Even though a hearing loss is one of the most common of physical and sensory impairments, it is also perhaps the most misunderstood and underestimated. It has been called the "invisible" condition since it is not possible to "see" a hearing loss directly, only its effects upon behavior and communication. The fact that these effects can be so variable, depending upon the individual and the situation, is what makes hearing loss such a confusing condition.

Sometimes a person with a hearing loss can fully comprehend utterances, sometimes not at all, and sometimes only partially. This confusion and uncertainty, often not even fully apprehended by the person with the hearing loss, is what is responsible for the tension, conflicts and anxieties that are often the daily fare of someone with a hearing loss. Indeed, by diminishing a person's ability to effectively engage in interpersonal communication, the condition has the potential to impact every aspect of one's life, ranging from the psychosocial to the cultural and vocational domains.

In short, it is not a condition that should be treated casually, with haphazard, ill-advised and superficial measures taken to ameliorate its effects. Such an approach trivializes the impact that impaired communication can have upon the life and well being of the affected person. Given the significance of the sense of hearing, SHHH believes that people with hearing loss require the care of qualified professionals who follow best professional practices.

Once the medical implications of a hearing loss have been considered and managed, the most effective therapeutic measure is usually appropriately selected hearing aids. At the present time, hearing aids can be purchased by consumers from many sources, ranging from Hearing & Speech Centers, Otologists, Audiologists, and Hearing Instrument Specialists to mail order catalogues and Internet sites. These latter alternative sites for obtaining hearing aids are likely to increase in the future, particularly since many catalogues and Internet sites offer apparently substantial discounts compared to the more traditional sources. It is not the province or intent of SHHH to dictate to consumers from where they should purchase hearing aids.

Rather, SHHH takes a position that no matter how or from whom a hearing aid is obtained certain requisite conditions need to be considered to ensure that the interests of people with hearing loss are fully protected.

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