The Vel weak phenotype is due to a heterozygous deletion in the same exon, resulting one functional copy of the SMIM1 gene. If a patient who is Vel negative is transfused with Vel positive red blood cells, they may form anti-Vel alloantibodies.
Hearing aids need to be fitted by someone trained specifically in hearing problems. An audiologist or licensed hearing aid provider can make sure your hearing aids fit and work for your type and degree of hearing loss. You also need to consider cost.
Additionally, a loaner hearing aid bank was established to serve this population. Our goal is to fit the child with a loaner hearing aid on the second visit and provide a trial for three months. As of March 2002, 28 children with unilateral hearing loss had been fit with a hearing aid on their impaired ear.