I’m totally baffled and perturbed by the hearing aid industry and audiologists. I’ve just about had it. I recently interviewed two hearing aid companies: Oticon and Sonova Holding HG. You can read the interviews yourself at http://www.saywhatclub.com/newsletter/june09/interviewgw.html and the Sonova interview at: http://www.saywhatclub.com/newsletter/june09/interviewgf.html
In case you were not aware, Phonak and Unitron are under Sonova AG Holding. In anycase, I find it interesting that each company believes their product is number 1. What I find interesting are the questions that went unanswered and left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Why can’t hearing aid companies tell us how much it costs them to make a hearing aid? Afterall, we have a pretty good idea how much it costs to make a car, how much it costs to make a movie, a video, clothing, etc. Yet no one wants to be honest about the manufacturers cost.
The manufacturer claims the audiologist makes a big profit and the audiologist claims the company does. I now know the restocking fee is the audiologists, not the manufacturers fee, and in all honesty, the audiologist deserves that fee. Afterall, they are spending time with us for the fitting and the programming.
However, I don’t know how any company or audiologist can think that a $3000 hearing aid is worthy of its cost. We get a 45 day trial period, yet I am told that it can take up to 6 or 7 months to adjust to the sound. Duh! I am $3000 down if I hate the sound after 6 months. I wonder how many audiologists have stuck earplugs in their ears for 24 hours? How many manufacturers make their Executive Boards wear the earplugs just to get the sense of a 35 db loss?
I recently went to see a new audiologist and though I liked her alot, she was totally unsavvy concerning assistive technology. This is really not a good thing. Why aren’t the audiologists being trained to understand the clients who need this technology to function? Simple things like bluetooth technology and loop systems. I don’t know about you, but I am so frustrated, I want to just get the software to program my own hearing aid and purchase an aid online.
10 responses so far ↓
kim // June 23, 2009 at 8:58 pm |
Hey– I think this is why I haven’t gotten new aids in ten years. I hate the whole process.
blquigley // June 24, 2009 at 7:10 am |
Wow – this is the first time I’ve read this blog. It’s wonderful. First off, my name is Ben and I am the head of marketing for Songbird Hearing so please keep that in mind. I try to stay as connected as I can to commentary about the current industry, since it’s my job to help people understand that Songbird believes that consumers deserve fair pricing for quality products and that one does not necessarily need to go through the time and cost that the traditional industry requires.
I read your interviews and agree that it is baffling. If you are ever interested, I would love to tell you more about Songbird because we are fundamentally trying to change the way this industry works and the options that people have available to them to hear better! We are at http://www.songbirdhearing.com and I’ve posted quite a few articles on the subject on our Facebook page as well – just search for Songbird Hearing on Facebook.
If you are interested in connecting, I can be reached at bquigley@songbirdhearing.com. Great work on this blog – it’s fabulous and I am not sure why more of the media does not ask the type of questions that you are. Excellent. My best to you and your readers,
Ben
saytheword // June 27, 2009 at 8:52 am |
Ben, I just checked out the songbird website….it strikes me as being the samething as the miracle aid? you only deal with mild to moderate hearing loss and it seems to me the aid available is nothing more than a microphone? this is not what people need to help them with their poor speech discrimination.
blquigley // June 28, 2009 at 11:54 am
Songbird is designed to address mild to moderate hearing loss – you are absolutely right. The flexfit is similar to all digital hearing aids designed for mild-to-moderate hearing loss (including Miracle Ear), in that it is comprised of a speaker (receiver) a microphone, and chip that enables digital signal processing. The chip enables a digital hearing aid to selectively boost sound in particular frequencies. Songbird does this, focusing mostly on the frequency ranges where speech occurs. Doing so allows the aid to help people hear speech more clearly (for those who hear sound, but need more clarity of sound). Please look at the following if you would like to see more on the technical specifications. It’s also accessible from the “flexfit details” page in the “About Songbird” section… http://www.songbirdhearing.com/pdf/flexfit_graph.pdf
saytheword // June 24, 2009 at 10:58 am |
ay Ben, I’m the editor of the SayWhatClub newsletter and if you want, I’ll do an interview with you if you promise to be honest. Do read our newsletters at http://www.saywhatclub.com click on newsletters and read them. Also, we’ll be starting a facebook in a few weeks. You can write me at pearltf1@nyc.rr.com
blquigley // June 24, 2009 at 11:27 am |
I would love to! I will be in touch. – Ben
saytheword // June 28, 2009 at 12:10 pm |
Ben, digital, from what I understand of it, is set up through a computer program that matches the individuals hearing loss.
How does Songbird do it?
blquigley // June 30, 2009 at 8:34 am |
Songbird programs its products – in a very similar manner – in its New Jersey headquarters according to the most prevalent profile for noise-induced or age-induced hearing loss.
blquigley // June 30, 2009 at 4:25 pm |
I wonder if you have seen this piece just published on Hearing Mojo. It speaks to the same issue that you raised here. http://hearingproductnews.com/?p=696
J Arrington // July 17, 2009 at 1:12 pm |
I agree with most of your analysis and viewpoint. I am an eleven year veteran of HA’s in both ears. First with Oticon and now with Siemen. I am currently being pitched by a local audiologist with a new location near where I live. He is trying to market yet another expensive brand by the name of Audibel. I am pleased with my current audiologist who is not conveniently located for me. Yet I am not satisfied with the quality of my hearing ability with the help of my 18 month latest and greatest pair of Siemens.
I have grown to think of my 11 year HA’s like I do my spouse of 50 plus years. She is sometimes very difficult to live with, but I know I do not want to try and live without her.
Helpful recommendations would be welcomed.
J in Stone Mountain.