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Audiologist or hearing aid dispenser?

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This has been a good thread. Some of my favorite members have put their 2 cents in. It really doesn’t matter what field of work we talk about, it’s the same everywhere. There are people who care more or less about their work. We consumers have to understand this and do the best we can to get the service we need in whatever service we are talking about.

This forum and its members are a blessing to me.
Thanks

I am self-employed, however, business has been terribly slow - and my health has restricted me from doing much of the work I really love - building renovations!

I toyed with the idea of opening up a little hearing aid “shop” in my home. I have a perfect place it could be located. Since I live near where I go to my local audiologist (where I bought my own aids last October), I would not open this shop while she is still in business, as I would not want to be a direct competitor of hers since she has treated me kindly and right, every time I have had an appointment - “DP” - Please Take Notice!

Can a person sell a line of hearing aids but NOT be an audiologist? I am extremely computer-savy and extremely mechanically-inclined, so figuring out how things work and following instruction manuals comes second nature to me! Hey, if I had my own place, I could trial all different aids (all most likely all restricted to only one manufacturer).

@Renovator said:

Can a person sell a line of hearing aids but NOT be an audiologist? I am extremely computer-savy and extremely mechanically-inclined, so figuring out how things work and following instruction manuals comes second nature to me! Hey, if I had my own place, I could trial all different aids (all most likely all restricted to only one manufacturer).

This will be subject to local law wherever you live, but in most of the USA you can get a hearing aid dispenser’s license without much difficulty, and without studying to be an audiologist. There have been many fraudsters operating in this market going back 40 years or more, so there are a few more legal hurdles and trust issues to work through.

You will face legal liability in the sense that you can get in real trouble for selling a hearing aid when it isn’t needed, or to kids below a certain age… and possibly other cases too. I’m not a lawyer and this isn’t legal advice.

I’ve looked into doing it myself, but my primary business is doing well enough that I have put it off… for now.

@Buckaroo said:

This will be subject to local law wherever you live, but in most of the USA you can get a hearing aid dispenser’s license without much difficulty, and without studying to be an audiologist. There have been many fraudsters operating in this market going back 40 years or more, so there are a few more legal hurdles and trust issues to work through.

You will face legal liability in the sense that you can get in real trouble for selling a hearing aid when it isn’t needed, or to kids below a certain age… and possibly other cases too. I’m not a lawyer and this isn’t legal advice.

I’ve looked into doing it myself, but my primary business is doing well enough that I have put it off… for now.

I hear you on the legal aspect of the whole venture! I can just imagine the excuses people would give so they don’t have to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 or more for a set of ’s they ordered and just had to have. I know, in this state (Vermont), the audiologist must have on file authorization from a doctor saying that the patient has been tested sufficiently for hearing aids and that the hearing aids will, in fact, benefit the customer.

The last thing I would want is to sell something to someone that is the wrong item, and also, the last thing I would want would be the general hassle that goes with dealing with the public. You mention kids. I can visualize my being thought of as not capable of fitting aids if even the smallest thing was wrong. I think most people are understanding, but there are the few who are looking out for every penny they can get from you! Suppose after I fit someone – they go out and shoot loud guns all afternoon then come back and say the hearing aids were feeding back so loudly, it ruined my hearing! They have a hearing test again and the test shows that the hearing is worse than last month!

It seems, any insurance that would cover such things would be extremely expensive, which is probably part of the reason hearing aids are expensive for what they are (tiny amplifiers, microphones and speakers).

I think you talked me out of it. That was an easy decision!:slight_smile:

In reply to @Buckaroo

@Buckaroo said:

This will be subject to local law wherever you live, but in most of the USA you can get a hearing aid dispenser’s license without much difficulty, and without studying to be an audiologist. There have been many fraudsters operating in this market going back 40 years or more, so there are a few more legal hurdles and trust issues to work through.

In order to ‘sell’ hearing aids, you have to be a licensed hearing instrument specialist/dispenser. Each state is different, and below is a link to the law in Vermont.

http://vtprofessionals.org/opr1/hearing_aids/1

I think it is a little rich to state that one can get a license without ‘too much difficulty.’ There is a book about an inch thick crammed with information about anatomy and physiology, physics of sound, hearing aid technology, testing methodology, pathology, hearing aid selection, different types of hearing aid, different types of hearing loss, understanding hearing test results, impression taking, causes of hearing loss, hearing aid/ear mold design, and much more.

Once you’ve learned all that you have to pass a written exam, a practical exam, and often (depending on state), apprentice for up to a year, before you can obtain a license. If you fail any part of the exam, you can often find yourself waiting up to six months for a chance to retake.

It’s not easy like getting a gun license, or drivers license. You have to learn a lot of different concepts which can be tough if you are not attending classes or working as an apprentice.

I’d also take exception to the notion that this field has a greater than normal number of ‘fraudsters’ in it. But I’d look at any evidence you have of this assertion if you have some. I don’t think there is any more or any less ethical problems in this industry than most others that involve dealing with the public.

@Buckaroo said:

You will face legal liability in the sense that you can get in real trouble for selling a hearing aid when it isn’t needed, or to kids below a certain age… and possibly other cases too. I’m not a lawyer and this isn’t legal advice.

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Unless you are an audiologist, you really shouldn’t be dispensing to minors under 18 period. It’s a very different field and it requires a very different skill set. Some states I think permit this under doctor supervision, but it’s just not a smart move. Leave the kids to those with a specialty in pediatrics.

And yes, obviously dispensing hearing aids unnecessarily, or after ignoring medically referable conditions, will get you sued, your license revoked and possible legal blowback beyond that.

I suppose I could always go back to school for it!

With how many young people are obviously damaging their hearing when their car is thumping from a half mile away, there will be many young people who will need to be fitted, that is if they even have any hearing left at all when they suddenly wake up one day and find that they cannot hear! :rolleyes:

@Renovator said:

I suppose I could always go back to school for it!

With how many young people are obviously damaging their hearing when their car is thumping from a half mile away, there will be many young people who will need to be fitted, that is if they even have any hearing left at all when they suddenly wake up one day and find that they cannot hear! :rolleyes:

Well in the nicest possible way, if kids want to destroy their hearing that’s their problem, and my retirement plan. :rolleyes:

But in all reality, while many older people like to wag their fingers at young folk for their car stereos and iPods, the fact is when they were young they were hunting, fighting in wars, working in factories, operating noisy machinery, all without hearing protection.

So while many kids may expose themselves to noise for entertainment, many young men and women in the good old days were forced to work in noise for years, without ever wearing hearing protection. Probably a greater percentage than those who are willing to spend $2000 on a car stereo for a $1000 car.

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