Includes bibliographical references (p. 151-165) and index.

List of illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- What's the big deal about hearing loss? -- How hearing loss may affect you -- How your hearing loss may affect others -- Baby boomers and hearing loss -- Who are these baby boomers? -- Special concerns for baby boomers -- Some final words about baby boomers & hearing loss -- How the ear works -- Understanding your ear -- Understanding the types of hearing loss -- Understanding your hearing test -- Causes and treatments for hearing loss -- Preventable hearing loss -- Treatable hearing loss -- Surmountable hearing loss -- Hearing aid basics -- Hearing aid styles -- Hearing aid circuits -- Hearing aid options -- Other hearing aid basics1 -- Satisfaction and dissatisfaction with hearing aids -- Hearing aid benefit -- Hearing aid satisfaction -- Non-hearing aid solutions -- Having a plan -- Having the tools -- New and future options -- Prevention -- Surgery -- Hearing aids -- A cure -- The issues that remain -- Hearing aids revisited -- About insurance -- Hearing research -- Connecting the dots -- Resources.