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If you are eager to learn about the latest and greatest in Consumer Technology, then look no further than the CES Conference. It is an annual conference organized by the Consumer Technology Association. Typically it is held in Las Vegas in January and hosts presentations on new products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry. The topics are as varied as the name would suggest; ranging from accessibility to smart homes/cities to health, fitness, and gaming. Hosts include manufacturers, developers, and suppliers of consumer technology. It is also a place where the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers address the industry’s most pressing issues.
You can imagine that the opportunity to present your product or idea on such a platform could change a business quickly. Not only do people attend in person, but you can follow along online through multiple media sources in real-time as well as through podcasts. So if you missed this year, you can attend in the future and learn what was present this year.
Also, as you can imagine, a supplier or an inventor may go to the conference with the idea of pitching their product to a certain clientele, then realize their idea may have additional applications. Since you are reading this on a blog dedicated to hearing and hearing health, I bet you can guess what types of products I will talk about in this blog.
Some are household names (like Sony), or known to people in the industry, (like NuHeara), while still others are perhaps less well known (like Orka). Other hearing health care technology companies were presenting new hearables (like the OrCam Hear) or accessories for hearing aids (like the Redux professional drying system for hearing aids).
Most people think new technology is good, but for some it can be confusing; others find the new sounds to be too much. That is why we want you to understand all of your options before you purchase. In hearing aids, including OTC hearing aids, one size does not fit all. We are here to guide you through the process with care and transparency. All costs, fees and services are available at any time.
Please contact us if you have any question about this blog or the conference. We are ready to answer any and all of your questions. Happy Hearing!
Have you ever noticed that some people often spell “Costco” as “Cosco”? It originates from phonetics and the way our brains process sounds, constituting a linguistic phenomenon. This seemingly innocent misspelling sheds light on the fascinating interplay between language, phonetics, and human cognition.
At the heart of the “Cosco” versus “Costco” spelling conundrum lies a phonemic phenomenon. Phonetics deals with the sounds of spoken language, and our brains have a natural tendency to interpret sounds based on how we hear them. When we say “Costco,” the /t/ sound is followed by the /s/ sound, which can sometimes blur together in speech. Our brains might perceive it as a single /ts/ sound, leading to the phonetic approximation of “Cosco.”
The way words are pronounced often gives rise to phonemic misspellings in English, rather than their standard written form causing them. For instance, “alot” is a common misspelling, reflecting the phonetic pronunciation of “a lot.” Similarly, “could of” is a phonetic mistake for the contraction “could’ve,” which stands for “could have.” Informal writing often employs “wanna” as a phonetic representation of “want to,” and “gonna” for “going to.”
Other examples include “should of” instead of “should’ve” (short for “should have”), “finnaly” in place of “finally,” “cuz” for “because,” and “their” instead of “their.” The confusion between “your” and “you’re” results from their similar pronunciation. People often use “Definately” phonetically, intending to write “definitely.”
In some dialects, “aks” is used as a phonetic variant of “ask,” while “prolly” stands for “probably.” The phonetic error “nucular” occurs for the word “nuclear,” and “shoulda” is an informal contraction for “should have.”
These instances underscore how language dynamically evolves, as spoken patterns influence written language, leading to phonemic misspellings in everyday writing.
Now, let’s delve into the fascinating world of online searches. When people are looking for information on Costco’s hearing aids, they often type in what they think they heard: “Cosco Hearing Aids.” This produces a classic example of a phonetic query, where the pronunciation of words influences the spelling.The finely attuned Google search algorithm recognizes this pattern of user behavior and accommodates it by providing search results for both “Cosco” and “Costco.”
In the broader context of language, the “Cosco” phenomenon underscores the dynamic nature of grammar and spelling. Languages undergo constant evolution, and over time, spellings can change to mirror the common pronunciation of words. While “Costco” is the correct spelling, the prevalence of “Cosco” in searches reflects the fluid nature of language and how it adapts to our linguistic idiosyncrasies.
The “Cosco” versus “Costco” spelling mishap is a reminder of the intricacies of human communication. It highlights the complex interplay between spoken language, written language, and the cognitive processes that bridge the gap between the two. As language enthusiasts, we’re witnesses to the ever-evolving tapestry of communication, where even a simple trip to the store can offer insights into the fascinating world of phonetics and language evolution.
Well, there you have it, fellow language enthusiasts! In our valiant quest for grammatical perfection, fear not the whims of spelling, for the benevolent overlords at Google shall swoop in to save the day. Who needs spelling lessons when our trusty search engine can decipher “cosco” from “Costco” with the grace of a linguistic acrobat? So, let’s raise our proverbial glasses to the almighty Google, our steadfast companion in the adventure of phonemic misspelling. hearrings! Or is it “earrings”? Let Google decide, for it has surely earned its wings in the Spelling Hall of Fame.
I have written a couple of blogs about over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. And we have talked about how we believe that hearing healthcare providers, audiologists, and their teams should be the ones to help you. We know, however, that the over-the-counter hearing aid will be available at pharmacies, grocery stores, corner markets, and electronic stores over the next few weeks. We don’t know which brands they will carry or if they will only carry one brand. Time will tell.
We will carry the OTC hearing aids that are safe and of great quality. We will have choices for you. We will not choose only one brand and push it with kickbacks or any shenanigans like that. We are here to help you find your solution. It is true that not everyone likes one brand.. unless it is an apple AirPod, or is it that great? Maybe the AirPod is just fashionable. Anyway.. We also want to support the smaller manufacturers giving them a chance to compete in this space. I hope you too will give other products a chance because if we only support one brand, soon there will be no choices.
Yes and no. (You didn’t really think it would that easy, did you?)
The OTC Hearing aid is going to be very helpful for many people. It will be especially for a number of people like those who live in under-served areas. Also helpful for people who now may be more willing to try a hearing aid to see what it is all about now that the hearing-aids will become more common, and less expensive. From the time a person is diagnosed with hearing loss and the time for them to get help can take as long as 10 years. Some people get help right away when diagnosed, while others digress. Everyone is different but in general, most of our patients say “I should have done this years ago” (referring to getting some hearing help). If you are reading this, you are probably someone who is interested in hearing health. Then you know that undiagnosed hearing loss can be a risk factor for dementia, depression, falls, and a sense of isolation. Hearing better improves your ability to process what you hear faster. Early treatment can make a life-changing difference for those who suffer from hearing loss.
So, there is no question that the new hearing aids that people can purchase over the counter will be a good thing for a great many people.
What do you need to know?
You are welcome to have a free conversation via our email contact or pay for professional consultation via our telehealth. We can help you find a provider near you that will help support your over-the-counter purchase. Some of the products we sell will allow for a thirty-day trial. Some of the products will allow for a two-week test. Please keep all your packaging if you do think you are going to return them. We recommend you return them if you are unhappy with the product and try something else. There will be so many choices. We can help you find the right choice and we will be sharing as much information we have on the products as they come out. We also will only sell those devices that we have tested out ourselves. We are dedicated to helping people on their hearing journey. It is our passion. If you purchase an aid through our website or from another site, we are here to help. There may be a charge for our service but service is going to be harder to find.
Going through this process could be daunting; you do not have to go it alone.
Thanks for reading, Karen (and Kim)
