"Certain sounds like s`s and f`s all sound the same. I have a hard time differentiating between certain sounds," Sid said.

Sid is being fitted for an open ear hearing aid, which is different than traditional hearing aids because it leaves the ear canal open, a technology that wasn`t available until about 2 years ago.
Once the hearing aid is in, Sid undergoes several tests. And the results?

"It`s amazing!" Sid said.

"I think it is going to be a little overwhelming for him. The testing that we did showed us that we`re giving him just a perfect amount of sound," Joe said.

And patients love this type of hearing aid because it is digitally programmable, barely noticeable, and offers a natural sound.

"They just seem to work a lot better for those people with mild to moderate hearing losses," Joe said.

The best part is the hearing aid can be easily removed, so patients don`t have to wear it all the time. And in Sid`s line of work, as a radio announcer, the convenience of being able to take it off when he is on the air and put it back on when he is not, is quite a benefit.

"I`m pretty excited about being able to hold a conversation," Sid said.

And with this new hearing aid, Sid will be able to do more than just this. He`ll be able to hear sounds as quiet as whispers for the first time in a long time.

By Kelly Cullivan
http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=575