Hearing Aid Industry

Hearing aids are big business! You've probably noticed that hearing aids are  becoming VERY expensive, and that the industry is consolidating. Here's your chance to learn about the hearing aid industry!

July 2001 - Have any questions you'd like to ask a hearing aid manufacturer? I've got about a million of them, and I bet you do too. They're probably not all answered by this Hearing Aid Manufacturers Panel, but I bet you'll learn a lot by reading it!

November 2005 -  I guess it's no surprise to any of us that the hearing aid industry projects how many hearing aids they expect to sell in any given year. It may be a surprise that, at least according to this press release, the industry is falling short of expectations. This article offers some interesting perspectives on the industry and how it conducts business.

December 2005 - Where is the hearing aid industry headed? What are current and future trends?

January 2006 - The Future of Wireless Devices in Hearing Health Care

May 2006 - The pros and cons of buying hearing aids online

October 2006 - Phonak acquisition makes it world number one

November 2007 - "Hear the World" to launch in January

April 2007 - Over the Counter Hearing Aid Bill Introduced in California

April 2007 - SeboTek Group Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Oticon, Phonak, Interton, GN-Resound, and Vivatone

April 2007 - Annual Hearing Journal/Audiology Online Dispenser Survey

May 2007 - Colorado Audiologists Attempt to Restrict Hearing Aid Sales by Dispensers

May 2007 - Obstacles to adult non-user adoption of hearing aids

May 2007 - HearPod, A New Hearing Aid Concept

June 2007 - Phonak is Expanding and Changing its Name

July 2007 - Hearing Aid Sales Rise by 3.5% in First Half of 2007

August 2007 - Oticon Hearing Aids Benefits Cancer Research

August 2007 - Sonus Looks at Current and Future Hearing Aid Trends

August 2007 - Songbird Hearing Being Resurrected?

September 2007 - Hearing Aid Industry Transitions to Patient-Focused Model

September 2007 - Let's Replace Hearing Aid Evaluation with Functional Communication Assessment

October 2007 - America Hears Introduces Pricing Structure Featuring One Low Price for All Digital Hearing Aids

October 2007 - Self-Report Assessment of Hearing Aid Outcome

November 2007 - Oticon's hearing aid distribution guidelines

November 2007 - The Future of Hearing Health Care

November 2007 - America Hears Offers Free Demo Version of Software for Download

December 2007 - Hearing Aids: Seven Buyers Beware Warnings

December 2007 - Hearing aid sales rise by 5.4% on way to record year

January 2008 - US Hearing Aid Units Rise by 2.3% in 2007

February 2008 - Starkey Joins in Rejecting Internet Retailers

February 2008 - Shop for Hearing Aids

February 2008 - More Funding for "Invisible" Hearing Aid

March 2008 - The Future of Hearing Aid Marketing

April 2008 - The growing importance of web-based hearing aid sales - part one

April 2008 - The growing importance of web-based hearing aid sales - part two

May 2008 - Hearing Aid Sales in First Quarter Increase by 1%

May 2008 - Zounds Hearing Aid Taking Off

May 2008 - Measuring User Satisfaction with Hearing Aids

June 2008 - Online Hearing Aids Available Worldwide

June 2008 - America Hears Partners with Dynamic Hearing to Deliver Next-Generation Hearing-Aid Solutions

June 2008 - $80 Songbird Disposable Hearing Aid Debuting Soon

June 2008 - Zounds Hearing Aids Take Off

August 2008 - Are OTC Hearing Aids As Good as Traditional Aids?

August 2008 - "Healthy Hearing" Claims Hearing Aids are a Bargain!

December 2008 - America Hears Expands, Upgrades its Unique 'Clicks-and-Mortar' Hearing-Aid Business

February 2009 - Maryland Issues New Internet Hearing Aid Sales Regulation

February 2009 - Man Says Quest For Hearing Lost Him $5,200

March 2009 - America Hears Introduces New Hearing Aids

March 2009 - Hearing aid salesman admits fraud

March 2009 - Study compares hearing aids fitted online with clinical fittings on the same subjects

April 2009 - Starkey Introduces the Next Generation of Hearing Aids: S Series with Drive Architecture

April 2009 - Hamilton CapTel Aligns with Oaktree Products, Inc.

April 2009 - Hamilton CapTel Announces Alliance with EPIC, Inc.

April 2009 - Zounds Hearing Aid Centers Files Bankruptcy

April 2009 - Newspaper Article Questions Hearing Aid Pricing Practices

May 2009 - FDA Issues PSAP Guidance

May 2009 - Identifying Cochlear Implant Candidates in the Hearing Aid Dispensing Practice

June 2009 - Consumer Reports: Hearing Aid Shoppers Pay High Prices, Get Mediocre Fittings

July 2009 - Audiologists Respond to "Consumer Reports" Criticisms

August 2009 - The inside story of Consumer Reports' controversial new hearing aid study

August 2009 - Cochlear Implant Candidates Unidentified and Underserved in Hearing Aid Dispensing Practice

October 2009 - VA Awards Hearing Aid Contracts

November 2009 - NIDCD Working Group on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults with Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss

November 2009 - Sonova Announces the Acquisition of Advanced Bionics

December 2009 - Audiologists break away, move hearing-aid sales online

January 2010 - Sonova Acquires InSound Medical Inc. and its Lyric Hearing Aid

January 2010 - Consumer Protection for Hearing Aid Purchasers

February 2010 - Audiologist Survey Addresses Changing Hearing Aid Market

March 2010 - Boomers Demanding More Technology in Hearing Aids

March 2010 - Doctor creates affordable hearing aids costing less than $200

April 2010 - Part Two of BHI's MarkeTrak VIII Report Tracks Customer Satisfaction

April 2010 - New York Seeks To Allow Physicians To Provide Hearing Aid Services

April 2010 - Audiology convention shows off top technology

May 2010 - HearUSA Rolls Out AARP Hearing Care Program Nationwide

May 2010 - Survey probes dispensers' views on key issues raised by Consumer Reports

May 2010 - Sonova posts new sales record and significant earnings growth

July 2010 - MarkeTrak VIII: Utilization of PSAPs and Direct-Mail Hearing Aids by People with Hearing Impairment

September 2010 - Panasonic Digital Hearing Instruments Debut in US Marketplace

September 2010 - Will New Hearing Aid Company Revolutionize the Market?

September 2010 - Mayo Study: Is it Safe for Seniors to Self-Refer to an Audiologist?

October 2010 - HearUSA Reports Expanded Managed Care Contracts for 2011

November 2010 - The Economics of a 24/7 Hearing Aid

December 2010 - In troubled economic times, the hearing aid industry remains an island of stability

March 2011 - Cell phone inspires ear specialist to design affordable hearing aid

March 2011 - MDHearingAid Offers Affordable Hearing Aids

March 2011 - Industry Reacts to Growing Internet Hearing Aid Sales

March 2011 - Hearing aid orientation supplement through DVD instruction

April 2011 - Siemens Introduces New Products Including Waterproof Hearing Aid

April 2011 - TV Ears to Provide Referrals to Hearing Professionals

April 2011 - Verification and validation increase hearing aid satisfaction

May 2011 - Does Hearing Aid Cost Influence Buying Decision?

