Accutone Hearing Services was started 37 years ago by Claude P. Hobeika, MD as an alternative to the high priced franchised hearing aid “sales” outlets. Dr. Hobeika, an Otologist (ear specialist) was shocked by the many complaints he would hear about the extremely high prices and ineffectiveness of hearing aids. Accutone Hearing Services is a division of Ear Medical Center, Inc. and was founded on the simple premise that patient care comes before profits. Since then we have provided the highest quality, lowest priced hearing aids to thousands of your friends, family and neighbors. We are not a “hearing aid store!” We are a medical practice that dispenses hearing aids! We are both proud of what we do and honored that you keep referring patients to us.
Accutone Hearing Services knows that Hearing Loss is A Medical Problem and should be treated by a physician.
At Accutone Hearing Services Hearing Loss is our specialty; its management is our mission.
Why Are So Many People Unhappy With Their Current Hearing Aids?
Just Like Deja Vu…All Over Again!
A popular notion is that hearing loss is an inevitable part of growing older. Since hearing loss is a sign of aging, many with hearing loss deny its presence and for years deprive themselves of the sounds of life and the joys of meaningful conversation.
A prevailing misconception is that hearing aids are just amplifiers that make things sound louder and that they can be purchased at stores, malls, retail centers, by mail or on the internet.
Hearing aids are not just amplifiers; they improve communication by adjustingsounds to the residual hearing of the patient.
Hearing losses, like snowflakes are not all alike.
The nature and causes of hearing impairment and the degree of handicap it causes cannot be derived from a routine hearing test or audiogram alone. The audiogram only determines thresholds; that is the softest sound an ear can detect at each tested frequency. This is definitely not representative of how that ear performs in the real world. Verbal interchange takes place at levels well above threshold. The Most Comfortable Level (MCL) for speech is well above threshold; as its name implies MCL is the level at which conversation is most comfortable for a particular individual.
Accutone Hearing Services knows that Hearing Aids are not a one size fits all. Hearing Aid selection should not be based on the audiogram alone. Other factors should be considered in the selection of a hearing aid such as physical characteristics of the outer ear, the condition and anatomy of the ear canal and opening, canal resonance, the state of the drum, the Impedence of the middle ear, measurement of middle ear reflexes, determination of most comfortable level (MCL) and Uncomfortable Level (UCL), recruitment, maximum power output and Hearing in Noise (HIN).
Common Scare Tactics Used To Sell Hearing Aids.
Fool Me Once Shame On You…
Present misconceptions have been promoted and perpetuated by the way hearing aids have been advertised and sold to the public.
Outlandish and unsubstantiated claims such as “hearing aids prevent or delay Alzheimer disease” or “hearing aids are a cure for depression” have been used to convince potential buyers.
Hearing Aids are advertised the same as refrigerators or TV sets; there are discount coupons, two for one sales and all kind of promotions as for any other commodity. Stores that sell hearing aids compete on the basis of price and not service or competence and often times a hearing aid salesperson will choose a hearing aid that is best for their bottom line but not medically or financially best for the patient.
Bait and Switch! It amazes us that this is a medical product and still it is allowed to be dispensed through that infamous Bait and Switch sales technique. READ THE FINE PRINT! Often times these are off brand hearing aids from a fly by night manufacturer (there are 120 known hearing aid manufacturers today) or very old technology or even something that resembles a hearing aid but only has limited power. For example, if the add says “will fit up to 30-35 dB hearing loss only” then it means that this instrument will only fit someone whose hearing loss is probably borderline at best. In other words this is saying that this instrument would fit someone who probably doesn’t even need a hearing aid at this point in time anyway.
More importantly what this really shows is a lack of respect for YOU! They are assuming that you are uninformed and gullible enough to allow yourself to be lured into their operation with what sounds like a “good deal” and then a “salesman” convinces you that you should have another instrument instead of the one you came for. Do you really want a 59-cent hamburger? Hearing loss is a medical problem. If you broke your foot would you go to a shoe salesman? We have more confidence in our patients to be more knowledgeable and informed about their health needs. We respect you enough to know that the information you give us will help us in making your diagnosis and treatment plan with your new hearing instrument.
Accutone Hearing Services is owned and operated by a Physician who is an Otologist (Ear Specialist) with 37 years of experience.
Accutone Hearing Services not only offers affordable Hearing Aids, but medical expertise to fit you with the most appropriate Hearing Aid for your medical loss.
A Hearing Aid Is Only As Good As The Person who Programs It.
Build a Better Mousetrap….. Not always!
Hearing Aids are computer programmed to suit your hearing needs. This demands skill and experience.
The hearing aid manufacturers can build a hearing aid that is perfect for you and your hearing loss. However in order for it to work correctly the person who sold it to you needs to know how to program it correctly.
This is such a huge problem in the industry that all the manufacturers pre-program their hearing aids with what is known as “best fit.” Unfortunately, what sounds right to a machine does not sound right to a person when they move from one environment to another.
To ensure consistency in the selection and programming of hearing aids, we have created a “Centralized Programming,” an approach that is unique to Accutone Hearing Services.
The Programming Team working from “Central Programming” in the Colerain hub programs and adjusts all hearing aids. Intra office audio-visual networking allows for the constant flow of information between any one of our seven locations and the Colerain Hub.
This revolutionary new concept allows you to go to any one of our locations and have a real time audio/visual conversation with any one of our programmers or our physician about your hearing aids and how they are performing for your hearing loss.
Accutone Hearing Services Centralized Programming Department is Technology and Experience working together.
Accutone Hearing Services Centralized Programming Department is the Ultimate Experience working together in Real Life Hearing Aid Fitting.
