A famous Hollywood actor once suffered a hearing loss due to the accidental discharge of a gun close to his ear on a western set over 50 years ago. This actor went on to become a famous US President, and he was known to wear two different hearing aids. One was used to correct the actual hearing loss and the other was used to balance the sounds he heard.

There were over 24 million Americans at that time who suffered from some form of hearing or language problem. Studies show that an alarming increase in the rate of people who suffer hearing loss and speech impairments will occur well into the year 2050 in the United States populace as an end product of the increasingly aging people.

Because of these facts, it is now more important than ever to make sure hearing aids are the best they've ever been. The hearing aids sold today, which are better able to differentiate between noise in the background and actual speech, are able to hook onto the outer ear tactfully. Even though these improvements are enormous, the device still isn't as advanced as designers and wearers want it to be. When someone has been suffering from gradual hearing loss over a period of time, it can be hard to adjust to a hearing aid.

The three most common hearing aid styles comprise of one that goes into the ear canal, the customary over-the-ear model and the one that is placed in the ear's bowl. The model that is the most expensive and most popular of the three is the inside the ear canal model, and it is also the one that was worn by the former This is due in large part to the fact that it was worn by a former U.S. president.

The cost of getting a hearing aid, including the consultation, testing, and fitting, is on average between $400 and $1,000, according to the better business bureau council. Although most people assume most people who suffer from hearing loss are seniors, and they do make up over half the numbers, the shocking fact is that 20% of all people who suffer from hearing loss are school aged children.

For many years, vanity has prevented many people from obtaining a hearing aid, even though they needed one. That trend, however, is beginning to change. The notion that a hearing problem is one that you should and can have fixed is becoming more prevalent in our culture. It is very common for a loss of hearing to sneak up on people over time.

There are specific signs that someone is suffering from hearing loss, like inattentiveness, asking to speak up or repeat something frequently, being startled easily, asking to make something louder, then saying it is too loud, or responding to sound inconsistently; some of the physical symptoms are dizziness, ear infections, slow development of speech, ringing or buzzing in the ears (also referred to as tinnitus), or extreme frustration and eventually withdrawal (especially so in the elderly).

One reason people don't seek help for their hearing problems are because their doctor said there was nothing that could be done to help them. This is usually a case of misunderstanding, as the doctors aren't trying to say there is nothing that can help, there is simply nothing medically that can be done to help. More often than not, hearing aids can improve these conditions.

This problem with interpretation has been evident for years now. Today you can usually try out a hearing aid on a 30-day trial basis that allows you to return the device for a full or partial refund if the patient is not fully satisfied. You may not get the full refund for the hearing aid because some places keep the price of the consultation, but you will get most of your money back.

Seeing your otolaryngologist or family practitioner will be a good idea if you think you have hearing loss. If there is no help for your problem medically or surgically, then you will very likely be referred to a specialist who works with hearing aids such as a clinical audiologist that can test your hearing with an audiometer and will then help you to choose and get fitted with a hearing aid device. In addition, most specialists and audiologists will provide maintenance for your hearing aid.

Clinical audiologists have earned a master's degree in audiology and been certified by a state commission for audiology and speech language pathology. Hearing aid audiologists may or may not have a college degree, but they have received special training by the National Hearing Aid Society and been certified to test for and sell hearing aids. Comparing a clinical audiologist to a hearing aid specialist is like the difference between a dentist and a dental hygienist.

Regardless of the provider that is chosen, the person selling the hearing aid should absolutely be licensed. Some people don't want to wear a hearing aid and won't admit they are really lip reading, but you can tell they don't understand what is being said unless they are looking at you. But sometimes, after some gentle nudging by their family, they might just decide it's time. This is the first step on the road towards hearing the way you want to.

About Author / Additional Info:
You will gain a deeper understanding about hearing aids types by checking out http://www.nhc.com.au/hearing-aids.aspx. You can get the best assistive listening devices information by visiting http://www.nhc.com.au/hearing-aids.aspx.