not severe enough
    b. the cost
    c. perceived negative images associated with hearing aids use (Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 1996)

The vast majority of Americans (95%) with hearing loss can be treated with hearing instruments.

Only 14% of physicians screen for hearing loss. Unfortunately, this helps contribute to the situation where most Americans with hearing loss do not seek assistance for their condition.

A typical set of custom fit hearing aids cost approximately $2,200 on average. Much of this cost is related to the personalized custom service of the hearing aid dispenser, making a mold that is custom fit to the user's ear and follow-up adjustment and service.

New technology that includes soft silicone sleeves has made it possible to create a uni-fit hearing device that will comfortably fit the vast majority of users without the need to custom mold the device to the user's ear. This has the capability to dramatically reduce the cost of hearing devices by providing over-the-counter solutions via the Internet and other alternative distribution channels.