May 2011 - HearUSA Files for Bankrupcy

May 2011 - William Demant Selected as Stalking Horse Bidder for HearUSA

May 2011 - Hearing healthcare professionals are satisfied in their careers

June 2011 - Companies Battle for Billion Dollar Chinese & Indian Hearing Aid Market

June 2011 - Audiotoniq Announces Revolutionary High-Tech Hearing System

July 2011 - HLAA Convention: Consumer Reports on Hearing Loss

July 2011 - HLAA Encourages Transparency of Hearing Aid Pricing

July 2011 - A Survey of Key Metrics for Benchmarking a Hearing Practice, Part 2

July 2011 - Hearing Aid Business Booms as Population Ages

July 2011 - HearUSA case offers peek at profitable AARP brand endorsements

August 2011 - HearUSA Announces Agreement for Sale of Assets to Siemens

August 2011 - ADA Files Federal Lawsuit Against ASHA Alleging Fraudulent Activities

September 2011 - European Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Market

October 2011 - Health Insurer to Provide Reduced Cost Hearing Aids

October 2011 - US Hearing Aid Sales Show Slow but Stable Growth in Third Quarter

October 2011 - Better Hearing Institute Warns on Do-It-Yourself Hearing Care

October 2011 - Insurance Company Plan to Sell Hearing Aids Criticized

November 2011 - Industry Fights Back Against UnitedHealth's Hearing Aid Program

November 2011 - Are Internet hearing aid sales the inevitable future?

November 2011 - Audiology Organizations Question Legality of Online Hearing Aid Marketing

November 2011 - Global Audiological Devices Market to Reach US $26.2 Billion by 2017

November 2011 - IntriCon to Supply Hearing Aids to hi HealthInnovations

November 2011 - Cost-effective Pricing for Hearing Aids and Related Audiological Services

November 2011 - Hearing Loss Association of America Speaks Out on the Latest UnitedHealthcareR Initiative

December 2011 - Increasing Hearing Aid Adoption Rates Through Value-based Advertising and Price Unbundling

December 2011 - Meeting the First-Time User Challenge

January 2012 - Consumer skittishness turns hearing aid sales sluggish

January 2012 - Programming hi HealthInnovations' Hearing Devices

January 2012 - High Drama: The Unraveling of HearUSA

January 2012 - Audiologist assistants may alleviate the workforce squeeze

January 2012 - India-made hearing aid to cost below $60

January 2012 - Able Planet Enters Low Cost Hearing Instrument Market

More on this and related topics

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Twenty Trends Influencing the Hearing Health Care Field

Hearing Aids! Most people with hearing loss have a real love-hate relationship with them. Many feel that they can't live with them, and they can't live without them! There's no question that hearing aids continue to improve, and that new technologies ensure ever-increasing capabilities.

Some people find the complexity troubling - there's just too much to keep up with. And manufacturers sometimes add to the confusion with the terminology they use to describe new features.

Karl Strom's recent "Hearing Review" article entitled "Twenty Trends Influencing the Hearing Health Care Field" is "must reading" for all professionals in the field, and for consumers who want to be well informed. He provides a great overview of where the industry has been in the last several years, and some glimpses into where it might be going.

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OTC Bill Introduced in California

April 2007

Editor: There's a national movement advocating for legalizing over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids as a means to make them more affordable. Here's a press release about a bill introduced in California.

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California Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-South Los Angeles, Long Beach County) has introduced Assembly Bill 311 which would permit over-the-counter (OTC) sales of hearing aids in the state. The bill stipulates that OTC sales would only be permitted if in accordance with federal regulations, and FDA regulations currently prohibit OTC sales of hearing aids.

Under existing law, the Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensing Law, the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau licenses and regulates the practice of fitting and selling hearing aids. Under that law, a hearing aid is required to be dispensed by a licensed hearing aid dispenser. Existing law, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, also regulates the labeling and conditions for sale of hearing aid devices, and preempts state laws that are different from or in addition to those requirements. The proposed bill would authorize the sale of over-the-counter hearing aid devices by an unlicensed person if such sales are authorized under federal law. The bill would also make findings and declarations in that regard.

Assembly Bill 311 appears to be in response to the price of hearing aids after it leaves the manufacturer. It mentions that hearing aids are produced by manufacturers at a relatively low cost and are dispensed at prices of over $2500 per ear. It goes on to state, "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this chapter shall not prohibit the sale of over-the-counter hearing aid devices as merchandise by a person who is not licensed pursuant to this chapter if those sales are authorized under federal law."

The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Health where it was tabled. Former California Assemblyman Juan Vargas introduced identical legislation last session. After initially scheduling two hearings on the bill, both were cancelled at Assemblyman Vargas' request.

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Annual Hearing Journal/Audiology Online Dispenser Survey

April 2007

The March 2007 Cover Story with its focus on brand preference in hearing aid dispensing included only a subset of the responses to the questions asked in this year's annual Hearing Journal/Audiology Online dispenser survey conducted in January 2007. This article reports the survey's findings on a broad range of other professional issues and activities. Two-thousand-and-six was a very good year for hearing aid dispensers, according to the 489 dispensing audiologists and hearing instrument specialists surveyed by HJ and AO.Most respondents said their sales were up last year from 2005 (Figure 1), and a bullish 74% predicted that growth would continue in 2007. Full Story

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Obstacles to adult non-user adoption of hearing aids

May 2007

Over the last 20 years, hearing aid adoption has remained stubbornly at about one in five adults with an admitted hearing loss. While in the recent past hearing aid adoption has grown slowly to 23%, most of this growth can be attributed to free hearing aids obtained through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or low-cost Internet sales. Given the consequences of untreated hearing loss, why do more than 22 million adults with hearing loss in the United States delay or avoid a hearing solution?  Full Story

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Phonak is Expanding and Changing its Name

June 2007

Valentin Chapero can sympathize with peers who sell things that people don't like to admit they need, like antiwrinkle cream and adult diapers. Chapero is chief executive of Swiss company Phonak Holding, one of the world's top producers of hearing aids. By Chapero's reckoning, some 10% of the world's population is hard of hearing, but only about one-tenth of them get a hearing system. Some are unsatisfied with the technology's performance. Many don't want to admit they need one. "It's very difficult when you are making a product that actually nobody wants," Chapero says. Phonak is determined to change that, through rebranding, improved technology, and expansion. Phonak, an owner of several brands, plans to adopt the brand-neutral name Sonova in August. And as the No. 3 producer of hearing aids by sales, Phonak also wants to get bigger through acquisitions. The company said in October it would acquire smaller German rival ReSound. Phonak is appealing a decision by Germany's Federal Cartel Office to nix the acquisition.   Full Story

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Hearing Aid Sales Rise by 3.5% in First Half of 2007

Editor: I bet you didn't know that the VA provides about 14% of all hearing aids dispensed! That's just one interesting tidbit in the following report!

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July 2007

According to statistics generated by the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) net hearing instrument unit sales increased by 3.47% to 1.22 million units during the first half of 2007 compared to sales of 1.18 million units in the first half of 2006. Private practice (non-VA) dispensing of hearing aid units increased by 2.20%, while the VA-which accounted for 13.9% of all hearing aids dispensed in the first half- increased by 12.10% at the midway point of the year. Total hearing aid sales during the first quarter were 1.06% over 2006 sales, and the second quarter was significantly better with a 5.87% increase over last year.

