The Votes are In!
/Thank you to all our patients who sent in pictures and dollars (votes) of their adorable pets for our Special 2020 Election! It was a close election and we saw so many lovely pets during the year. Would you believe we have a tie between a cat and a dog??!! May unity reign throughout the land!
Don’t fall for it! Seniors are being targeted by scammers selling phony hearing amplifiers
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It’s happened in Florida and now in Arizona. Scammers recognize no boundaries. Arizona’s Attorney General Mark Brnovich is cautioning consumers to watch out for misleading sales tactics from companies selling over-the-counter hearing amplifiers. Over the past year, the Attorney General’s Office has received approximately 140 complaints about over-the-counter hearing aids. It’s not the first time warnings about hearing products have caught the notice of consumer advocates, and it isn’t limited to one state, either. States with a large number of seniors have experienced increasing complaints from consumers who took the bait.
“In this era of new technology and self-service, many innovations bring true improvement to the quality of our lives. Consumers, however, need to be careful before purchasing these products,” said General Brnovich. “Arizona consumers should be wary of deals that appear too good to be true and do their research to avoid being scammed.”
In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed restrictions on the sales of hearing aids in, and dozens of companies have entered the over-the-counter hearing aid market. Some of these devices can be purchased for as little as $2.50 from overseas, but, as the Arizona Attorney General’s office and the FDA point out, many of the products are simply poor sound amplifiers — not FDA-approved medical devices.
At JC Audiology, we’ve seen patients come into our office after trying such devices, and admitting that their choice of finding a hearing solution online was disappointing. There no substitute for a hearing device professionally fit by a trained audiologist or hearing instrument specialist after a comprehensive hearing test in an annually calibrated sound treated booth for optimal hearing device fitting.
General Brnovich advises consumers to keep these five tips in mind before buying over-the-counter hearing aids:
The FDA has not approved any over-the-counter hearing aids. Over-the-counter hearing aids are not regulated and may simply be sound amplifiers, which may be of poor quality and not work for those with significant hearing loss.
Be skeptical of testimonials or good reviews on a company’s website. Check out the Better Business Bureau and other objective consumer review sites before purchasing. If a company has an “F” rating, something is wrong, and buyers should beware.
Price-shop diligently. You can often find the exact same product at varying prices.
Scrutinize the refund/return policy carefully before you buy. Take note of the timeframes and conditions for refunds.
Consider getting a hearing screen and opinion from a hearing specialist who can tell you whether an over-the-counter hearing device will work for you.
It looked PURRfect online!
New Lancet Report on Dementia Prevention Re-emphasizes Importance of Treating Hearing Loss
/A 2020 Report of The Lancet Commission outlines 12 risk factors that can be modified to delay or prevent 40% of dementia cases, and shows that untreated hearing loss in midlife remains the largest modifiable risk factor.
This new report was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on July 30, 2020. In addition to modifying physical activity, diet, smoking cessation, alcohol misuse and educational opportunities, the authors of the study point out that the proper preventative actions should be undertaken by individuals and encouraged by policymakers. Previous studies have concluded that treated hearing loss can significantly slow cognitive decline and untreated hearing loss exacerbates cognitive and other health problems.
For more information, go to this link: https://www.hearingreview.com/inside-hearing/research/2020-lancet-commission-report-finds-untreated-hearing-loss-in-midlife-as-largest-modifiable-risk-factor?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=HR+Insider+Aug+2020&campaign_type=newsletter
Need a hearing check up? Call JC Audiology today to schedule your hearing check by an audiologist!
Your Hearing Health
and Cognitive Health are related!
Why you should have your devices professionally serviced.
/With more than 135 hearing devices serviced monthly in our Hearing Aid Hospital, we can help your hearing devices last longer than normal. Just don’t hand them to Charlie . . .
