I had a call yesterday from a friend of an acquaintance who wanted to discuss her son's problem. He has severe to profound hearing loss in both ears and very inadequate speech-language skills as expected of a normal 13 yr old. Now, this child was fitted with a 'programmable hearing aid' worth Rs.65ooo. When i asked the mother as to why was a programmable aid given to a child who was finding it difficult to discriminate even gross sounds in the environment (programmable hearing aids follow the audiogram contour and help in enhancing the hearing by reducing interference. For this however one needs to know what it is to hear "well". Preferrably someone who has known what 'normal' hearing is.), the mother replied, "what could i do? I did what the audiologist asked me to." She was also over charged and did not know that hearing-aids too have MRPs which further can be bargained upon.
- The biggest menance we professionals face is ENTs prescribing and dispencing hearing-aids. What people do not know is that they are not qualified enough to do so and muslt consult an audiologist for the process.
- Secondly, not everyone with hearing loss needs hearing aids. The audiologist in tandem with the client determines it. There are a large variety to choose from.
- A very important aspect is the pricing. The MRP includes commisions to the professionals dispencing the hearing aids. Just like other electronic items, please insist on being shown the MRP chart. take second opinions if needed. Information on prices can be obtained from the internet.
Be alert!
Mail me ur comments or queries in this regard.
3 comments:
Hi,
the story is really touching but it looks like you have a traditional rift between ENTs and Speech terrorist. This is an advertisement to attract people to see a pathologist rather than an audiologist. i am a consumer and i can confirm that in both cases the client is harassed or misled to get something more commissionable.
Howmuch a hearing aid can help is really debatable since i have gained nothing and never believe this really helps. it is a petty politics to keep the business alive and also to disable the society that deaf people are sick and they need treatment and intervation. if they are left like normal and allowed to learn to sign the society wouldnot see them as disabled or sick or patient.
99 in every 100 Hearing aids fitted has nearly 100 percent failure.
this may hurt but please accept the feeling of a consumer.
hello
thank you for writing. U must know that the audiologist is also a speech therapist (n not terrorist). The correct procedure of hearing aid (HA) dispensing is preceded by a complete trial (free of cost). One more thing, an HA will never simulate the human ear however best the technology is , but then if fitted well will give satisfactory result. I aim to educate consumers on their rights so that they dont get cheated. If this according to u is plain advt then so it be.
Keep writing and watch out for more related info on this blog.
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