The private dispensing sector saw sales increases of 0.07% and 4.47% in Quarters 1 and 2 respectively, while the VA saw sales increase by 8.78% and 15.42%, respectively. In 2006, private sector hearing aid sales rose by 8.1%, while VA dispensing activity rose by 5.5%.

Digital sales accounted for 92.17% (private market: 90.98%, VA: 99.58%) of all hearing aids sold, up nominally from 91.7% for all of 2006.

At mid-year, BTEs constituted 50.18% of all hearing aid sales (private market: 52.02%, VA: 38.76%), driven largely by the popularity of mini-BTE open-fit and receiver-in-the-ear technology, as well as the increased use of directional systems and perhaps other hearing aid features that could favor BTE use.

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Sonus Looks at Current and Future Hearing Aid Trends

August 2007

The growing popularity of open-fit products and the increase in direct-to-consumer marketing are impacting the ways hearing care professionals serve their patients most effectively, note experts from Sonus, one of the largest professional hearing care networks in North America. . . . "Hearing aids are becoming more user-friendly and discreet to break down the stigma and expand the age group of those using the product," says Steve Huart, director of professional development at Amplifon USA, the parent company of Sonus. "But ultimately it is not the hearing aid that provides the solution. It is the professional who makes a difference." Huart and his colleagues have identified three main trends of the past year that have influenced how dispensing professionals treat hearing loss: open-fit products, especially those that feature the receiver in the canal; direct marketing to the consumer; and independent verification of the fit prescribed by manufacturer software.  These developments, along with those Huart foresees in 2008, have changed the way Sonus educates its professionals.  Full Story

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Oticon's hearing aid distribution guidelines

Editor: Oticon has just changed their hearing aid distribution guidelines to disallow sales to companies that do not have direct face-to-face contact with the hearing aid purchaser. As you would expect, the American Academy of Audiology applauds that change.

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The American Academy of Audiology applauds the decision by Oticon, Inc., to supply its products only to distributors who directly fit and sell Oticon products to end-users through face-to-face in-person consultations. Under these guidelines, Oticon will refuse to accept new orders from distributor(s) who provide hearing aids to end-users through indirect means without direct contact. According to Oticon, examples of violations of the guidelines include sales of Oticon products through catalogues, mail order, or over the Internet, as such sales are effectuated without face-to-face in-person consultations between end-users and distributors. In a statement issued by the company, Oticon stated, "People with hearing loss deserve to make the best choices possible for themselves that best fit their individual needs. We believe this is best accomplished through a personal relationship with a dispensing professional in a face-to-face setting."

The Academy calls upon all other hearing aid manufacturers to follow Oticon's lead and implement similar hearing aid distribution guidelines. Click here to review the guidelines, effective November 9, 2007, on Oticon's Web site. http://www.oticonusa.com/Oticon/News.html

This decision is laudable, and sets a standard for all hearing aid manufacturers to follow. Evidence shows that successful hearing aid use is predicated on careful counseling, followed by selection, fitting, verification, and validation of the fitting-activities that can only be accomplished through the direct diagnosis and treatment by a licensed audiologist. The Academy has released a set of guidelines, "A Systematic Review of Health-Related Quality of Life and Hearing Aids: Final Report of the American Academy of Audiology Task Force on the Health-Related Quality of Life Benefits of Amplification in Adults" (Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Volume 18:2, 2007), and a report, "Pre-Purchase Assessment Guideline for Amplification Devices" (Audiology Today, Volume Volume 12:3, 2000), to this effect.

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Hearing aid sales rise by 5.4% on way to record year

December 2007

With all the great news about hearing aids and the market for them, it's no surprise that unit sales rose substantially through the first three-quarters of the year. On the other hand, the 5.4% year-to-year increase is well below last year's growth of 7.7% or the 7.5% gain in 2004. Still, at the risk of sounding greedy, doesn't it seem that, given all the good things happening this year, the market could have, maybe even should have, expanded more than it has? After all, no research study found that amplification was associated with cancer or high blood pressure. Nor were any hearing aids recalled because of high levels of lead.  Full Story

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US Hearing Aid Units Rise by 2.3% in 2007

January 2008

According to statistics generated by the Hearing Industries Association (HIA), hearing aids dispensed in the United States during 2007 totaled 2.42 million units, an increase of 2.3%. However, it should be remembered that this relatively small increase follows a  7.7% increase in 2006 (Figure 1), the industry's largest year-on-year increase since 1997.  As reported in the July 26 HR Insider, first-half 2007 net hearing instrument unit sales increased by 3.47% (aided greatly by a 5.9% increase in sales during the Quarter 2), then increased by only 1.2% in the second half, compared to 2006 figures. Private sector sales (ie, non-government dispensing activity that excludes the Veterans Administration) of hearing aid units were relatively flat, increasing by only 1.3% in 2007. Dispensing activity in 2007 for the private sector increased by 2.2% in the first half but then flattened out (0.45%) in the second half of the year.   Full Story

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Starkey Joins in Rejecting Internet Retailers

Editor: It looks like the hearing aid manufacturers are falling all over themselves to certify that they don't sell their products to Internet retailers. Starkey is the latest to fall in line, as their press release states.

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February 2008

Starkey Laboratories joins other hearing aid manufacturers in rejecting the sale of their products to internet and mail-order retailers. Recently on the "Find a Professional" section of their website, Starkey Laboratories, posted a consumer alert regarding sales of their products to internet retailers. The alert states:

"Starkey does not sell its hearing aid products directly to Internet retailers. Starkey does not endorse the practice of selling hearing aids to consumers via the Internet. We do not believe that Internet retailers can provide our consumers with the same high quality professional services as our carefully chosen worldwide network of authorized hearing professionals. There are retailers who sell Starkey products via the Internet who are not authorized by us to do so."

Starkey Laboratories encourages consumers to purchase their products through a qualified hearing professional in order to benefit from a face-to-face consultation to assist in determining the most appropriate Starkey product for their hearing needs.

