Hearing loss may be caused by birth defects, disease, infection, drugs and cerumen (earwax). The most common causes are aging and noise exposure. Some hearing loss can be corrected with medical treatment or surgery, but if the loss involves the auditory nerve resulting in “nerve” deafness, hearing amplification may be recommended. Most hearing loss, especially age-related, progresses gradually and often goes undiagnosed. Commonly higher frequencies, important in our understanding normal speech, are lost first. Hearing loss sufferers find it increasingly difficult to understand normal conversation, especially in groups or noisy environments and watch TV or listen to the radio at increasingly greater volume. Any person who suspects a hearing loss should have a medical examination to determine if the condition is treatable and obtain a comprehensive hearing evaluation by an audiologist or licensed hearing aid dispenser. Hearing aids vary in size and sophistication. Recent developments in digital technology make possible precision amplification not previously available. Digital circuitry enables the hearing aid dispenser to tailor the amplification characteristics to the individual’s needs more accurately than with older analogue technology. National Hearing Aid Centers  can help determine which style of aid and circuitry will best suit a person’s hearing needs, cosmetic requirements, and budget and provide the highest quality hearing instruments from leading manufacturers.