I don't have a hearing problem. So we put the earphones on, run the test, and lo and behold, we find a high-frequency hearing loss. Someone's voice may still sound loud. But now it sounds like they're mumbling. This just prolongs the time it takes to adjust and find solutions.
Hearing aids are one of the solutions, but cost is often an issue.
That's why SHHH and other groups are pushing hard to get health insurance plans to cover the aids. And while vanity is still a concern for many people, some of the newest models are placed inside the ear and can barely be seen. But it can take several tries with different models and settings before a good fit is found. In a room on the fifth floor of Los Angeles' House Ear Institute, five people are working on solutions. They've run through a battery of coping skills.