Where did you get the 'massive. from ? Not from my post! I envisage them being slightly bigger than the shoulder pads in suits, but like them, worn inside, and so quite invisible. And I did say 'for those with MILD hearing loss'. Even the latest ITE (in-the-ear) devices deliver what I consider to be an unacceptably poor signal/noise ratio - and are much too expensive. for many people. You may not realise that Fresnel mirrors (acoustic as well as optical) can be of any external shape. It's only the individual reflecting sectors that are angled to reflect into the required focus area. As they would comprise only plastic mouldings, they would be cheap, reliable, and leave the ears free. Bone conduction (BTE) devices are, in my opinion, already more effective than the ITE devices - and are improving. But they too are fragile high-tech electronic devices, and don't come cheap.