The Wall Street Journal’s story on PSAPs (personal sound amplification products) is the best and clearest explanation I’ve seen of the emerging market for entry-level hearing enhancement devices. It also has an excellent descriptive list of devices in this burgeoning class of products that are the first step for many toward investigation and purchase of programmable hearing aids. And the reporter, Melinda Beck, writes about her personal experience with them.
I’ve written about PSAPs before and believe they will play a significant role in helping the 20 percent of the 35 million Americans with hearing loss (and tens of millions more consumers around the world) get a start on helping themselves. But when the world’s leading business publication takes notice, does some real reporting, and puts its own stamp on the story, it portends a potential major market trend.
The story is must reading for anyone who suspects they have a slight hearing loss, or who has been bothering a hearing-challenged loved one to investigate hearing aids. And make sure to scroll to the box on questions to ask yourself to find out if it’s time to see an audiologist.