KnowledgeThe more you know the better you’ll hear

"Blindness cuts you off from things; deafness cuts you off from people.“

-- Helen Keller

Agenda

• Demographics

• Why does it matter?

• New technologies

• The “loop” story

• What’s next?

A little about Dr.Turri

• Board Certified Audiologist

• Interest in educating people about hearing loss and in helping enhance their experience with hearing instruments.

Quiz1. How many Americans have some form of

hearing loss?

2. What percent of the population is screened for hearing loss during their physical exams?

3. What percent of hearing aids are sold to first-time users?

31.5 Million

ONLY 12.5%

40%

The population is growing!

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Po

pu

lati

on

(m

illi

on

s)

1989 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

Hearing Loss Population

Source: July 2005 The Hearing Review

Over 50 Million Americans!

Becoming more acceptable?

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Pe

rce

nt

ad

op

tio

n

1994 1997 2000 2004

Hearing Instrument Adoption Rates

Rock-n-Rollers are being fitted!

Understanding hearing loss

• Straining to hear

• Stress

• Misunderstanding – “Faking it”

• Withdrawal

• Isolation

• Depression

Great new technologies

BlurredColor Problems

Clean, SharpToo Dark

Too Much Contrast Best

Artificial Intelligence in Digital Photography

Hearing aids have their problems

• Distance

• Echo

• Background noise

Room without a loop

Courtesy Siegfried Karg

Induction loops can be the answer

Room with a loop…

Courtesy Siegfried Karg

Westminster Abbey

"The whole of the church is served

by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid

to the setting marked T."

~ The first sentence of Westminster Abbey's program for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Queen's coronation, 2003.

Europe

What’s next?

Transmitter - music, phone, movies - friend’s voice

Personal Communications Device - blue tooth technology, i-pods

Hearing aids are just the beginning…

of a whole world of possibilities