I too think these kinds of innovations are critical and result in far greater options for all of us. For anyone interested, there are also several other ways in which innovation in hearing is resulting in greater choice. I work for Songbird Hearing and we make the world's most affordable digital aids (these are designed to disappear on the ear though, rather than stand out). www.songbirdhearing.com . For a statement though, we LOVE what Tuberiders is doing - a little company that sells inexpensive add-ons for hearing aids. I'd check them out too. http://www.otocool.com/ . Very nice article and great to see some of the conventional thinking in flux.