Many people whose hearing could use a boost thus have shied away from hearing aids. An estimated one-third of adults over the age of 65 have a handicapping hearing loss, but only 20 percent of them wear a hearing aid.

The stigma of a visible earpiece may be diminishing, however, as wireless ear devices used for cell phones, MP3 players and other gadgets become more sleek, more fashionable and more of a status symbol.

"Within a few years, wearing a device in your ear will be as common as wearing a wristwatch'" Dr. Jackler said in a Stanford news release. "We are in the midst of an ear-level device revolution."

Stanford is in California, where so many trends get their start. Pittsburgh residents may be a little slower about viewing hearing aids as trendy and cool tech gadgets.

"We have not seen a big change so far," said Dr. Catherine Palmer, director of audiology at the Eye & Ear Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. But she's optimistic that the growing popularity of ear pieces will help people with hearing losses be less reticent to use hearing aids.

Dr. Palmer and other audiologists are also optimistic that rapidly changing technology will be helping people with hearing loss to use other electronic devices.

Companies that make hearing devices are close to coming out with devices that use Bluetooth communication technology to turn select hearing aids into wireless hands-free headsets.

The hearing aids will be able to hook into cell phones, MP3 players, computers and Web access.

Deborah Albaugh, an audiologist who owns and operates HearBest, Inc. in Mt. Lebanon, said industry officials had been predicting those Bluetooth-based devices might be available for hearing aids by late 2005. That didn't happen, but she said the devices are expected soon.

People with hearing aids often have difficulty using cell phones.

"Hearing aids can make phones squeal," Dr. Palmer said. Within the next two years, the new cell phones coming out should be compatible with hearing aids.

Aging baby boomers may feel less stigmatized by the need to get hearing aids to combat hearing loss, Dr. Palmer said. Boomers tend embrace gadets and new technology and are likely to be interested in pursuing new breakthroughs in technology.

By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06025/643565.stm