I need to start this blog post by saying that I am a huge fan of the CBC, it\u2019s on my radio every morning and it\u2019s the network I watch most on my television.<\/p>\n
Today, CBC Marketplace is running a story discussing the cost of hearing aids. I heard some excerpts on Robyn Bresnahan\u2019s radio show CBC Ottawa Morning, and felt the need to address a few points.<\/p>\n
The first issue<\/strong>\u00a0involves a short interview with a gentleman who builds his own hearing aids and sells them on the internet.<\/p>\n He claimed that he can build a hearing aid for $200. If hearing aids are made for $200, why pay $2000? On the surface this seems like a great point.\u00a0Unfortunately for Marketplace, they didn\u2019t research the history of the hearing aid industry in Ontario. Many years ago, before the creation of Ontario\u2019s Ministry of Health Assistive Devices Program, sales people could circulate flyers stating \u201cFree Hearing Tests\u201d and book appointments in local motel rooms. They would book 2-3 days worth of hearing tests, sell low end hearing aids, and then leave town, never to come back.<\/p>\n For the months and years following, these unsuspecting clients turned to local hearing clinics to get help for their poorly fitted hearing aids. Local clinics who invested in their community with a storefront and staff, but whose products and services were deemed too expensive. What could be done when a patient was poorly fit with a hearing aid that was from an unknown company?<\/p>\n In the industry, we look at internet sellers in the same light as these motel sales people.\u00a0Sure there will be folks willing to buy hearing aids at a cheap price. But when the problems start, it will be local professionals who will have to step in to help. Many years ago, the Ontario Government recognized that consumers were being taken advantage of, and through the Assistive Devices Program, the Ministry of Health stated that anyone who sells \u201cHearing Aids\u201d in Ontario must have their products approved by the government and must have an office open to the public that offers service.<\/p>\n Thankfully the Ontario Government recognized the problem of unregulated sales, but it\u2019s a shame that CBC Marketplace has given it more publicity. There are safeguards in Ontario and Quebec regarding the sale of hearings aids; rules and guidelines that must be followed.<\/p>\n The second point<\/strong>\u00a0in the story involved the mark-up of hearing aid prices.<\/p>\n The excerpt I heard blamed audiologists for the amount they add onto the price. There was also a call for more transparency. Let me start by stating that I\u2019m not an Audiologist. I am a Hearing Instrument Specialist. I own a clinic in Ottawa where I employ an Audiologist on my staff and I co-own 2 clinics in New Brunswick. In the New Brunswick offices my partners are audiologists. We are not the most expensive place to buy a hearing aid, nor are we the cheapest; we tend to sit comfortably in the middle.<\/p>\n Note that the Ontario Ministry of Health\u2019s Assistive Devices Program mandates that all prices must be transparent. Professionals must follow a fee guide and show all charges billed to the client. The clinic\u2019s purchase cost of the device must be listed on the client\u2019s invoice, along with the dispensing fee and any other chargeable services. In many other parts of the country it is buyer beware.<\/p>\n The main question in this debate should be, when you buy a hearing aid, are you buying a machine or a 5 year treatment of your hearing loss? In my offices you\u2019re buying the latter. I know, I know, it sounds like I\u2019m trying to inflate the price of a hearing aid based on a few easy service calls. But it\u2019s more complicated than that. Some clients visit and we see them only a few times whereas we see other people much more. A new client typically has 3 hours with our professionals before we feel they are comfortable to manage on their own; they are encouraged to return if they have additional questions or concerns. \u00a0Regardless of the number of visits, we need to keep the same standard of care for all of our clients.<\/p>\n When a local company invests in office space and provides the best level of professionalism in the industry to treat your hearing loss for 5-6 years, it can\u2019t be done for $200. On top of this, my locations in Ottawa and New Brunswick offer monthly maintenance care in more than 14 retirement residences and free house calls for clients in need. We have a dynamic outreach service which truly contributes to the local communities. At our clinics we have worked very hard to offer value for money. We stand behind our services and fees we charge for them.<\/p>\n Thankfully, I chose to work with Audiologists and well qualified Hearing Instrument Specialists. When a patient is comes in for a hearing test and treatment for hearing loss, it\u2019s important to do it right. We\u2019re not selling widgets, but registered Class 2 medical devices. We\u2019ve rushed patients to an Ear Nose and Throat doctor because we identified the hearing loss may be caused by a brain tumour; we\u2019ve identified hearing loss in children; and we\u2019ve helped with the diagnosis for Dementia. If you had hearing loss, where would you prefer to go?<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to focus on audiologists because that seems to be where the blame is placed in the CBC interview. Audiologists have a Master\u2019s Degree in Audiology; they work in hospitals and private clinics. They are trained to do many things (I won\u2019t bore you with a list); hearing aids are only part of their profession. In our clinics, when you buy a hearing aid, you\u2019re buying our services for the treatment of your hearing loss.<\/p>\n The last point<\/strong>\u00a0I want to make regarding the CBC interview relates to the length of time a hearing aid should last.<\/p>\n Again, this is a buyer beware issue. Currently in Canada, there are clinics owned by large companies who also own large hearing aid manufacturers, there are clinics owned by Audiologists and clinics owned by Hearing Instrument Specialists. What is the motivation at that clinic, hearing aid sales or the treatment of your hearing loss? If the clinic you go to is suggesting that you replace your hearing aids every 3 years, I would look for a second opinion. In our offices, we work with all Class 2 medical device hearing aids available in Canada and have always stated that they should last 5 years or longer.<\/p>\n \u2981 Ask questions about the clinic you\u2019re visiting.\u00a0Who owns it? Have the bill explained to you and question the services if you are unsure.<\/strong><\/p>\n This post deals mostly with Ontario because the government has already taken action regarding some of these issues. The Quebec government has also been diligent in protecting consumers; however, we need more regulations that protect consumers in the Atlantic and Western provinces.<\/p>\nOften times where you purchase your hearing device is just as important as how much you pay for it.<\/h3>\n
Our clients have access to the best professionals for as long as they own their hearing device.<\/h3>\n
Do your homework first.<\/h3>\n
\n\u2981 Exactly what products do they carry?
\n\u2981 How long should the hearing aid last?
\n\u2981 What services are included?<\/p>\n