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Shop for Hearing Aids

February 2008

Hearing aids have traditionally been sold by audiologists and hearing centers, which can help pinpoint the cause of hearing loss, solve problems that crop up and make sure the devices fit well and work optimally. Their prices may include tests and some future repairs. [. . . ] Some often-cheaper alternatives: Costco, the warehouse chain, has hearing centers in more than 200 stores, offering aids at prices starting under $1,000. America Hears, a Bristol, Pa., hearing-aid maker, sells its devices online for just under $1,000 and bypasses fitting appointments by making adjustments by mail or even remotely via computer. Another online seller, Hearing Help Express, based in Dekalb, Ill., offers a basic aid for $299.  Full Story

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More Funding for "Invisible" Hearing Aid

February 2008

InSound Medical, a medical-device startup in Newark, Calif., wants to let people with hearing loss regain that sense without having to wear a conspicuous hearing aid. Instead of clipping around the ear or fitting precariously into the opening of the auditory canal, the company's Lyric hearing aid is implanted deeper into that canal, where it can remain for up to four months. The device uses an extended-wear battery and is implanted in a non-surgical procedure in a doctor's office. Every two to four months, a Lyric device must be extracted and replaced with a new device. InSound sells Lyric on a "subscription" model, in which patients buy a year's worth of devices at a time. [...] InSound just raised $11 million in an extension to its fifth round of funding, according to Dan Saccani, the company's CFO. Investors in the round included De Novo Ventures, J&J Development, and CMEA Ventures.  Full Story

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The Future of Hearing Aid Marketing

March 2008

If you're interested in the future of the hearing aid industry, you'll find Phil Wyatt's predictions very thought provoking. Phil is the proprietor of Hearing Central LLC, and he's predicting a shift towards greater availability of hearing aids through mass markets, including the Internet, big box stores, and drugstores. He's also predicting a dramatic fall in the price of hearing aids, and a resulting increase in the percentage of people who use them!  Full Story

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The growing importance of web-based hearing aid sales - part one

April 2008

The impact of the new technology and the Web is absolutely profound. Anyone can get a hearing exam, locate a Web-based retailer and have a new device within a few days ... and many times for a lower price. So why are the prices of hearing aids so high? One very reputable (I checked) Web-based provider shared some interesting things with me about the industry. There is, in fact, a substantial markup for hearing aids and the justification is "to pay for the brick-and-mortar and the cost of servicing the devices." I confirmed this when I asked regional providers why their prices were sometimes double "the Internet price." Some were honest and indicated their volume was low and the markup covered overhead expenses. Other providers became defensive, cursed the Internet and warned me: "If you buy from the Internet, we won't service it."

Full Story

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The growing importance of web-based hearing aid sales - part two

April 2008

So what should local providers say when someone asks for help with a unit purchased on the Web? How about, "We would be happy to take care of your Internet purchase, and here is our rate schedule for the services you require." Hearing aid providers have to realize that price will definitely motivate consumers to use the Internet. So when others are saying "no," a savvy local provider should say "yes." Wouldn't having a regional reputation as the "go to" business for anyone with an "Internet hearing aid" be a good thing? It really is beneficial for everyone. Here's why:

- Even though he didn't sell it, the local provider still makes money servicing it - money he wouldn't make otherwise.

- The consumer gets a better price and local service.

- The Web provider can sell even higher volumes and pass on the savings.

Full Story

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Hearing Aid Sales in First Quarter Increase by 1%

May 2008

According to Hearing Industries Association (HIA) statistics released on Tuesday, total net hearing instrument units dispensed in the United States during the first quarter of 2008 rose by 1.1% (a total of 600,273 units) compared to the same period last year. However, virtually all of this increase came from dispensing activity generated by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which experienced a unit volume increase of 7.3%. The VA constituted 14.6% of the hearing aid market in the first quarter. Private (non-government) sector dispensing was essentially unchanged (0.09%) from the same period last year.  Full Story

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Zounds Hearing Aid Taking Off

May 2008

Just 15 months ago, Mesa entrepreneur Sam Thomasson opened his first store to sell his new invention, Zounds, a hearing aid aimed at significantly reducing background noise and eliminating screeching feedback. On Wednesday, Thomasson was at Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix to celebrate the grand opening of his 14th store. If one new store a month sounds like meteoric growth, note that Zounds plans to double that, opening 15 more locations before the end of this year, said CEO John Costello. Thomasson hired Costello, former executive vice president for merchandising at Home Depot, to expand Zounds' retail operation. Zounds' store design is as groundbreaking as Thomasson's hearing aid is, Costello said. Designed as a one-stop shop, a customer can get a free hearing test, have a device fitted, receive instructions on how to use it, try it out on a telephone call, in heavy traffic and in a restaurant setting and repeat the hearing test wearing the tailored device before even deciding whether to buy it, he said.  Full Story

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Measuring User Satisfaction with Hearing Aids

May 2008

Table 1 is a summary of the various types of outcome measures with examples of each. According to survey data, 20% of audiologists do not use any type of outcome measurement to assess the success of hearing aids. Of the 20% who systematically measure outcomes, very few are likely to rely on a comprehensive battery of outcome tools to robustly assess results. Although the use of multiple outcome measures may seem time consuming, patient surveys indicate that their use improves overall satisfaction. With a nearly 25% return and exchange rate, coupled with the fact that one-in-six hearing aids ends up in the drawer (Kochkin, 2007), professionals need to rethink how outcomes can be used to improve overall patient satisfaction. This paper is geared toward helping the busy clinician identify practical ways to measure hearing aid outcome in the laboratory.   Full Story

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Online Hearing Aids Available Worldwide

June 2008

What makes open-fit aid hearing aids accessible to internet customers is there is no need for ear impressions or molds.  Open fit aids are generally very small behind the ear aids that have a thin tube running into the ear.  On the end of the tube is a mushroomed shaped dome.  The tubes and domes come in various sizes so it is very easy for customers to fit themselves properly to the hearing aid they need.  All that is needed for a successful transaction is a recent hearing exam that can be obtained at any audiologist location. Openfit.com is an internet dealer that meets all of the requirements of buying hearing aids online.  They have a professional and courteous staff and can be reached by email at sales@openfit.com or call 1-888-865-4327. Openfit.com sells hearing aids around the world.  Full Story

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$80 Songbird Disposable Hearing Aid Debuting Soon

June 2008

Songbird is looking to make some noise in the hearing aid world with its disposable, cheap and discrete Flexfit. The $80 unit is drastically less expensive than your average aid, which costs upwards of a few thousand dollars (not to mention all of the battery replacement and maintenance fees later). The Songbird is rated for 400 hours of use, so it should be perfect for casual users of hearing aids who need a situational auditory boost - say, at church or during a musical performance. Employed in short spurts, the apparatus would last someone many months. It's like the reading glasses of the hearing aid world.  Full Story

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Zounds Hearing Aids Take Off

June 2008

A father's quest to improve his daughter's hearing is making waves nationally.  Zounds, a private Mesa hearing-aid retailer, opened its 17th store last week, in Portland, Ore.   "We really found our retail concept really clicked with the customers," said company founder Sam Thomasson. His inspiration for the company stemmed from his daughter, Kate, who has a hearing impairment.   The Mesa engineer and entrepreneur founded Zounds three years ago. It is now led by John Costello, president and chief executive officer, who joined the company last summer. Zounds develops, manufactures and distributes hearing-aid products.  About 10 percent of the national population is affected by hearing impairment, and that number is expected to increase as the Baby Boomer generation ages, Thomasson said.  By the end of the year, Zounds, which has a 200-member workforce, plans to open 30 stores nationwide with the potential of expanding internationally in the future, Costello said.  Full Story

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Are OTC Hearing Aids As Good as Traditional Aids?

