Health Guide

Before the advent of the Internet created the ability to buy hearing aids online, if you were looking to obtain digital hearing aids for yourself or for a loved one, your options were limited. Historically, you would most likely purchase your hearing aids from someone local: a licensed dispenser, a dispensing audiologist, or an otologist, who in turn acquired the hearing aids from a manufacturer. You could also purchase digital hearing aids from mail order businesses, but they were limited in number and offered limited products as well.

When you are looking to purchase a digital hearing aid, it is important to have an awareness of the many costs that are associated with hearing aid ownership. The cost of owning a digital hearing aid goes beyond simply the cost of the unit or units; it can encompass everything from doctor visits to adjustment costs to return fees and upgrade costs, depending on the hearing aid dealers you are working with.

Common costs of owning a hearing aid include:

Millions of people in the United States suffer from mild hearing loss, but many avoid scheduling a hearing test to determine the cause. Blane Anderson, CCC-A, senior audiologist for America Hears, notes, "As the baby-boom generation ages, more people are going to be affected by hearing loss.

From their size to their shape to they way in which they function, the hearing aid technology that is used today is far different from what hearing aids used 100, 50, or even five years ago. The history of hearing aids is far reaching and colorful – the earliest hearing aids worked without electricity, while the earliest electric models were simply too large to be portable. Today, digital hearing aids are discrete, lightweight, and have the capability to be adjusted for different environments and to amplify sound without distortion.

by Dan Roberts - MD Support

Chris and I held a yard sale last weekend. The good news is that we made over $500. The bad news is that it will cost $1500 to repair the damage to our minivan.

By Dan Roberts - Director - MD Support

By Beverly Castellini
Submitted by Mike Goldberg
Rehabilitation Counselor
Vermont Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired

From MD Support - The Eyes of the Macular Degeneration Community

Beverly is a sixty-nine year old woman who now lives in the family homestead in Hartland, Vermont. In the mid 1960's, she and her husband, George, built their home on property which her ancestors purchased in this rural area in 1780.

Age-related macular disorder (AMD) can be a life-altering disease, but there are resources available from the AMD Alliance International and our member organizations throughout the globe to provide knowledge, help and hope. A diagnosis of AMD, particularly if vision loss is occurring quickly can generate a variety of very normal reactions including denial, anger, fear, grief, and depression.

There are many low vision devices to help you use your remaining sight more effectively, thereby enabling you to continue reading and participating in other hobbies and activities or, most importantly for those still working, remain in your job. These low vision devices, ranging from simple to complex depending on your individual needs, include:

Telescopic lenses, either hand-held or attached to eyeglasses help you see distant objects more clearly.

If you have been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) your ability to ask the right questions and receive accurate information is crucial. This way, you can address appropriate options for treatment, rehabilitation and support services together with your eye care provider. The more you know about your condition and prospects the higher your chances of maintaining the highest possible quality of life.