I work as a doctor of audiology fitting adults with hearing aids. My advice, avoid franchises like Miracle Ear and Beltone at all costs. If you go to Beltone, you're going to get a Beltone hearing aid even if Siemens, Phonak, Starkey, Unitron or some other quality manufacturer has better technology, better quality control, and better prices. Audiologists have studied hearing aids for at least 4 years in graduate school. Beltone ane Miracle ear salesmen are only required to have a high school "equivalency" or GED. Today's sophisticated hearing aids are too easy to mess up if the dispenser is ignorant. Just because it helps you hear better doesn't mean it's right.
I get a kick out of this Doctor. All Doctors and Hearing Aid Specialists have to pass the same State and National Boards. The people I talk to prefer going to specialist because they are treated as an equal and not someone of no importance.
I have used a trained professonal and I for one am very happy with them. The quick sales folks forget, there is more to a hearing lost than just the test. Some folks need someone that understands hearing lost and what affects it, to fit a device to the customer. Also the Fanschise places, they sell and fit the professional suggest a model that is good for many issues. I for one have a professional that when my hearing changed gave me free ones for a year. My insurance would not pay for another year. Every time I need help and ajustment anything no cost. Well paying a few $$ more is what service is and I like the AUD I have she is super. So there Not everyone is after your $$. Some do care and help.
Having worked in a large practice with both AUDs and Specialists, I've got to say, can't we all just get along. There are a lot of things that an audiologist is trained to, most of which have little to do with a hearing device. Some of the best hearing aid fitters I've ever seen are just Specialist. They do one thing and one thing only, fit hearing devices. Practice makes perfect. I've aske AUDs for advice many times and many times they've come to me. I refer to ENTs and AUDs when needed. Having looked at practices from all disciplines I know that it's not just the education that makes a fitting a success, it's the caliber and experience of the people doing the fitting. Having overseen over 6000 fittings, I know what I'm saying. Technology isn't all the same, but it's not as critical as the person using the technology. I have a favorite, though. SeboTek. It's a U.S. company that is innovative and has lead the biggest change in the industry.
I'm really shocked at the trite berating of the various levels of education in the hearing professionals. Hearing aid dispensing is not easy for anyone. There are many dispensers who are highly ethical and continue in their education as much as possible because they care about their patients. On the other hand, earning a higher degree of education, which requires hours of dedication and commitment on the part of the audiologist, should be applauded not denigrated.This is especially true because many audiologists do not see an increase in their pay as a result of having a higher degree. They do not earn a higher degree because they are stupid. They do it because they know that there is much they do not know and they have a desire to be better professionals. There is no shame in a desire to be better educated. Audiologists who dispense hearing aids are often better prepared to offer their patients a rehabilitation program to help them through the process of better hearing. Many audiologists and educated dispensers are changing the hearing professions for the better. Some of the people in this discussion are dragging the professions through the mud and should be ashamed of themselves.
Waste of time and education indeed. Most PHD, AUD and other medical doctors dont have real knowledge of how hearing aids work. They feel like if you cant do surgury it cant be fixed. So they come on websites like this to vent about how they are losing business to us dispensers that didnt get our Masters degree in Hearing Aids.Lol what a joke Pffff!
8. Written by Raymond Hollingsworth, on 19-06-2008 19:44
WOW!!! The post by Alsip Magistrate speaks the painful truth. For the record, Starkey AKA Audibel forms shells from earmolds and buys all of the components overseas... if you call this a "quality manufacturer" your education in learning "hearing aids for at least 4 years in graduate school" was indeed wasted. I feel for anyone subject to your guidance and advice, "Doctor". Educate yourself you will not only help yourself, but be an asset to others as well.
Not necessarily Teresa, I know of no Audibel or Beltone dispensers who are audiologist although many would have you believe that they are. As far as cost, I just got a set of Epoqs for less than my last set of Audibels that the dispenser had tampered with in order to try and sell me new ones after only 2 years. Sorry, but I suspect that these companies promote these practices.
10. Written by Teresa Bloomfield, on 10-06-2008 19:41
I know many Audiologists that own Franchise's such as Beltone and Audibel and hire- licensed by the state- dispensers. Beltone dispensers can also fit Siemens, Unitron, Starkey, etc. And you are right, Audiologist can bill insurance companies for hearing evaluation, adjustments, and alot of UNNECESSARY testing, in which Beltone and other establishments don't charge for, the prices, on average for a set of units dispensed by an Audiologist vs. other is at least 2,000.00 more dollars per unit
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