Communication aid sales is a booming business. The United States alone contains over 6 million hearing aid users. Expect this number to climb quickly. Forty years from now, experts estimate, there will be 50 million hearing impaired individuals. With loud music and a world filled with white noise as the culprit, young people are now 2 1/2 times more likely to be hearing impaired than their grandparents and parents.

While a growth in hearing impairment is a negative for society, it can be profitable for your business. Listening aid and hand held hearing aid sales will grow at a similar rate. There is definitely room in the marketplace for new competition.

The three main categories of hearing and communication aids include:

1. Conventional hearing aids

2. Programmable hearing aids

3. Digital hearing aids

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find conventional communication aid suppliers

Conventional listening aides are the most popular type of hearing aid. They are the least expensive, costing less than $1000, and the least complicated. Volumes on convential aids don't automatically adjust, which leaves the user to manually adjust the volume. Typically, conventional devices use analog technology, which has slower response than digital technology.

I recommend: Rion and Oticon are two of the largest hearing aid manufacturers. One of Rion’s U.S. suppliers Hearing Help Express, sells a variety of models and specializes in conventional hearing aid production. Listening aid products range from hand held hearing aid technology to nearly invisible pieces that fit inside the ear canal. An Oticon supplier, Low Cost Hearing, offers inner ear, outer ear and outside the ear models at affordable prices.

Locate programmable communication aid manufacturers

Programmable hearing aids are a step above conventional. They're pre-programmed to automatically adjust volume and background noise levels. There's virtually no fiddling or adjusting with a programmable listening device.

I recommend: Miracle-Ear is manufactures widely available hearing devices. They provide a three-year warranty and design quality communication aid products. Miracle Ear also provides an online hearing exam, Amplifit, that helps customers choose what model works best for them. Siemens offers programmable listening aides that range from the over the ear models to the ones that fit invisibly inside the ear canal.

Locate digital communication aid suppliers

It's difficult to compare hearing aids that use digital technology with those that use analog. While digital is far more expensive, it provides unmatched sound quality. Digital listening aides have the most advanced technology on the market. Features include several channels ranging from 4 to 20, and a noise reduction option. Warranties generally range from 1 to 2 years.

I recommend: HearingPlanet displays a comparison of Phonak hearing aids, a well-established manufacturer of listening devices. Choose to stock Exelia, the top of the line digital hearing aid Phonak offers. With 20 different channels, advanced noise reduction and a two-year warranty, those with extreme hearing loss will benefit at Heareasy.com, another supplier who offers custom fitted, inside the ear and over the ear models.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some health insurance covers the cost of hearing and communication aids. If you want to deal directly with insurance companies, contact them to become preferred providers.
• •  Include one or two varieties of listening aids from different manufacturers in your supply to allow your customers to compare hearing aids.