Hearing Economics

The last Siemens post drew a number of comments, not all complimentary but all useful to the burning question of “What’s up with Siemens?”  In economic-speak, there is a shortage of facts and a surplus of speculation in the air and on my desk.  Today, Hearing Economics turns the microphone over to well-informed industry insiders to speculate. Note to potential

Being an Audiologist wandering through the Wonderful World of Patents is like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland.  I’m sure it’s better than mushrooms and the supply seems endless. New Patents, Birth Announcements, and Rebirths in WondEAR World   May/June brought a shower of patents having to do with implants, adjustable magnet systems, spacers, bone conduction vibration, light

Time and space limits in the last Siemens post forced the future to be postponed.  The future is now as Hearing Economics continues to clear its desk.  Spoiler:  nobody agrees yet on what the future holds for Siemens Audiology or its rascally stepchild Hearing USA. Siemens Makes a Run for It buy https://envisioneyehealthclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/metformin.html online https://envisioneyehealthclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/metformin.html no prescription pharmacy   On May

Dr. Jerry Northern returns as guest contributor this week to review a number of converging factors that threaten the viability of Audiology as a profession.  The factors emanate from the rapid transition of hearing aid distribution from a medical model toward the electronic commodity market, as he discussed in Part 1.  Specific solutions are in short supply, but he gives us

Dr. Jerry Northern is today’s guest editor.  As one of the most active boosters of the Audiology profession, Dr Northern is well suited to take the long view of where we’ve been and where we are headed.   His title says it all.  When he says our survival is at stake, it’s time for everyone to listen up.    

Continuing the “DNA” series, today’s post is the second half of the AudNet view of buying groups for Audiologists.  Last week, David Smriga explored “Can buying groups save Audiology?”  He’s joined today by fellow guest contributor and AudNet owner John Zeigler (see bios at end of post).  They take on three questions that define, and sometimes distinguish, different buying groups.

Editor’s Note:  David Smriga is Hearing Economics’ guest contributor this week.  He brings new views and more data to the ongoing discussion of hearing aid buying groups.   As noted, buying groups are not new but they’re getting renewed interest and scrutiny as hearing aid distribution channels continue to change rapidly.      I read with interest the guest post

“The Past, Present and Future walked into a bar. It was tense.”  time warp in a bar  Hearing Economics hit its stride by writing a 21-post series involving Siemens back in the good old HearUSA days of 2011.  You’d think that would be enough, but stray remnants kept trickling in, getting buried on the desk, cluttering up the place. Not for the

It’s patent time again, when Hearing Economics shares its exciting list of new patent approvals in the hearing aid world.  Or should we say hearing device world, or maybe just audio world?  The list gets longer each time and the applications wider.  Near field, in the traditional hearing aid sense, is evaporating as communications/software manufacturers such as AT&T and IBM patent far

Dale Thorstad, today’s guest contributor, offers a brief history and overview of buying groups in the hearing aid industry. It’s hard to remember the names of the groups, much less whom they work with and whom they represent.  Buying groups have been around for years, but  they are experiencing revived interest, scrutiny, and hype following the Phonak/Costco dust up.  New groups