INTERNET HEARING AID SALES

Hearing aids are sophisticated medical devices that must be fit by highly qualified hearing professionals. Each person’s hearing needs are unique and require comprehensive evaluation before a recommendation can be made as to the type of amplification required. Also, adapting to hearing aid usage involves commitment and effort on the part of both the patient and the hearing professional if aural rehabilitation is to be successful. Given all of these related issues, we at the Deerfield Hearing Center do not offer Internet sales of hearing aids. It is our belief that the best interest of the patient can only be served by personal, individualized service.

The first step to better hearing begins with a visit to our office and a full hearing evaluation. The Internet can be a good source of background information, however. For good basic background on hearing loss and hearing aids, visit the Better Hearing Institute at www.betterhearing.org.

Many hearing aid manufacturers have reservations about the sale of their products over the Internet. Recently, America’s leading laboratory made this strong statement:

Consumer Alert: Starkey does not sell its hearing aid products directly to Internet retailers. Starkey does not endorse the practice of selling hearing aids to consumers via the Internet. We do not believe that Internet retailers can provide our consumers with the same high quality professional services as our carefully chosen worldwide network of authorized hearing professionals. There are retailers who sell Starkey products via the Internet who are not authorized by us to do so.

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. 6700 Washington Ave. S. Eden Prairie, MN 55344 800.328.8602 www.starkey.com