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Becoming an Apprentice Aid Specialist. Are there any particular challenges as a Differently Abled Person

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Hell to Everyone on the Forum,

I hope I’m not posting this in the wrong section. As my topic suggests, I’m very motivated to pursue a career change and move into an opportunity as an Apprentice Hearing Aid Specialist.

My background is quite likely a little unusual for this planned career shift. I worked for a number of years with industrial and commercial marine power systems. Mostly engines in the 300 to 4500 Horsepower range.

I was awarded a bachelors degree in mechanical systems engineering and have earned a masters degree in systems analytics and have worked with clients on solving difficult system applications challenges.

Would my educational and work experience background be a good fit and how would my experience gained in my field fit into the technical and analytical portion of the training program?

Another hurdle for me could be the fact that I have to use both a cane and crutches to get around. One the aspects of working with industrial equipment is the need to travel to see clients and attend trade shows.

Since I’m now moving into my mid 50s, I’d like to stay in a technical field and explore this as a new field and work in an environment where my strong analytical problem solving capability would be an asset.

I wanted to thank all of you in advance for any advice or direction you can give.

With Gratitude

Pearson

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Anybody can do it. I know because I’ve had several anybodys providing me service. You couldn’t be any worse and might be significantly better. Go for it.

I think the relevance of your prior job experience is that you’re a problem solver. Something that may be new with this position is that how well you deal with people will be very important. They are not as predictable as machines! :smile:

Hello MDB

Thank you for responding to my post. You are right, as engineers we tend to focus on the operating cycle and machinery. Almost everyone I’ve dealt with is other engineers, production managers, and purchasing.

We sometimes tend to leave out the “Human Element” and the other side of that coin “Operator Error”, which can be it’s own can of worms.

Maybe I can call on my experience of working with everyone from the CEO to the Master Technician out in the field.

THANK YOU for investing your time to reply!!!

Cordially

Pearson

You can certainly do it. I have know a number of providers using crutches or canes. Check out the International Hearing Society, they used to have a course for entry into the profession and am quite certain they still do. It can be a very rewarding career but is certainly not for everyone. I am a 50 year proof of concept. Although I started at 28 years old you can go as far as you want depending on how you continue to learn and grow. I went from not knowing what a hearing aid did to presenting seminars throughout the US as well as abroad. Published a book on hearing aids and did consulting work all around the US after selling my practice. The only thing holding you back will be yourself.

Hello GorgeGuy,

Thank you for taking time to reply to my post. My apologies for the delay in replying. Earlier this month, I put in my first application with Miracle Ear in response to a posting for a “Medical Sales Representative” I think this might be a good start to my new career.

I’m just wandering exactly what they are looking for in a trainee and how I can best relate my experience to what is required of the role. Thank you for giving me some insights into your career in both your practice and consulting experience.

Thank You!!

Cordially

Pearson

Being MIracle Ear, they are looking for sales experience or a willingness to learn hearing aid sales. They tend to be expensive but if you start there, it will be easier getting a position elsewhere once you have some experience. Even with a heavy emphasis on sales, you can still help a lot of people enjoy better hearing. I was told when I first started: “If you take care of your customers, they will take care of you”.

Consider your ethical views on consumer prices for the product service. Patients pay from about $1,600 at Costco to over $10,000 for hearing aids and bundled services from expensive audiologists. Would you be comfortable selling a $10K aid to a senior on fixed income who does not know they are paying too much? What about selling locked aids? Do you want to have to be a salesperson?

Costco may be willing to support hearing instrument specialist training as it seems to train some of the staff from other departments who transition to audiology.

If the M-E sells rebranded Signias, Costco sells rebranded Signias for $1500 or $1600 and offer great support for the life of the aids. Costco also seems to have an apprenticeship program and no quotas, either, I believe.

Don’t wait for a want-ad. I urge you to go to any Costco within your reach and ask for a job, telling them you’d like to work in the Hearing Center. Take any job they offer you - you’ll probably have an opportunity to move. They still see benefits in a diverse workforce.

If you’re , my Costco guy was VERY HOH, and he was extremely competent. He left because he had an opportunity for a senior position helping deaf kids.

Costco has a reputation for being a great employer. There are employees at my local Costco I’ve seen there for almost 30 years.

WH

I have seen many audiologists and I had already concluded that almost anyone can become a specialist in this field. This is not putting down the industry, I simply don’t believe you need to have a medical background, it can all be learned.

As a hearing aid user, I’ve become very interested in the subject and sometimes wonder if I could have made it a career had I not, like you, been an engineer, starting out as an apprentice at 16. I’m now 82 and long retired but sometimes think about what could have been. I’m certain that no physical disability could be a problem. Apart from the technical knowledge, you just need to be good dealing with people in a close one to one situation.

I wish you well in what could be a very fulfilling career.

Hi

This man, Brian, has a Youtube channel. He works for costco as a hearing aid specialist. You can email him and see what he says. He is extremely nice and I am certain he will answer you with a lot of helpful info and advice. He has always replied to me.

The Hearing Club6

Welcome to the Hearing Club, a dedicated resource for hearing aid users! I am licensed Hearing Aid practitioner in the state of Pennsylvania currently working at the Costco Hearing Aid Center & I have to let you know that these opinions and ideas...

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