84% of hearing impaired patients would choose THIS

May is a special month for me for many reasons. First, it’s Better Hearing Month! Wahoo, a whole month to celebrate hearing!

May 1st happens to be my 23rd anniversary at Hearing HealthCare Centers (it also happens to be my 19th wedding anniversary!) I’m not sure where the time has gone, but I have truly loved my 23 years (and counting!) as an audiologist who gets to change lives every day. I love building relationships with my patients while we work to restore the impact hearing loss has had on their relationships with others.

I believe many things can be seen as either threats or opportunities. I choose to see things as opportunities whenever possible. Take Over-The-Counter hearing devices; some people see them as a threat to audiologists, but I see them as an opportunity to bring awareness to hearing loss, help people to take action in earlier stages of hearing loss, or provide easier accessibility to hearing care for those who cannot access hearing care professionals.

The article this month was written by yours truly with some review and some updates about the differences between OTC and Prescriptive hearing aids.

And as always, we LOVE feedback from patients about their experience with us. We are still a privately owned small business and rely on referrals from happy patients. Would you hit reply (or go to Google or Facebook) to share how your experience with us has been something worth celebrating?

We think it’s worth celebrating Better Hearing Month all year long!

Nearly every day for the past six months we have been asked by patients how the Over-The-Counter hearing aid law has affected us and our business. We usually tell them that business has stayed really steady and our schedules are staying full with new patients, despite the fact that there are so many new avenues for buying hearing aids. They usually respond with some version of “I’m glad to hear that. I can’t imagine trying to fit my own hearing aids.”

SO WHY ARE HEARING AIDS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE NOW?

In 2017, under the Trump administration, a bill was passed to allow hearing aids to be sold over-the-counter. This law finally went into effect during the Biden administration in October 2022.

It essentially split hearing aids into two categories:
“Over the counter” and “Prescriptive”.

Up until that point, devices that amplify sound could only be called “hearing aids” if they met specific criteria that the FDA had created considering them a Class A medical device. Any product that did not meet those standards was called a “Personal Sound Amplifier”.

The purpose of OTC devices is to expand affordability and accessibility. Hearing treatment can be expensive and in certain areas, professionals are sparse. Making OTC devices available at Walmart, Best Buy, Costco and online will fulfill that goal of affordability and accessibility. However, the standards of hearing correction will not be the same.

Prescriptive devices calculate the necessary amount of amplification each patient needs across a broad range of pitches. They have far more adjustment capabilities to control soft sounds versus loud sounds, and foreground noises versus background noises. They are customizable in fit, form and function to each individual.

DIVERGING PATHS

We are at this place in history where research is piling up indicating just how much impact untreated or undertreated hearing loss can have on an individual and their family. We now know that treating hearing loss is the #1 most modifiable life change an individual can make to prevent dementia and cognitive decline.1 Untreated hearing loss is also responsible for rising cases of falls, 2 loneliness, social isolation, and depression, which lead to increased health care spending and increased mortality. 3

While that might sound drastic, the literature shows that hearing loss can have devastating impacts on overall health.

On the flipside, there is now a lot of confusing messaging that reduces hearing treatment to hearing aids that can be sold over-the-counter. The airwaves, magazine pages and social media feeds are full of ads that show OTC hearing aids that promise to correct hearing loss for anywhere from $49-$1999, without the need to see a professional.

For the majority of people, proper hearing care requires a combination of the right prescriptive devices, a strong hearing professional, and a process of rehabilitation and adaptation to sound.

I believe OTC products can serve their purpose, however. First off, they brought awareness of hearing loss to the forefront. I joke that hearing rarely gets to be headline news, but over the past couple years hearing care has been featured in many articles and stories.

Also, for many, OTC devices could be a steppingstone into better hearing care. They might serve as occasional help for people with slight hearing loss. They could be valuable for short term use for people in hospice or temporary rehab centers who cannot or do not have access to hearing care, as well as people in very rural areas. And obviously they will be better than nothing for people who truly can’t afford other options.

Our stance at Hearing HealthCare Centers is that we truly believe that the cost of untreated hearing loss is too high and it deserves to be treated with the best standards of care possible.

And it would seem that the majority of people actually agree with us! A survey-study published last month found that out of over 1100 patients surveyed, 84% would still choose to pursue hearing health care in person. 4

Patient Testimonials

" Dr. Whitney changed my grandpa's life. He had old hearing aids from 13 years ago and didn't wear them much because they were so frustrating - background noise, wind, certain tones and people hard to hear. Dr. Whitney tested his hearing, taught him all about new technology, and spent several hours getting him new hearing aids and dialing them in. I'm just one day we are all amazed. He's engaged in conversation he used to sit back and tune out for. We don't have to yell to get him to hear us. Restaurants, cars, all the hot spots - it's a complete game changer. And even more than that - he felt so loved by Dr. Whitney! And her entire team. You could tell she genuinely cared. I think I cried 5 times in the office watching him trust her, try new things, and go from an 8% to an 88% on his hearing test. THANK YOU DOCTOR WHITNEY AND TEAM!!!!"
L.M.

"Personalized, professional service by a friendly staff, especially Dr. Hart. She gives honest advice and expectations and does not pressure for a sale. I trust my hearing to her judgment."
P. A.

" Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Dr. Beasley is helping me with a hearing issue associated with a processing disorder, and with her help, my daily functioning has improved greatly."
S.I.

"Super friendly staff! Dr Lilly took the time to answer all my questions and took time to teach about hearing loss and cognitive health and how they can relate to one another. Super helpful and highly recommend."
N.

"The Englewood HHCC is caring and they do a great job!"
M.P.