I buy this for my 30 something wife for Xmas . she be always try to hear she show over the kid yell and play and not that she will ever admit it but she have a bit of a hearing problem . she usually listen to the tv at 45 - 50 . I like it at 25 - 30 . I get about as good a response from this as a Xmas present as if I would have give she a vacuum or blender . BUT she have be use it every day since Xmas and love it . only down side that she say be she could not fall asleep with they while lay on the couch . but i catch she sleep with they on last night . also , because this be the IR version she have to keep she snuggie under the part that hang under she chin or it cut out . also , if she move around the blanket -lrb- snuggie -rrb- bunch up and can block the IR also .