After much nagging from his wife, Sam was visiting the audiologist.

Yes, he would need hearing aids and they ranged in price from £10.00 to £2,000, was what he was told.

“I’ll try the£10.00 pair” Sam said.

The nurse placed the hearing aids into his ears and hung a wire around his neck.

“Does the wire really have to be around my neck?” asked Sam.

“Why of course!” replied the nurse. “You think these things in your ears do anything?! It’s the wire around your neck – it makes people talk louder!”