New Research from the BHI for Promoting Audiology (ADA 2011)
Seven papers are presented (6 MB): Income study (2nd edition), prevalence of tinnitus and efficacy of treatments, hearing aids and QOL, impact of V + V on patient visits, validation of BHI Quick Hearing Check, Direct mail hearing aids and PSAPs, positive impact of mini-BTEs. (9 MB)
New Research from the BHI (Part 2). Four new publications from the BHI were presented at the 2011 AAA conference: 1) The efficacy of hearing aids in achieving compensation equity in the workplace, 2) The market for direct mail and personal sound amplifying products (PSAPs), 3) Validity and reliability of the BHI Quick Hearing Check, 4) Patient satisfaction with mini-BTE hearing aids. In a study of more than 40,000 households it was determined that hearing loss has a deleterious impact on earnings and unemployment rates but that hearing aids have a significant mitigating impact on income and unemployment rates in the workplace. Depending on degree of hearing loss hearing aids help people with hearing loss achieve compensation equity with their normal hearing peers.
In the second study on people with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids we will show that there is a sizeable market (1.5 million people) for inexpensive sound amplifying products. In addition we determine the impact this market has on the custom hearing aid market. Fifty percent of people with hearing loss do not visit audiologists because they have never had their hearing tested. Hearing loss recognition is an important precursor to seeking a solution for hearing loss. In this third study (co-authored by Dr. Ruth Bentler) with a sample size of close to 11,000 subjects it is shown that a simple 15 item subjective hearing check inventory is significantly correlated with objective measures of hearing loss, that it has concurrent validity, and high reliability. From this research an online hearing test www.hearingcheck.org has been created which when completed gives the consumer sufficient information about their hearing loss that may influence them to visit an audiologist. The fourth study quantifies that mini-BTEs had a positive impact on the market. Mini-BTEs tap new markets and improve customer satisfaction. (4 MB)
Best Practices = Good Outcomes: This four part talk was given at the 2011 AAA. 1) The impact of audiology practices on real world success with hearing aids. 2) 25 year trends in the hearing health industry (abbreviated), 3) Customer satisfaction with hearing aids (abbreviated), 4) Impact of best practices on benefit and quality of life changes. In this presentation we will show:1) The hearing-impaired demography is favorable for market growth, 2) Customer satisfaction and hearing aids in the drawer are suppressing HA adoption, 3) Our thesis is that audiology hearing fitting practices have not kept pace with improvements in technology. The audiologist's protocol used to fit hearing aids is directly related to real-world success with hearing aids. Improvements in quality control in the audiologist's office is critical for improving customer satisfaction with hearing aids, keeping hearing aids out of the drawer, providing effective benefit which will have an impact on the consumer's quality of life, in reducing return rates, improving the image of those who dispense hearing aids, further improving the adoption rates of hearing aids, increasing positive-word-mouth advertising and increasing brand loyalty. (2 MB)
MarkeTrak VIII: New Opportunities for Promoting Hearing Solutions – (2.4 MB) – Part 1.
Abstract
In MarkeTrak VII we review 25 year trends in the hearing health industry as well as customer satisfaction with hearing aids and the role of the HHP in consumer success with hearing aids. Attendees will also receive a copy of MarkeTrak VII covered topics including: the impact of untreated hearing loss on income and an exploration of America's 1.2 million hearing-impaired children and 23 million adults currently not using amplification. I will present a brief summary of why people do not buy hearing aids and the opportunities it provides the HHP.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the latest demography of the hearing-impaired population.
- Leverage the latest digital HI customer satisfaction findings.
- Understand how comprehensive hearing aid fitting protocols impact real world success.
Integrating National and Local Promotion of Hearing Solutionss – (36.9 MB) – Part 2.
Abstract
Only 25% of people with hearing loss adopt a hearing solution. New users of hearing aids are 68 years of age. Yet 60% of people with hearing loss are below retirement age. In line with National efforts at the BHI what can hearing health professionals do to promote hearing healthcare in their communities to enhance the chances that more people with hearing loss, while in the prime of their life, seek their services?
