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It’s a familiar story to audiologists.
A patient comes in for a test after noticing symptoms of hearing loss. Maybe they’ve arrived at the urging of their friends and family. Perhaps the patient has been struggling to catch everything in work meetings or understand conversations in loud or crowded environments. Maybe they can’t hear music or TV as clearly as they used to. Or, they have tinnitus or find they’re more sensitive to loud noises.
They finally make an appointment and undergo an evaluation. Then, they receive their diagnosis: slight to moderate hearing loss that needs treatment and intervention or a hearing disorder that management strategies can mitigate.
However, the starting point for treatment is often an expensive hearing aid, so the patient decides to wait.
The High Cost of Untreated Hearing Disorders
This type of patient interaction has become so common that most audiologists don’t question it.
The Hearing Loss Association of America believes 48 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of hearing loss — 37.5 million of them are 18 or older, trying to make their way through college, succeed in the workforce, or enjoy their retirement.
What’s more, a study by the nonprofit Hear-it AISBL estimates that more than 14.6 million Americans are living with untreated hearing loss severe enough to count as a disability. The Hearing Loss Association of America found that only 1 in 5 adults with hearing loss actually use a hearing aid.
14.6 million is a shocking number. And as hearing and audiology professionals know, anyone who ignores hearing loss prevention or leaves injuries untreated is at risk of developing more severe symptoms and consequences.
Hearing loss impacts every area of a patient’s life, limiting their ability to socialize and build relationships, contributing to cognitive decline, putting them at greater risk of falling or developing dementia, and harming their productivity. That loss of productivity becomes a collective burden, as well. In fact, the Hear-It study estimates that disabling hearing loss costs the U.S. economy $133 billion each year.
Patients going without treatment hurts audiologists too. They go through extensive education and clinical training to protect one of the most vital senses. Unfortunately, in the current care model, audiology practices derive the majority of their revenue from sales of hearing devices. This obstacle in the marketplace makes it hard to purely focus on clinical care.
Facing a limited product market, patients may be uncomfortable adopting high-end hearing aids or are unable to afford them. This can force audiologists into an unfulfilling, high-pressure sales environment, limiting their ability to provide the care they, and their patients, really want.
Tuning in to Patient Potential
Just like you, we at Tuned know a one-size-fits-all approach to hearing health doesn’t work — for patients or their providers. We help audiologists overcome the limits of the standard practice model to deliver solutions matching every issue and budget. Giving a diagnosis without the full range of treatment options becomes a thing of the past.
Our platform’s suite of services give audiologists the tools to operate a virtual clinic or enhance their in-person operations. With HIPAA-compliant tele-audiology, scheduling, appointment management, video conferencing, and billing, audiologists can work with patients far beyond their current practice reach.
Tuned also offers a marketplace for audiologist vetted, over-the-counter hearing support ranging from earbuds and headphones to smartphone apps. These solutions address the mild- to-moderate spectrum of loss and are sortable by the situations patients need them in, such as listening to a Zoom meeting, watching TV, or interacting face-to-face. Since the prevention and protective solutions on the platform can cost as little as $40, patients are more likely to leave appointments with a solution that fits their budget.
For even more convenience, patients undergo initial hearing screenings from the comfort of their homes, eliminating one of the most significant barriers to receiving care. The platform then refers these patients to a Tuned-member audiologist licensed to practice in their state.
Hearing loss lowers quality of life, causes social isolation, and even harms productivity. For too long, audiologists have been locked into industry dynamics that prevent them from fully using their expertise. Tuned is removing these common hurdles to treatment by helping audiologists provide a full range of solutions. Try Tuned today to amplify the full potential of your practice.
