"We can

now offer this population a hearing aid that satisfies their needs,"

he added. "Songbird is designed to be convenient, virtually invisible

in the ear, extremely comfortable, and very affordable. But even more

important, it offers sound quality comparable to the very best in the

industry."

Fritz explained

that each Songbird Disposable Hearing Aid will cost $39 (professional

fees not included) and delivers a full 40 days of life when used 12 hours

per day.

"To help

ensure wearers can easily replace their disposable hearing aids, Songbird

comes conveniently packaged in pairs for each format," said Fritz.

Because the

device is discarded when the battery runs out, consumers no longer have

to be concerned about battery replace ments or repairs. The elimination

of a battery door provides room for a microphone that is seven times larger

than typical hearing aid microphones, creating high-fidelity sound in

a hearing aid sized to fit discreetly in the ear.

Unlike ordinary

hearing aids, Songbird can be fit in just one visit to a hearing professional

and is available in a variety of preset acoustical formats to fit the

specific needs of each wearer. Songbird also features automatic volume

control, allowing people to avoid the need to make frequent volume adjustments.

"Songbird

Hearing Inc. is so confident in the performance of its product that each

disposable hearing aid is unconditionally guaranteed," explained

Fritz.

The new Songbird

Disposable Hearing Aid is only available through licensed hearing professionals.

Research shows

that hearing loss is one of the country's most common chronic health conditions.

Of the millions of people with diagnosed hearing deficits, 70 percent

are under age 65. An estimated 20 million Americans are living with mild-to-moderate

hearing loss, and experts predict that number will continue to grow.