Update on hearing aid providers, for those of you who have hearing aids, may need hearing aids or perhaps for your loved ones.

For many years I was a patient of “Metro Hearing”, and throughout the years I was evaluated and treated by Audiologists, PHD Doctors of Audiology. 

In January of this year (2024) I was informed that “Metro Hearing” was sold to a company called “Hearing Life” and my current audiologist, Dr. Stephanie Clark and her assistant would be leaving. In that January appointment I was evaluated and examined by a young lady who told me she was trained by the company to do the exams.

Last week (August 13, 2024) Another young lady did the exam, I told her the hearing aids didn’t sound right and she adjusted my hearing aids and told me I might have an ear infection. She and her assistant told me Dr. Stephanie Clark retired and was no longer with the company.

(This not true, Dr. Clark is now at another hearing audiology clinic in Scottsdale. Why did she leave “Hearing Life”?)

The hearing aids were not working properly and I was having a hard time hearing, The “Hearing Life” receptionist said I would have to wait at least 3 weeks to a month for an appointment.

I called “Applied Hearing Solutions” and got in the next morning. I was examined by a Doctor of Audiology, it was a 2 and ½ hour evaluation.

So here is what I found out and this is the important part:

The “Hearing Life” providers that treated me are not audiologists they are licensed hearing instrument specialists.

I googled the training this was cut and pasted from a school’s website:    HAA hearing aid specialist licensing program features more than 100 hours of video training divided into 31 modules.  You must have a high school diploma and pass a state exam.

A doctor of Audiology is a PHD with 4 years of undergraduate college and an additional 4 years, at least of graduate studies in audiology.

“Hearing Life” told me to come back in 6 months for a hearing aid evaluation. 

The audiologist at “Applied Hearing Solutions” totally evaluated my hearing and concluded my hearing loss was near severe, I should look into a cochlear implant. (Which means I would no longer be her patient.)

So the bottom line is I could keep going back to “Hearing Life” and buying new hearing aids and get “adjustments” and “evaluations” ad infinitum, or correct the hearing problem once and for all as best as can be done with modern technology.

 So my recommendation would be to ask who will be treating you or your loved one before you agree to an appointment. If it’s a licensed hearing instrument specialist and you’re fine with that, ok. Or if you prefer a doctor of audiology that’s your choice. But in the least you should know and be knowledgable about the process.

Rick D’Amico (August 23, 2024)

In my book, “How Alzheimer’s Stole My Wife and Shattered Our Dreams”, I write about talking with the Arizona Department of Health about how some owners of assisted living homes do it for compassion for caring for people and others do it because it is just a money making investment. He told me, “ To sell the home and not tell the families of the patients is unethical, but in Arizona is entirely legal.”

Ruth’s caregiver, who owned the Assisted Living home, disappeared without notice, (to me) and as I found out later she sold the home.

Tap here to see what she is doing now.

She is selling real estate in Nashville!