August 2008

Consumers with hearing loss might think they are saving significantly more by purchasing over- the-counter hearing aids, but they most likely will be disappointed - or could be taking risks - when purchasing such aids, according to MSU research. Professor Jerry Punch of the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Susanna Love Callaway, a lifelong education alum and international student from Denmark, published their study on over-the-counter hearing aids in the June issue of the American Journal of Audiology. Through her work as a student in Punch's two online courses, Callaway began to wonder about the high cost variability of hearing aids and asked Punch to advise her on a potential project. Specifically, do hearing aids have to be expensive to work from a purely technical standpoint? Punch and Callaway set out to find the answer by subjecting 11 over-the-counter hearing aids to the same test protocol as traditional hearing aids.  Full Story

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Man Says Quest For Hearing Lost Him $5,200

February 2009

A Groton man said he was hoping to hear clearly again, but instead found himself out thousands of dollars.  Leonard Kimes said he purchased a hearing aid that didn't work and that he now can't get his money refunded.  Beltone New England, which sold the hearing aid, does have a refund policy, which Kimes claims he followed.  Kimes said he's suffered from a hearing problem for years and hoped that the Beltone hearing aid would help. He said he spent more than $5,000 and can't hear any better. He claims the company won't take the hearing aid back.   Full Story

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Hearing aid salesman admits fraud

March 2009

A former hearing aid salesman pleaded guilty today to bilking 13 elderly clients out of more than $30,000 by selling them low-quality hearing devices he falsely claimed were higher-quality models. Brett R. Mayers, 35, of Cherrywood Lane, Lockport, was told by State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns he likely faces probation on his guilty plea to grand larceny, scheming to defraud and falsifying business records. The judge said he was considering probation so that Mayers could repay his elderly victims. Sentencing was scheduled for May 26. Mayers declined comment as he left the judge's Buffalo courtroom. Prosecutor Paul J. Williams III said Mayers was fired by Beltone Hearing Center of New York in January 2008 after a grand jury investigation conducted by the Erie County District Attorney's office and Amherst police confirmed his two-year-long sales scam.  Full Story

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Study compares hearing aids fitted online with clinical fittings on the same subjects

March 2009

I expected this article (written by the folks who did the "clinical fittings") to trash the entire online purchasing process. I thought they were harder on issues with the online process than they were with issues with their clinical fittings, but it wasn't totally one-sided. If you've been considering an online hearing aid purchase, this article might be helpful as long as you keep in mind the natural biases of the authors.  Full Story

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Zounds Hearing Aid Centers Files Bankruptcy

April 2009

Mesa, AZ-based Zounds, Inc. filed chapter 11 bankruptcy on Mar. 30, 2009 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona. The company operates a chain of Zounds Hearing Aid Centers in AZ, DE, FL, MA, MO, MI, NJ, OR, PA, TX and WA. The company listed between $10 million and $50 million in assets and liabilities on its petition. According to Hoovers, the company reported $15.5 million in 2007 sales.   Full Story

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Newspaper Article Questions Hearing Aid Pricing Practices

April 2009

As with many other areas of health care, high hearing aid prices can be attributed to monopolistic pricing and regulations that discourage competition.   A hearing aid consists of a small microphone that amplifies weak sounds through a small speaker. Unlike the routine price decreases that we've come to expect from other electronic devices like cell phones, computers and televisions, the price of hearing aids have actually increased.   Surprisingly, its own industry trade association has concluded that hearing aid manufacturers could help more people, sell many more hearing aids and make more profit if prices were reduced. There are some hearing aid-type devices that like reading glasses, don't require a prescription and offer benefit at substantial savings. These devices are made by companies including Maxisound, Nexear and Songbird. Prices for these types of aids range from $80 to $500 each.  They can generally only be purchased online, but all are sold with money-back guarantees. So for mild to moderate hearing loss, they're worth a try and may be a good bet for your money.  Here's an interesting tidbit that can help you understand the hearing aid industry better.   A study conducted and reported on in a recent issue of the American Journal of Audiology concluded that these over-the-counter type hearing aids "don't work well and could potentially damage a persons hearing". The kicker is that study was funded by the Oticon Foundation, manufacturer for Oticon brand hearing aids. We suspect the eyeglass industry said many of these same things about reading glasses when they first began to be sold over the counter.    Full Story

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FDA Issues PSAP Guidance

May 2009

As FDA Clinical Deputy Director, Dr. Eric Mann advised HIA at its February Annual Meeting, the Agency has issued "Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Regulatory Requirements for Hearing Aid Devices and Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs)."  A guidance document "represents the Food & Drug Administration's (FDA's) current thinking on this topic," and does not bind either FDA or the public to the approach. Dr. Mann outlined the likely approach to HIA members, and the document reflects what he described at the meeting. Basically, if the amplifier advertising does not state that it is intended to compensate for impaired hearing but says it will help when a person hunts or eavesdrops on a neighbor; it is a PSAP due to its intended use.  Full Story

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The inside story of Consumer Reports' controversial new hearing aid study

August 2009

In July, Consumer Reports released a detailed article on the state of hearing care titled "Hear well in a noisy world." The report, which found mixed results in terms of consumers' satisfaction with their hearing aids, which was quite high, versus the percentage of devices that were described as misfit-two-thirds-created quite a stir among hearing aid professionals. While many in the field welcomed the report as a useful wake-up call, others expressed concern over a lack of emphasis on the unique benefits audiologists provide in hearing care. At the request of The Ear Hears (EH), Tobie Stanger, senior editor of the report, and Ed Kippel, Consumer Reports senior program leader, discussed the controversial study, which they'd been wanting to do for 10 years and took almost 2 years to complete. They also talked about the response from the hearing care field, and their plans for the data in the future.  Full Story

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VA Awards Hearing Aid Contracts

October 2009

Nine companies, the most in more than a decade, were recently awarded contracts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide it with hearing aids to fit on America's veterans. The contracts, which were announced in August, will take effect on November 1 and run for a 1-year base period ending next October 31. After that, the VA will have the option of extending the contracts for four additional 1-year periods. Typically, the agency does so, though it can choose not to exercise the option if, for example, a company fails to perform satisfactorily or if there is a lack of funding or need for the hearing aids when the contract comes up for renewal. These contracts stipulate firm fixed prices for the hearing aids supplied   Full Story

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Audiologists break away, move hearing-aid sales online

December 2009

Two young audiologists from Denver hope to change the way hearing aids are sold in America and to help revive a sector of health care that's been hit hard by the recession. Don Kim, 28, and Justin Piraino, 29, recently left private audiology practices to start what they say is the first doctor-owned hearing aid website. Launched on June 9, HearingAidDocs.com is designed to give patients with hearing loss a wider selection and better value than most brick-and-mortar audiology practices - which are increasingly owned by hearing aid manufacturers. Kim said such practices limit selection to their own product line and keep prices prohibitively high for many consumers. By contrast, customers of HearingAidDocs enter results from hearing evaluations and choose from a range of hearing aids available from different manufacturers. Kim said customers can save anywhere from $500 to $1,000 by using the service. As a national organization, HearingAidDocs.com has enough buying power to obtain hearing devices cheaper than competitors.  Full Story

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Consumer Protection for Hearing Aid Purchasers

January 2010

Do you know what, if any, laws are in place to protect you when you purchase a hearing aid?  Do you know your rights as a hearing aid purchaser?  Rights afforded to purchasers of hearing aids depend upon the state where you live and make the purchase. This system has resulted in a patchwork of laws and regulations across the country. By our count, only 30 states mandate a trial period during which you can decide if the hearing aid you purchased is the right one for you. In those states that require trial periods, you have the right to return the hearing aid and obtain a refund. The amount of the refund varies from state to state and, in a few cases, within the same state.   Full Story

