About 36 million people in the United States are estimated to have hearing loss. Although it is often associated with aging, it is also clearly present in people of all ages, from newborns to adults. Healthy human ears can perceive an enormous range of sounds in terms of pitch and loudness. Hearing is the primary sense through which we learn speech and language. The ability to hear clearly from birth is extremely important with regard to normal development of speech and language skills, auditory processing skills, a sense of self, as well as normal emotional and psychological well-being and more.