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.
The need for hearing aids pretty much goes hand-in-hand with aging. And yet Medicare doesn't cover them. Hearing aids are considered an elective, and just like with eye glasses, patients are responsible for 100 percent of the bill. Hearing tests are also the responsibility of the Medicare patient. Regulations vary by the state and there may be some exceptions but, overwhelmingly, this statement is true: Older people need hearing aids and glasses and Medicare doesn't pay for them. And it would take an act of Congress to get that to change.