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New York Seeks To Allow Physicians To Provide Hearing Aid Services

April 2010

New York could take a step this year in expanding access to hearing aids for a growing number of people with hearing impairment, says The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). State Assemblymen Jeffrey Dinowitz of the Bronx and Micah Kellner of New York recently introduced a bill that, should the New York Legislature adopt it, would open up physicians' offices as an additional point of access to hearing aid services. "Physicians' offices are a key access point for patients entering the hearing health system," said Dinowitz in a statement released by AAO-HNS. "With only one in four people adopting hearing aids who could benefit from them and the number of hearing-impaired on the rise, we need to provide those in need of hearing aids every opportunity to get them.  Full Story

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Audiology convention shows off top technology

April 2010

Souped-up ultramodern miniature sound amplification systems made up of computers, directional microphones and speaker modules that are driven by software and carry high price tags ---- yes, hearing aids have come a long way since the days of the "ear horn." At "Audiology Now!" the recent conference of the American Academy of Audiology, more than 7,000 hearing health care professionals descended upon the San Diego Convention Center for four days last week. The largest gathering of its kind, the conference was also the scene of many new product debuts. Companies such as Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, Siemens, Widex, Unitron, and AudioSync are among those competing for the $5.2 billion hearing aids and audio devices market. That market has been projected to grow to more than $7 billion by 2016 as the population ages, according to iData Research, Inc., an international market research company. The evolution of digital technology has had a sweeping effect on the dynamics of the industry, making it possible for manufacturers to use advanced technologies such as built-in wireless capabilities, remote controls, feedback suppression, directional mikes, digital speech enhancement and multiple memories that can be adjusted to suit different listening environments.   Full Story

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Survey probes dispensers' views on key issues raised by Consumer Reports

May 2010

When Consumer Reports (CR) published a long and largely critical article last summer on the state of the U.S. hearing aid delivery system, hearing care providers reacted strongly. Many questioned the fairness of a key finding that two-thirds of the 48 hearing aids fitted on 12 consumers who cooperated with CR on the article were misfitted. On the other hand, many in the dispensing community felt that the article drew attention to some legitimate problems and should serve as a wake-up call. In the 2010 Hearing Journal/Audiology Online dispenser survey, we decided to give audiologists and hearing instrument specialists the chance to comment on some of the important and controversial issues raised by CR. Questions about that article, as well as on many other topics of professional significance, were e-mailed in early February to Audiology Online's e-mail address list and to the members of the International Hearing Society. A total of 640 people responded, including 535 who dispense hearing aids   Full Story

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MarkeTrak VIII: Utilization of PSAPs and Direct-Mail Hearing Aids by People with Hearing Impairment

July 2010

We've all seen the ads featuring Lee Majors, as well as ads about devices that look exactly like hearing aids but are billed instead as "hearing helpers." How many people buy these devices, how many purchasers would be candidates for custom hearing aids, and how many would actually purchase custom aids if PSAPs and mail-order aids were not available? Here are some estimates.

Within the last 2 years, we have seen an increased proliferation of one-size-fits-all hearing aids and personal sound amplifier products (PSAPs) advertised on television and by direct mail. They can be purchased over the Internet and through the mail, as well as from eBay,Amazon.com, most pharmacies, hardware stores, Radio Shack, and Sears. In Google searches, many of these products come up on the first couple of search pages when you search on "hearing aids" and are sponsored links under the search term "hearing loss." Most of these products clearly state that they are not intended to compensate for hearing loss; but it is clear from their advertising that they target people with hearing loss . . .   Full Story

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Will New Hearing Aid Company Revolutionize the Market?

September 2010

When new hearing aid companies enter the market, they usually promise revolutionary new technology housed in smaller, more advanced, and more effective hearing instruments than the world has ever seen. However, that's not the message from Sona, a new company-albeit part of the long-established Sonova Group, which also owns Phonak and Unitron. Sona Hearing, LLC, which was launched in the U.S. this summer, is wooing hearing healthcare providers with a different message: "Simplify your life." "We're talking about a paradigm shift," said Barry Hylas, Sona's managing director for North America, in a recent interview with The Hearing Journal. Sona is offering a whole new business model, said Hylas, who previously worked with other medical product companies. The company, which entered the market in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands earlier in 2010, has developed an approach intended to meet certain fundamental needs of hearing professionals and their clients.   Full Story

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In troubled economic times, the hearing aid industry remains an island of stability

December 2010

As the nation's economy heads into the fourth year of what is sometimes referred to as the Great Recession, many of the numbers used to measure economic health are distressing. Despite some job growth in 2010, the unemployment rate remains stuck around 9.5%, the highest since the early 1980s. Housing values have tumbled, leaving many owners owing more on their home than its market value; millions of families have already lost their homes or are facing the threat of foreclosure. While the gross domestic product (GDP) is no longer shrinking, it is growing very slowly-about 2% in each of the past two quarters. It is no wonder, then, that the Consumer Confidence Index reported by the Conference Board was only 50.2 at the end of October, less than half what it was when the recession began. Now, contrast that with what's happening in the hearing aid market, as reported by the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) statistical reports. While during the financial crisis of 2008, unit sales did fall 2.4% in the second half compared to the same period of 2007, they quickly rebounded in 2009 to increase by 8.4% over 2008. That essentially offset the slump in the last 6 months of 2008. For 2008 and 2009 together, hearing aid sales rose by 7.7%, which is close to the 4% a year historical norm for the industry.  Full Story

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MarkeTrak VIII Mini-BTEs tap new market, users more satisfied

March 2011

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids represented less than 20% of hearing aid sales prior to 2000 and appeared to be on the decline as a style of hearing aid choice by consumers. With the introduction of open-fit hearing aids and receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids however, BTEs now represent 63% of all hearing aid sales.

In looking at the resurgence of BTE hearing aids, we wanted to answer two key questions:

* Did mini-BTE hearing aids result in market expansion?

* Do mini-BTEs improve the consumer's experience with hearing aids?

Full Story

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Hearing aid orientation supplement through DVD instruction

Locaputo-Donnellon, Amy E. AuD; Clark, John Greer PhD

As part of a recent AuD Capstone project at the University of Cincinnati, a 15-minute instructional DVD was created to provide supplemental information regarding expectations of hearing aid performance and the use and care of hearing instruments. A male speaker narrated the DVD as images, video, and captions reinforced the important aspects related to hearing instrumentation.

