Time to Read: 7 minutes
Unregulated, Unqualified, and Misdiagnosed.
Morgan, Elysse. 'Privatising Australian Hearing Will Exacerbate 'Cowboy' Industry'. ABC News, 2015. Web. 7 Oct. 2015. -http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-06/privatising-australian-hearing-will-exacerbate-cowboy-industry/6829216
This seems the undesired future of the Australian Private Hearing Aid market and quite possibly the future of Australian Hearing.
Seemingly the concept of Business Ethics and a Good Deal, has gone out the window, in an already savvy market. With the recent turmoil of consideration to regulate the Private Hearing Aid market in Australia an individual looking to the aid of a hearing instrument can seem like an unsteady road.
ABC news recently revealed many individuals who have fallen prey to this lucrative market, where many ethical pit holes have been manipulated, qualifications misguided and commission and product-driven sales are the core business model.
However, due to this uneasy taste left in your mouth from the perpetrators of this unethical portion of the Hearing Aid Market, Value Hearing seeks to replenish your pallet by providing 9 sure signs that you need to turn and run when buying Hearing Aids.
1. When calling the Hearing Provider to find out hearing aid prices and they will not divulge anything until you have seen the provider. Naturally, if you don’t know which product you’re after, then it’s okay to give a range of pricing. However, If you’re after a specific product, then they should be able to provide a specific price.
2. Limited Or Restricted Brands Available – Many clinics are manufacturer owned, which may mean that you could be limited to the brands that that manufacturer makes when it comes to making recommendations for your hearing loss. Some models of hearing aids just work better for certain types of hearing loss and clinical choice is important for your optimal success.
3. Unqualified Providers – in Australia you don’t need ANY qualifications to fit hearing aids to self-funded people! Ask your provider for proof of registration with a professional body or a provider number to be able to claim from private health insurance (which cannot be obtained without proper qualifications).
4. Free Hearing Tests/Checks – This is a well-used technique to get you in front of a very persuasive salesperson which often upsells the highest-priced hearing aids.
5. Being quoted on a hearing aid with no Brand or Model name and instead being given a classification e.g. Bronze/Basic/Value range, Silver/Advanced/Superior. This is a clear indication that the provider is potentially overcharging you and does not want you to shop around with ease.
6. Limited or no testimonials on their website. Generally speaking the more testimonials, a company has on their site, the more clients enjoyed their experience with the organisation.
8. Hearing aid recommendations made based just on your budget or lifestyle, rather than on results. Although these factors are taken into consideration, hearing aid assessments help clinicians pin point what specific model should be best suited to you. They should be able to support their recommendation with strong evidence from the results obtained during testing.
9. Trial Promotions – this is another lucrative way to get you in front of a salesperson. This is used frequently with technology that is not new, but simply generates hype and interests. You often end up trialing the most expensive version of the product, which may not be reflective of what you end up buying.
10. Online retailers offering to have your hearing aids fitted at a partner or affiliate clinic. These retailers often sell you hearing aids online and then refer you to another clinic with another name to have it fitted. These are generally small operators who make big profits from the hearing aids and simply pay the “partner clinic” a fitting fee for the work done. The problem comes in when you have difficulties. Who is going to take responsibility? The person who sold you the hearing aid or the person who has already delivered the service they had been paid for?
At Value Hearing we strive to provide the most cost-effective, yet relevant hearing aids for your solution to hearing problems.
To speak with Value Hearing click here to contact us or call one of our friendly staff at the number above today.
Morgan, Elysse. 'Privatising Australian Hearing Will Exacerbate 'Cowboy' Industry'. ABC News, 2015. Web. 7 Oct. 2015. -http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-06/privatising-australian-hearing-will-exacerbate-cowboy-industry/6829216