Not long after Massachusetts State Senator Elizabeth Warren proposed a bill that would offer an over-the-counter hearing aid to the public, Santa Clarita audiologist Nola Aronson of Advanced Audiology offered her thoughts.
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“Senator Elizabeth Warren is trying to put forth an over-the-counter hearing aid, like reading glasses,” Aronson explained. “Anybody can just go in and buy it.”
Aronson clarified that the product would not be approved by the FDA, and noted the user wouldn’t even need to know what their hearing loss is to get one.
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“I don’t know if that’s going to be really a detriment to everybody,” Aronson said. “Hearing aids have to be fit correctly in the ear. If you think the hearing aid is too tinny, how are you going to get that changed if there’s nowhere for you to (go)?”
Similarly, a hearing aid company currently accepts audiograms through the person’s insurance company, and then puts a hearing aid in the mail, which Aronson called “ridiculous.”
When individuals choose an option like this, Aronson noted they often have problems getting their hearing aids to work correctly and give up even wearing them.
“Everybody says, ‘Oh, these don’t work,’ … and they don’t wear their hearing aids,” she explained. “Well, that’s because they didn’t go to the right person, the person that follows them along and takes care of them the whole time.”
If passed, the over-the-counter hearing aid bill would join a growing list of alternative ways to get a hearing aid, forcing licensed audiologists like Aronson to decide whether or not they should unbundle their prices to stay competitive.
“People don’t realize that we bundle our prices, so when you get a hearing aid it’s not only the price of the hearing aid, but it includes service — hearing aids need a lot of service,” Aronson said.
Right now, Advanced Audiology clients can stop by the office for adjustments, new batteries and cleaning for free, but if forced to unbundle her prices, Aronson would have to charge $65 for every service request.
“Every time you walk in my door, it (would be) $65,” she said. “That’s ridiculous. People will not want to walk in the door … so now they really won’t wear their hearing aids.”
Despite the difficulty of competing with alternative hearing aid providers, Aronson maintained that it’s her “philosophy” to provide free service with the purchase of a hearing aid.
“I’m so used to giving my services away and making it so that people are successful with their hearing so they can lead a better, social life,” she said. “It’s really hard for me to change my ways.”
Ed. Note: This article is a Community Spotlight based on a recent interview with Advanced Audiology.
Advanced Audiology was founded in 2010 by Santa Clarita audiologist Nola Aronson, who has been fitting hearing aids for more than 30 years. Advanced Audiology is the largest diagnostic hearing center in the Santa Clarita Valley, focusing on clients with hearing loss, tinnitus, ears ringing and more. Hearing tests, hearing aids and new sound infrared devices are also available at Advanced Audiology in addition to a complete hearing healthcare program that includes free batteries, quarterly cleanings and adjustments.
23822 Valencia Blvd. #103
Valencia, CA 91355
661-877-4272
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I had a hearing aid from advanced Audiology, they were good at charging my insurance 7000 dollars for the hearing aid but when it came time to service it they gave me a hard time and asked if I had cleaned it. over the counter isn’t going to cost 7000 dollars.
I am sure Ms. Aronson is a wonderful person that pays for advertising on your radio station, but her take is more than a bit slanted to the benefit of audiologists. The reason that there is a movement towards over the counter products, is because audiologists have been abusing the customer with huge price tags for years. The “unbundling” of services is a distraction to try to justify the high prices. Did you know that initially, audiologists were not allowed to sell hearing aids. Once diagnosed, the audiologist would refer the patient to a hearing aid specialist. Once the audiologist noticed the potential huge mark ups for hearing aid sales, they petitioned to be given that ability. And the price escalation was on. Most hearing aids are purchased by the audiologist for less than $500/ea. Those devices are then sold with a 600-800% mark up.
There are 6 major hearing aid manufacturers. It is common practice for them to bribe the audiologist to use their products. Until recently, elaborate trips and luxury merchandise were provided for loyalty. It does not take a genius to figure out that the customer ultimately pays for the bribes since the manufacturer calculates it into their price. Over the past few years the bribe game has changed. Gone are the trips and electronics ( for the most part). Now the payments are made in the way of paid advertising in the paper or radio, new computer equipment, and assisting with business debt.
Audiologists talk about programming the devices as if it involves a PHd in aeronautical engineering to do it. Here is a bit of info you may not know, all software comes with an “auto fit” button. This is a button that makes adjustments to the hearing aid according to the fitting algorithm of the manufacturer (by definition the autofit is wrong 50% of the time). Audiologist rely on this button too heavily. They all use it. But once fine adjustments are needed, a person walking down the street doing an A vs B method of adjustment can do just as well at programming.
Hearing tests are not reliable (go to several different locations and compare results, they can be off by significant amounts), manufacturing autofits are not accurate, and the person selling is often out for their own pocketbook. Yet they feel that a customer can’t decide if they are getting benefit from something without spending $5000? Right ….. I’ll take my chances.
Finally, did she take credit for passing out L. Ron Hubbard books? She probably got the books free of charge from the Church of Scientology. They are a wonderful recruitment tool for that cult.