This is not an insignificant group. The number of people with hearing loss is predicted to rise significantly as the aging baby boomer generation enters middle age the time when hearing loss incidence increases. Although hearing loss affects one in three older people, it is a concern to younger people as well, especially working-age hard of hearing adults who are unemployed. Many of those adults can be helped with a combination of advocacy, technology and communication strategies. There are many ways of coping with hearing loss.
Assistive technology is just one strategy.
A needs assessment is an important precursor to learning about hearing assistance technology. The assessment anticipates different situations where hearing can be challenging and uses questions to help determine an individual s areas of difficulty. It is important to begin with various questions about someone s challenges to prevent overlooking problems that consumers forget to ask about. For example, they may inquire about a telephone amplifier to better understand conversations. When this problem is presented, it also becomes useful to know if they miss phone calls and need a telephone ring signaler.