Topics selected for coverage were those that comprise the standard instruction for hearing aid orientation as described in audiologic literature, and included appropriate expectations for hearing aids, device components, battery replacement, precautions, troubleshooting, expected and inappropriate acoustic feedback, telephone use, and hearing aid insertion, removal, care, and maintenance. Demonstration for all types of ear-level instruments was included for these latter items.   Full Story

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Verification and validation increase hearing aid satisfaction

April 2011

Verification and validation are clinical tools to ensure functionality of hearing aids as well as individual patient benefit. However, they are not always employed by clinicians, even though they have been found to be correlated with user satisfaction. Rationale and research into the benefits of verification and validation measures are discussed, in addition to ways to implement them into clinical practice.   Full Story

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HearUSA Files for Bankrupcy

May 2011

HearUSA, Inc. voluntarily filed for chapter 11 protection today in the Southern District of Florida bankruptcy court in order to effectuate a proposed sale of substantially all of its assets to an affiliate of William Demant Holdings A/S. HearUSA (AMEX: EAR) operates a network of approximately 1,800 "hearing care provider locations," 134 of which are company-owned. In its most recent annual report, HearUSA reported a net loss of $7.7 million on approximately $84 million in annual revenues and $81 million in assets against $60 million in liabilities.  Full Story

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Hearing healthcare professionals are satisfied in their careers

May 2011

The Hearing Journal wondered if this same positive outlook would match up with current members of the profession, and so in our annual survey with Audiology Online we asked, what is your current level of job satisfaction? Overall, respondents indicated that they are very satisfied with their careers. A total of 523 individuals completed the survey which was sent electronically to Audiology Online's email database and to members of the International Hearing Society. Differences regarding the factors that affect job satisfaction were seen between audiologists versus hearing instrument specialists (HIs) and males versus females; however just slight variations in response were observed when looking at professionals' level of experience and workplace.  Full Story

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A Survey of Key Metrics for Benchmarking a Hearing Practice, Part 2

July 2011

This is Part 2 of a two-part benchmarking survey designed to provide US hearing care practices with a tool they can use to compare their performance against industry standards. These industry benchmarks can be used as a basis for assessing and setting realistic, continuous, and fact-based improvement goals for your own dispensing office or practice. For the past 3 years, Phonak Hearing Systems has commissioned Customer Care Measurement and Consulting, LLC, Alexandria, Va, to conduct a nationwide survey of dispensing professionals to establish basic industry metrics. A Web-based survey methodology was utilized. Responses were collected in July 2010, and more than 400 hearing care professionals responded. About two-thirds (63%) of respondents were audiologists (38% AuD, 19% MS, and 6% PhD), and 44% were either hearing instrument specialists (38%) or audioprosthologists (6%). (Totals do not equal 100% due to multiple answers.) One-fifth (20%) of the practices indicated having both audiologists and hearing instrument specialists on staff.  Full Story

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Hearing Aid Business Booms as Population Ages

July 2011

We hear a lot lately about the aging of the Baby Boom generation, usually in the context of the strain all those old boomers are putting on Social Security and Medicare. But the rapid aging of the American population is good news for lots of industries, including those who make wheelchairs, bifocals and hearing aids. While not everyone falls into a wheelchair when they hit their 60s, even the healthiest older adults are likely to experience at least some hearing loss, especially those who spent too much time at rock concerts or at the race track in their youth.   Full Story

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HearUSA case offers peek at profitable AARP brand endorsements

July 2011

Most people think of AARP, the senior citizen advocacy group, as a way to get discounts on everything from dining and entertainment to insurance. What is not well-known is that the nonprofit formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons makes more than $650 million a year in royalties for delivering its 40 million members to businesses, according to a congressional report issued in March. In almost every case, the agreements are secret. But a May bankruptcy of a retail hearing aid company based in West Palm Beach opened the door to just how lucrative these deals are for AARP. According to documents obtained by The Palm Beach Post, in 2008 HearUSA agreed to pay $7.6 million a year to become the sole provider of hearing aids to AARP's members. After further negotiations, that provision was eliminated and replaced with a requirement that it pay a $55 royalty fee on each hearing aid sold. That has amounted to more than $660,000.    Full Story

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US Hearing Aid Sales Show Slow but Stable Growth in Third Quarter

October 2011

According to statistics compiled by the Hearing Industries Association (HIA), Washington, DC, net hearing instrument unit sales during the third quarter continued to grow, albeit slowly, with private (non-VA) sector dispensers experiencing a 1.1% increase in sales and the VA dispensing about the same number of units (0.27%) compared to the same period last year. When private sector and VA sales are combined, the hearing aid market saw an increase of 0.94% in the third quarter, compared to a growth rate of 2.36% for the same period in 2010.  Full Story

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Insurance Company Plan to Sell Hearing Aids Criticized

October 2011

A United HealthGroup subsidiary said it can provide hearing tests and hearing aids at a deep discount for patients by "eliminating intermediaries" that drive up cost. United and its subsidiary, hi HealthInnovations, said "intermediaries" doesn't refer to physicians, and that the company will encourage patients to see their doctors for certain hearing problems. But physicians who diagnose and treat hearing loss said that even if it's not the aim, promoting a service that could leave physicians out of the loop is potentially dangerous. They said patients who skip the doctor's office in favor of United's self-administered test risk missing treatable underlying conditions or making the conditions worse. "Bypassing a physician evaluation and referral can lead to misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatment that could cause lasting and expensive damage to patients," the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, said in a statement. Todd Hillman, MD, a Pittsburgh otolaryngologist, called United's plan "a poor idea."   Full Story

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Industry Fights Back Against UnitedHealth's Hearing Aid Program

November 2011

As the audiology industry reacts to the news that Minnetonka-based health insurer UnitedHealth Group is making discounted hearing aids available for only $749-$949 per ear to both their customers and non-customers,NowiHear.com, a wholly owned consumer marketing division of AuDNet, Inc. dedicated to educating and providing resources to consumers with regard to hearing health, wants consumers to understand the potential dangers of this initiative and is offering an alternative. Although UnitedHealth Group claims to have consulted hearing health professionals for the development of their online hearing test (which will soon be available through mobile phones as well), the audiology industry at large, which consists of Master's and Doctoral level professionals who often undergo eight years of training, is weary that consumers will forgo what is best for their long-term hearing health in exchange for a short-term, "cheaper" alternative. . . . NowiHear.com is not alone in their concern about UnitedHealth Group's decision, and joins the Minnesota Department of Health and professional industry organizations that have taken specific actions regarding this news such as the American Academy of Audiology, Academy of Doctors of Audiology, and American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association.   Full Story

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Are Internet hearing aid sales the inevitable future?

November 2011

Former television star Lee Majors promises that his rechargeable bionic hearing aid-that I can buy for just $299 from Amazon.com, where it gets 4.5 out of 5 reviewer stars-is designed for mild to moderate hearing loss, and will "affordably enhance" my hearing ability. There's just one problem: the bionic ear is being marketed as a hearing aid, but the U.S. Food & Drug Administration requires that anyone purchasing a hearing aid specifically to treat hearing loss visit a doctor first, preferably one that specializes in diseases of the ear. The bionic ear is skating down the middle of an increasingly controversial division between true hearing aids and personal sound amplification devices (PSAPs). Hearing aids must be fitted by a professional, while PSAPs, according to the FDA, don't have to be-and can be sold pretty much anywhere from Radio Shack to Amazon to eBay. "Sellers of PSAPs get around the FDA regulations by saying that this is not a device to help people hear better," said Carole Rogin, President and Director of the Hearing Industries Association. "You can manufacture a 'one-size-fits-many' product that amplifies to a moderate degree, especially in the speech range, and if you do not advertise it as a product for people with hearing loss, you can sell it on the Internet."  Full Story

