Hearing Aids Manufacturers Can’t Wait…
It was with much interest that I read on the Phonak site that the giant hearing aid manufacturer is predicting a sharp increase in sales in the coming years.
This is due mainly to the increase in people suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus due caused by such devices as the Apple iPod MP3 players.
Reuters reports ” that “Phonak sees growth from hearing-damaged MP3 users”.
We have been warning against this very phenomenon for ages now, indeed there are over 100 posts on this blog warnning of the impending hearing, cochlear damage and [tag-tec]tinnitus[/tag-tec] disaster as a result of booming MP3 sales.
The loud volume capability coupled with these MP3 players ability to play continously for many hours means that the sensitive inner ear organs are taking unprecedented levels of punishment.
It is this punishment that is making the shareholders of company’s like Phonak rub there hands in glee…
Unfortunately most people only realize the damage they are doing to their hearing when they start noticing a drop off of hearing in the higher frequencies. Their solution initially at least is to turn the volume even higher, which of cause only aggravates the hearing loss and often triggers a bout of tinnitus.
I am not a financial analyst but it would seem that investing in businesses involved in the hearing aid field would be a safe bet in the coming years…
John Currie
