TV Ears introduces exclusive network of Certified Hearing Centers

Press Release

SAN DIEGO – April 4, 2011 – TV Ears, a manufacturer of doctor-recommended TV listening solutions, announced today its exclusive network of Certified Hearing Centers that will direct interested customers to hearing professionals in their neighborhood.

Participating hearing professionals receive direct referrals as well as digital displays with real-time marketing content and in-store product displays for their waiting room.

“Each year, we introduce more than 300,000 individuals to TV Ears. While our products help these people hear the television more clearly, they may need assistance with related issues, but often don’t know where to go,” said George Dennis, Founder and CEO of TV Ears. “Once a customer enlists our help, we work to make quality introductions with one of our Certified Hearing Centers based on their location. The goal is to increase business for those hearing professionals and provide them with lifelong customers.”

According to the Hearing Industry Association, U.S. hearing instrument sales, outside of the Veterans Administration, increased only by less than one percent in 2010. In an effort to drive bigger sales for its partners, TV Ears believes this exclusive network will drive more potential customers into audiologist and hearing aid offices. The total hardware for waiting rooms alone is valued at more than $2,000, more than six times the price of the monthly program fee, and includes a TV Ears TV, Media player, TV Ears Headset System, TV Ears Wireless Speaker and a ClearSounds Quattro Bluetooth Neckloop. The Hearing News Network will be the featured program on the TV Ears set, and  can be effectively used for in-house marketing and training while also acting as an information center for staff and patients. In addition, TV Ears is working on packaging affordable total hearing solution kits at very attractive price points to empower hearing professionals in their network to offer unmatched savings and value to their current customers as well as the prospects sent to them under the Certified Hearing Center program.

“Often times, our customers come to us initially not requiring a hearing aid, but in need of some assisted listening device that help them enjoy their TV viewing experience better. As they get older, however, their hearing needs change. We want to help provide those folks with the best way to find affordable, quality solutions,” said Dennis. “That’s where the Certified Hearing Centers come into play. We’re really excited about this new partnership and have already received a great deal of interest.”

Hearing Professionals can reserve their exclusive zip code as a TV Ears Certified Hearing Center to take advantage of the marketing support, special solution package pricing and direct referrals by calling 888-883-3277.

About TV Ears

TV Ears manufactures doctor recommended TV listening solutions that have helped more than 1 million people hear the television clearly and once again enjoy what they are watching, bringing families back together and returning tranquility to the home. The company acquires more customers with hearing loss each year than any of its competitors and has been acknowledged as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America three years running. The Company combines consistent growth with innovative quality products and an increasingly loyal and expanding base of satisfied customers. For more information, visit www.TVEars.com.

© 2011 by TV Ears, Inc. All rights reserved.

5 Blogs We Love: Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, & Being Deaf

We love reading stories by individuals’ with any degree of hearing loss. When we read a blog that inspires us, we know that there are others out there in need who are reading and being inspired as well.

Today we’d like to share 5 of our favorite blogs with you, and say thank you to those individuals who have shared their story:

1. Speak Up Librarian

This blog is about a librarian who became deaf as an adult. You can read her story and check out her recommended reading list, among other things. Most recently her blog has expanded beyond her journey with hearing loss because, as she says, “I’ve found that life goes on after hearing loss.”

2. Hearing Sparks

Written by a 23-year-old who was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss in both ears at the age of 4, this blog explores some interesting (and humorous) scientific topics that revolve around hearing loss. Another great list of recommended reads as well.

3. I look so I can hear…

Named one of the Top 100 Deaf Blogs, this is the story of a profoundly deaf woman with speech who has cochlear implants.  Her story is honest, touching, and serves her purpose –  “to pass on my knowledge to make the hearing journey easier for other people.”

4. Eh? What? Huh?

This is an extremely creative blog (great pictures, great posts) by an itinerant teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students.  Great videos, how tos, and opportunities to donate your gently used hearing aids.

5. Deaf Read

A collection of deaf blogs and vlogs, this is a great site to visit if you want to read some good blogs or if you have a blog you’d like to submit to the community.

What blogs inspire you?

