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Educational Audiology Association Magazine
Educational Audiology Review Vol 22, Fall 2005 p. 33
www.edaud.org
Does it Work?
by Alicia Woods, Audio Acoustics Hearing Center, Lubbock, TX
EarGear
Ear Gear, manufactured in Winfield, British Columbia, is a product
designed for active children and adults. This unique hearing
aid retention system is designed to protect BTEs from wind,
rain, dirt, and other environmental factors. Ear Gear consists
of a soft nylon-spandex sleeve with attached polyester-rubber
cords. The sleeves are available in a variety of colors and patterns,
including camouflage, lime green, red, black, royal blue, sky blue, yellow,
orange/red swirl, and pink/purple swirl. There are two sizes of Ear Gear: Regular and
FM. The Regular Ear Gear is designed for BTEs up to 2.75 inches in length, while the Ear Gear
FM is designed for longer BTEs and can accommodate an ear-level FM System or hearing aid with FM
boot. The cords are available in standard length or shorter infant/toddler length.
This product was tested on a 6 month-old infant with a moderate sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.
The child's parents reported that the BTEs easily inserted into the Ear Gear sleeves. The parents felt that
the Ear Gear helped protect the hearing aids, especially when the hearing aids ended up in their son's
mouth! The rubber cords were soft, flexible, and easily adjusted to an appropriate length for the child.
The parents' only complaint was that it was difficult to adjust the on/off switch and volume control
wheel under the Ear Gear sleeves. They found it inconvenient to lift the sleeves to access these features.
Ear Gear was created by parents of a child with hearing impairment. They sought to create a practical,
fashionable, and kid-friendly solution to the never-ending game of hearing aid hide and go seek. Ear
Gear is also parent-friendly, for it can be washed in mild detergent and comes with a one-year warranty.
Ear Gear is available at www.gearforears.com for a cost of $21.95. Wholesale pricing is available for
orders of 10 or more.
For further information about this product, contact
Ear Gear:
Phone: (250) 766-1838 or toll free (888) 766-1838
Fax: (250) 766-9099
Email: info@gearforears.com
Address: 11651 McGowan Road;
Winfield, B.C., Canada, V4VIJ2
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