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Audiology Organizations Question Legality of Online Hearing Aid Marketing

November 2011

Three of the major professional organizations involved in hearing aid dispensing responded last week with letters directed to hi HealthInnovations, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group that announced in early October its plans to market hearing devices via UH's provider network and directly to consumers via the Internet. Both letters raised questions about the legality of the online marketing of hearing aids by hi HealthInnovations, as well as expressed concerns about eliminating hearing care professionals from the testing, selection, fitting, and rehabilitation process. (For more information, see the HR Online news item from October 3 and the October 10 HR interview of hi HealthInnovations CEO Lisa Tseng, MD, at www.hearingreview.com.) In a "cease and desist" letter to Dr Tseng (pictured, right) dated October 26, International Hearing Society (IHS) General Counsel John Paul Hessburg said that IHS believes hi HealthInnovations is not in compliance with FDA regulations in the company's online marketing of hearing aids. Hessburg's letter also states that they believe the company is in violation of most, if not all, state licensing laws.  Full Story

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Increasing Hearing Aid Adoption Rates Through Value-based Advertising and Price Unbundling

December 2011

The retail price of hearing aids, which averages about $2,000 per unit in the United States, continues to prevail as a primary barrier to the use of these devices by consumers. To lessen the impact of price as a barrier and substantially increase the number of hearing aids dispensed to non-users, it has been advocated that hearing aid cost be reduced. However, economic estimates do not support this idea. Specifically, devices fully or partially subsidized by the US federal government are expected to yield only small gains in adoption rate, based on the inelastic demand for this technology. In this paper, we contend that price is not a primary factor to the adoption process. Instead, we reason that impaired listeners are not adopting amplification, in part, because of the market's lack of emphasis on the evidence-based potential benefits of this technology in a meaningful way.  Full Story

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Meeting the First-Time User Challenge

December 2011

This study looks at several factors related to first-time use of hearing aids with the new Oticon Intiga device, which employs a system of gradual gain increases during the first month of use until it reaches full prescriptive gain. Some benefits derived from the use of help systems-such as directional microphones-are realized almost immediately and grow as the hearing aid increases the amplification. Other help systems provide some significant immediate benefit, and then appear to grow in terms of improved aided performance over time, as the auditory system experiences increased audibility of, and learns to use, speech and spatial cues that facilitate speech understanding in complex sound environments.  Full Story

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Consumer skittishness turns hearing aid sales sluggish

January 2012

It's shaping up to be another lackluster year for hearing aid sales in the United States as jittery consumers, concerned about the nation's economy, keep a tight grip on their wallets. Growth in unit sales slowed to a trickle in the second and third quarters of 2011, up a mere 0.99% and 0.94%, respectively. The industry experienced modest growth in the first nine months of the year. Unit sales totaled 2,079,258, an increase of 2.26%, according to the latest statistical data reported by the Hearing Industries Association (HIA). In the same period in 2010, manufacturers moved 2,033,378 units, a 3.9% gain. Excluding sales to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), manufacturers sold 1,659,930 units during the first three quarters of the year, a 1.85% increase over the previous year. Unit sales totaled 1,629,783 during the same nine months in 2010, representing a 2% increase. Experts who follow the industry say hearing aid purchases reflect uniquely personal decisions to invest in the technology, often after years of delay or denial. Ultimately, longer-term demand is driven by the perceived need for hearing assistance. But in the short term, when a sharp deterioration in consumer confidence occurs, it inhibits hearing aid purchases, said Klaus Madsen, Head of Equity Research for Handelsbanken Capital Markets in Denmark. "I think that's exactly what we saw during Q2 and Q3," he said   Full Story

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Programming hi HealthInnovations' Hearing Devices

January 2012

Open-fit hearing devices do not require custom ear impressions and earmolds. Therefore, the same device can fit most ears, using a limited number of tubing, connectors, and tip sizes. This flexibility of physical fit has the potential to increase access to hearing devices for people who are open-fit candidates. Studies in the United Kingdom have already shown that open-fit devices can make hearing health care more accessible and less costly. hi HealthInnovations makes available technologically advanced open-fit hearing devices to people who are candidates for them. Candidacy is assessed using tests that the potential hearing device user can take either in a health care provider's office or at home via the Internet, using a variety of platforms. The purpose of this article is to describe the methods developed for these self-tests and report the results of studies evaluating their reliability and accuracy.

The goals of the hi HealthInnovations hearing tests are:

1. Accurately assess the hearing of users for the purposes of identifying people who could potentially benefit from open-fit hearing devices;

2. Make appropriate audiological and medical referrals for people who are not candidates for open-fit devices so that they may get the custom earpieces, hearing device programming, and individualized assistance they need;

3. For those users who are candidates, provide open-fit hearing devices accurately programmed according to methods that meet current audiological standards of practice.

Full Story

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High Drama: The Unraveling of HearUSA

January 2012

In a matter of months, the big shots at HearUSA went from "thinking of the many ways they were going to spend their millions to losing their jobs and getting pennies on the dollar for their shares," according to an insider's view of spring 2011 at HearUSA. I always thought this series would end with two of our industry's largest companies, William Demant Holding (WDH) and Siemens, duking it out over HearUSA. But the facts got in the way. Siemens and WDH were just doing business-a really boring story. The juicy story remained HearUSA, the adolescent in permanent crisis that would not take its exit cue. This blog post is the script notes for the Final Act of the melodrama, with HearUSA chewing up the scenery and holding onto center stage for dear life...or in this case, the publicly traded company'sDeath by Bankruptcy.  Full Story

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Audiologist assistants may alleviate the workforce squeeze

January 2012

Understanding the workforce crunch for audiologists is just a matter of doing the math. Some 17,000 licensed audiologists practice in the United States, and within the next decade, about 40 percent of them will be retiring. At the same time, the worldwide demand for hearing aids and similar devices is growing by about six percent annually, exacerbated by an aging baby boom population, according to a report by the London-based Companies and Markets. The 600 or so students graduating from audiology programs, not all of whom will go into clinical practice, won't be enough to fill the growing need for audiologists, said Barry Freeman, PhD, Starkey's Senior Director of Education and Audiology. Many experts have long believed that the answer to this squeeze on audiologists lies with audiology assistants, but this proposed solution is far from being fully integrated into the scope of practice. A 2004 survey of American Academy of Audiology members revealed that only about 28 percent of audiologists employ assistants in their practices, and that number hasn't changed much. Why are some practitioners not taking advantage of this option, and more importantly, are they holding themselves and their practices back by not hiring audiology assistants?  Full Story

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India-made hearing aid to cost below $60

January 2012

India is recognised the worldover as a pioneer in the field of low-cost innovation, be it Tata Motor's Nano car or the government-aided Aakash tablet project, and now it is time for a hearing aid priced at Rs 2,000-3,000 [Ed. $38 to $57] to have a disruptive effect in the market. "C-DAC has developed such devices which will cost between Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 for each million units produced. Hearing aid devices with similar features sell at a price between Rs 10 thousand and upward of Rs 1 lakh, which is out of Indian customers' reach," DIT Joint Secretary Ajay Kumar said.   Full Story

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Able Planet Enters Low Cost Hearing Instrument Market

January 2012