Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections in humans resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The late stage of the condition leaves individuals prone to opportunistic infections and tumors. Although treatments for AIDS and HIV exist to slow the virus's progression, there is no known cure. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk. This transmission can come in the form of anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids.
Most researchers believe that HIV originated in sub-Saharan Africa during the twentieth century;
it is now a pandemic, with an estimated 38.6 million people now living with the disease worldwide. As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized on June 5, 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4 - 3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children. A third of these deaths are occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and destroying human capital. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries. HIV/AIDS stigma is more severe than that associated with other life-threatening conditions and extends beyond the disease itself to providers and even volunteers involved with the care of people living with HIV.
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Aurilink, LLC - Produces and sells miniature ready-to-wear hearing aids. Marietta, Georgia.
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Gentner - Manufactures assistive listening devices such as amplified audio for hearing impaired people.
Meta Description: [ Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) provide amplified audio for hearing impaired people. Gentner's system delivers clear audio to those who need help hearing. ]
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Hansaton Hearing Systems - Producing hearing aids and accessories, with health information and research findings. Located in Hamburg, Germany. ( English and German )
Hearing Aid Telephone Interconnect Systems - Develops products to connect hearing aids with cellular phones, telephones, and other listening devices.
Meta Description: [ HATIS connects hearing aids with cellular phones, telephones and other listening devices to allow people with hearing loss to talk on any telephone anywhere. ]
hearXchange - Provides resources to enable the hard of hearing and deaf to be made aware of the changing technologies in the hearing field.
Meta Description: [ HearXChange resources to enable the hard of hearing and deaf to improve their quality of life through the constantly changing technologies of the computer age. ]
Listen Technologies - Manufactures wireless assistive listening systems for the hard of hearing.
Meta Description: [ Hearing device products including hearing impaired products,sound field system,translation sound devices and wireless sound systems. ]
Modernizing Hearing Aid Services - Seeks to improve patient services and making digital hearing aid technology available through Britain's National Health Service.
Meta Description: [ The Modernising Hearing Aid Services (MHAS) website contains information for patients, audiologist and other health professionals. The MHAS programme, funded by the Department of Health, is about improving patient services, as well as making digital hearing aid technology available on the NHS. ... ]
PhonicEar Logia - Manufactures hearing aid products and assistive listening devices.
Printacall - Manufactures communications technology for deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired people.
Specsavers Hearcare - Offers hearing assessments and fitting of digital aids. United Kingdom.
TypeWell - Manufactures an educational transcription software that allows communication access during classes for deaf students.
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