TINY HEARING AID !

A newly launched over-the-counter device could help thousands of people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

The jelly-bean-sized gadget is designed to help boost the sound of speech only - it is being targeted at people who struggle to hear what's being said in crowded places (such as in meetings or at parties) or on the TV.

Traditional hearing aids are programmed to suit each person's hearing and work by magnifying the range of everyday sounds; they're usually worn all the time.

Hearing aids have improved since the Fifties, and the new HearPlus, which could help those with mild to moderate hearing loss, is the size of a jelly bean

The new device - the HearPlus - helps only with sounds produced in high frequencies, such as speech (low frequency sounds, such as road traffic noise or music, do not get amplified).

And unlike conventional aids, the HearPlus is not worn permanently; it is popped in when conversation becomes difficult to follow.

Age-related hearing loss affects half of people over the age of 60. But many begin to suffer problems in their 40s or 50s.

It usually sets in with the death of tiny 'hair' cells in the inner ear as a result of ageing.

These cells play a crucial role in transmitting sounds through the auditory nerve to the brain. But once they die, they cannot be replaced.

It's estimated that sufferers wait an average of 15 years before seeking help, partly because of the stigma of wearing a permanent hearing aid.

The first warning sign is often missing occasional sounds rather than whole sentences.

That's because some of the first sounds to disappear are the higher-pitched consonants, which give intelligibility to speech.

Vowels, on the other hand, can still be heard clearly and the brain tries to cope by filling in the gaps.

Many people first experience difficulty in understanding women and children, who tend to have higher pitched voices. Deeper male voices are easier to cope with.

Now, the High Street chemist Boots has teamed up with David Ormerod Hearing Centres to provide the HearPlus as a solution.

Although the device - which is placed in the ear - is sold over-the-counter, a hearing test is carried out first. If there are signs of severe hearing loss, the customer is told to see their GP.

But if the problem is mild to moderate, the HearPlus can be used. A tiny microphone picks up incoming acoustic sounds and sends them to a processor that converts them into a digital signal.

This signal is then manipulated in such a way that it amplifies 'softer' highfrequency sounds but dampens down lowfrequency sounds. Once the sound has been processed, it travels through a soft silicone dome that fits snugly into the ear canal - and on to the brain.

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) said it was important that anyone concerned about their hearing has it checked properly before using an over-thecounter device.

'If anyone is worried about their hearing, RNID would advise they talk to their GP as a first step,' says spokeswoman Philippa Palmer.

'Problems with hearing could have a number of causes and people need to get that checked out first so they know the appropriate course of treatment.'

• Hearplus costs £149 and is available in branches of Boots from today.