Study determines hearing aid use ‘phenominally low’

A new study shows that of the U.S. population who are age 70 and older, almost two-thirds are affected by hearing loss; only 20%, however, use hearing aids.

Study findings also demonstrate a higher prevalence of hearing loss in those of white race (64%) than in those of black race (43%).

Researchers at John Hopkins University performed audiometry and interviews on 717 adults. Data collected included hearing aid use, medical history, noise exposure, and demographics.

Hearing aid use by those with mild to severe hearing loss was “phenomenally low,” said study researcher Frank Lin, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of otology. The study did not assess the reasons for the decline in hearing aid use.

The study, published online February 28^th in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, concluded that additional research is needed to determine why black race is protective against hearing loss.

According to Lin and other researchers in his field, the pigment produced by cells in the skin and inner ear might protect the inner ear by absorbing free radicals.

What do you believe is causing the decline in hearing aid usage? Is the U.S. in denial of our hearing loss or is economic crisis preventing us from receiving much-needed help?

SOURCES: The Journals of Gerontology, The JHU Gazette, WebMD

Hearing Mojo’s Hearing Aid Comparison Chart

Click to view Hearing Mojo's Hearing Aid Comparison Chart

Hearing aids and Personal Sound Amplification Systems (PSAPs) are products we wish there wasn’t a market for. It’s true. When George Dennis, Founder and CEO of TV Ears, Inc., started TV Ears in 1998, he was looking for a solution to help his father who was developing a hearing loss. The best solution would have been that his father not lose his hearing at all, but since that wasn’t an option, Dennis created TV Ears.

“The problem was that hearing aids at the time cost thousands of dollars and there was no insurance coverage and it was very expensive. At that point, we decided to create a hearing device for the television. The concept started out as how we can solve a personal problem and grew from there,” said Dennis.

Since hearing loss is a problem that currently continues to affect more and more individuals, the best things we can do for ourselves is to continually shop for data to help us make informed decisions. Hearing Mojo recently published a hearing aid comparison chart that “gives consumers shopping for hearing aids an idea of what high-end features and functions are available from the world’s leading hearing aid brands,” David Copithorne explains.

Brands compared include Oticon Agil (William Demant Holding), Starkey Wi Series (Starkey Laboratories), Phonak Ambra (Sonova Holding), ReSound Alera (GN Store Nord), Widex Clear440 (Widex), and Siemens Motion (Siemens Hearing Instruments).

TV Ears new 3D Hearing Kits offer a fantastic value for consumers who want a total hearing solution. This value will be available at TV Ears Certified Hearing Centers. Contact TV Ears, Inc. for more information:  1-888-883-3277, Monday – Sunday, 7am – 7pm, PST.

SOURCE:Hearing Mojo

Your First Hearing Aid Purchase

Be an informed buyer.

Recent technological advancements have made small, effective, quality hearing aids available to many individuals with hearing loss. In addition, as government officials at both the state and federal levels understand the needs of individuals with hearing loss and the importance of funding for hearing aids, more individuals are finding help.

If it is your first time purchasing hearing aids, you’re first step will be to find a hearing specialist whom you trust and whom will patiently explain all of your options to you. But as the person purchasing hearing aids, you will also need to come prepared with expectations.

As a first-time buyer, you may not know what to expect. Preferred Hearing Care, LLC, recently posted about “The Hearing Aid Experience,” outlining the importance of understanding how hearing aids sound, feel, and work, when working properly. They offer the following recommendations for questions you should ask yourself when assessing your hearing aids:

1. Is your ability to understand others improved?
2. Does your own voice sound natural?
3. Are you able to hear soft sounds?
4. Is the level of amplification comfortable?
5. Are you able to wear the earpieces comfortably for extended periods?
6. Are your hearing aids adequately controlling background noises?
7. Are you comfortable with the appearance of your hearing aids?

To learn more, including what to expect as your comfort level when wearing hearing aids and how long it will take your brain to recognize speech sounds that are no longer distorted by hearing loss, read “The Hearing Aid Experience.”

SOURCE: Hearing Aids Merrimac MA