Real Stories
About Reluctance and Skepticism To Success and Happiness

T. MacGugan
A patient came into our office and expressed concern with hearing and understanding speech. He runs a business and has difficulty hearing and understanding over the phone while making business transactions. He also expressed difficulty in noisy environments. He has worn hearing instruments in the past and none have ever seemed to solve his communication needs.

After testing his hearing, we discovered that we had only one useable ear – the hearing on the other side was “dead” or non-functional. We focused our efforts on the good ear and chose a hearing system that will most effectively address his concerns. Through a hearing instrument on his good side and Bluetooth streamer technology worn around his neck, he was able to successfully hear and understand speech on his cell phone as well as in noisy, crowded environments.

The patient was very complimentary of our ability to listen to what he needed. We made clear, concise goals and came up with a plan of treatment to address those concerns and we were very successful! As a result, the patient is happier and his life was made easier through his hearing instruments, and his wife is absolutely thrilled that she doesn’t “have to yell at him anymore!”

J. Arledge
A very reluctant and nervous patient scheduled an appointment “just to check his hearing aids.” He is a World War II veteran and he didn’t mince words when asked to describe his past experiences with hearing instruments. He made it very clear to our receptionist that he in NO way intended to purchase new hearing aids. He had bought them elsewhere and was “completely disgusted with them.” After introducing myself and explaining the process of our appointment, he was visibly more relaxed. When I began to inquire how he felt about his hearing instruments, he became very talkative. He explained that the professionals he went to before didn’t listen to his concerns about his hearing and that he felt he was being given a “hard sale”.” “I’ve done this a few times over the years, missy, and nothing is different. They have never done the job.” Time after time he entered these professionals’ offices and each time was told, “You just have to get used to it.” After hearing this for the last time, he decided to come in to see us to get a second opinion.

We explained the procedure and tested his hearing thoroughly. I made sure to include speech-in-noise testing as that was one of his primary concerns. Afterward we discussed his loss and its implications to his life at length. After explaining his loss, I then described why his hearing instruments were not the appropriate style or technology for his loss. In the office, I demonstrated and fit appropriate hearing instruments for him – he was amazed at the difference. After encouraging him to try them for a week in his own home, his face lit up! He couldn’t believe that he could take these hearing instruments home for a week “just to try them” for free. When I called him the next day to see how he was doing with these new hearing instruments, his wife answered the phone. She was very emotional about how this experience had changed their lives for the better – “he’s even singing this morning…he hasn’t done that in YEARS!” She was very appreciative of the help we provided and thanked me for calling him the next day to check on him…she was impressed by such a high level of care.

At our one-week check-up, he and his wife reluctantly told me that they could not afford them. He returned them…a few days later; however, he bolted back into the office and said, “I need those hearing aids! I can’t stand being without them. I have talked with my kids about how helpful they are in MY life. My son even said, “Dad; you’re hearing better on the phone than you have in a very long time…what can we do to help?” So my wife and I, along with our kids, had a family meeting. We discovered a way to afford keeping them.” We fit him that day and he is happy as can be, and his family and friends are happier too!

E. Cherry
After visiting every hearing professional in southern New Mexico to seek help for his hearing loss, Mr. Cherry came to OUR office. By this time, he was totally and utterly disgusted. Arms and ankles crossed in his chair, he looked at me square in the eye and said to me, “Prove to me that you’re better.” It was a tall order, but I was ready for the challenge.

We spoke at length about where he’s been, why he’s disgusted with hearing aids and the whole “hearing profession” and what he’s seeking. After he unloaded, I calmly talked about our practice and our policy. We are all Doctors of Audiology. We’ve studied for 8 long years and our passion is to help people with hearing loss have a better quality of life. I spoke about our Complete Hearing Healthcare Program (free batteries and free follow-ups for the LIFE of the hearing instruments) and let him know that I will work tirelessly to get him the help he is so desperately searching for.

After our discussion, I tested his hearing thoroughly, making doubly sure we performed a speech-in-noise test to assess his auditory system’s ability to discriminate speech from background noise, which was one of his concerns. Afterwards, we discussed his loss and the most appropriate steps we needed to take in order to help him. He was fit with hearing instruments that were discussed and selected for him to try for two weeks – he was impressed that he could take them home with “no strings attached.”

At our one-week follow-up visit, a very different Mr. Cherry entered our office! Mrs. Cherry was with him and she came right over and gave me a big hug! She said, “I have my husband back. He’s smiling and joking just like his old self! Thank you so much.” Mr. Cherry shook my hand. Throughout his follow-up appointment he was smiling, jovial and had nothing but good things to say about his experience. “You did it, kid!” was what I heard…and my heart skipped a beat.

We performed another test to verify that the fitting was accurate and he purchased that day! He still comes in for his cleanings and check-ups and sometimes just pops by “for coffee and a chat” with our receptionist and myself. Today he continues to be an advocate for our practice telling everyone he knows about his experience and “the gal who helped me get my life back.” He has since been a delight…another success story for the books!

B. Coughlin

Mrs. C came to us after moving here from the Midwest. She purchased hearing instruments there that, in her opinion, have never really helped her to understand speech better. “Oh sure, they make things louder, but not clearer…especially music.”

After discussing her expectations, we decided that her current hearing aids may not be the most appropriate for her needs (granted, they were 8 years old). We tested her hearing and together chose a pair of hearing instruments that were appropriate for her loss and had the technology capable of giving her the sound quality she needed to enjoy music/singing, conversations at large venues/church, etc.

She has since been a strong advocate of our practice by telling people “Abbye’s been able to restore my love of music where nobody else has been able to before.” She now confidently continues to sing in her church choir, the joy of her life since her husband passed…he always loved to hear her sing! She continues to refer people to our practice (that are now current happy patients of ours) and is still enjoying her life with the help of her new hearing instruments.