Investment In Partnerships	6 Months Ended
Investment In Partnerships	Jun. 30, 2014
Investment In Partnerships [Abstract]
Investment In Partnerships	15. Investment in Partnerships The Company owns a 9% partnership interest in the Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Patent Partnership (HIMPP), and is a party to a license agreement that grants the Company access to over 45 US registered patents. The Company recorded a decrease of $49 and $84 in the carrying amount of the investment, reflecting amortization of the patents, other intangibles and the Company’s portion of the partnership’s operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014. The Company recorded a decrease of $77 and $135 in the carrying amount of the investment, reflecting amortization of the patents, other intangibles and the Company’s portion of the partnership’s operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013. Also, in the second quarter of 2014 the Company paid $24 in operating expenses for HIMPP.

The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group.

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