Summary
Are people with hearing loss motivated to seek the services of a hearing healthcare professional by promises of invisibility, free hearing tests, marketing of new digital hearing aid models, discounts on hearing aids, or a visiting expert? Perhaps these techniques work for people who are ready for a hearing aid but it is unlikely that they are effective in motivating new users. There are more deep seated issues which serve as obstacles for people adopting a hearing solution earlier in their life: stigma, denial, knowledge of hearing healthcare, perception of need, physician reluctance to recommend, misinformation, myths about hearing loss and hearing aids, poor perceptions of the hearing healthcare process and hearing aids, price of hearing aids, etc. In this seminar we present a comprehensive model for moving people from denial to acceptance enhancing the likelihood that they will seek out the services of a hearing healthcare professional. We will explore the mission, strategy and current and future tactics of the Better Hearing Institute for promoting hearing solutions. In addition, we present some methods for the local practitioner to promote their practices in their communities using tools from the Better Hearing Institute. Our overall goal is to form a grassroots partnership with local practitioners as a means of increasing traffic into their offices.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand a model for achieving positive impressions in the media.
- Leverage our knowledge of the impact of hearing loss on quality of life in local promotions.
- Use resources available from the BHI for the promotion of hearing solutions in your private practices.
MarkeTrak VIII: 25 year trends in the hearing health industry. How do we get on the fast track? – 2MB
In this three part presentation: 1)relevant 25 year demography trends in the hearing health industry will be explored along with 2) a detailed look at consumer satisfaction with hearing aids and 3) the impact of the hearing health professional on consumer success with hearing aids. Seventeen aspects of the HA fitting protocol will be related to seven outcomes of success. The data strongly suggests that what happens in the hearing health professional's (HHP) office has profound implications on the consumer's real-world success with hearing aids. The third study was co-authored by 14 people: Sergei Kochkin, PhD, Douglas L. Beck, AuD, Laurel A. Christensen, PhD, Cynthia Compton-Conley, PhD, Patricia B. Kricos, PhD, Brian J. Fligor, ScD, Jay B. McSpaden, PhD, H. Gustav Mueller, PhD, Michael J. Nilsson, PhD, Jerry L. Northern, PhD, Thomas A. Powers, PhD, Robert W. Sweetow, PhD, Brian Taylor, AuD, Robert G. Turner, PhD
MarkeTrak VII Surveys (2004-2005)
This zipfile contains the hearing loss screener and detailed surveys for non-adopters and hearing aid owners. The screener goes to an 80,000 household panel and the detailed surveys to a random sample of 3000 non-adopters, 3000 hearing aid owners, and 475 parents of dependent children with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids. 600 KB
MarkeTrak VII: 21 Year Trends in the Hearing Aid Market (July 2005)
This is a PowerPoint summarization of relevant trends in the hearing aid market. The detailed publication (HR, July 2005) can be downloaded at the following link:
/pdfs/MarkeTrak7_Kochkin_July05.pdf 25 slides – 310 KB
The Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss on Household Income (July 2005)
This 44,000 household study establishes the link between hearing loss and income and quantifies the mitigating effect of hearing aids. Published by the BHI at the following link with submission to all industry journals: /pdfs/MarkeTrak7_ImpactUntreatedHLIncome.pdf
It was professionally excerpted by the Hearing Review(October 2005) at the following link: http://www.hearingreview.com/issues/articles/2005-10_02.asp
17 slides – 128 KB
MarkeTrak VII: Customer Satisfaction with Hearing Aids in the Digital Age (September 2005)
Detailed look at customer satisfaction in 2005 using the new 7 point customer satisfaction scale. Includes a rank ordering of customer satisfaction from lowest to highest, provides estimates of the effects of digital technology on satisfaction (to be confirmed clinically), as well as differences in satisfaction by severity of hearing loss. The full publication (HJ, 2005) can be downloaded at the following link: /pdfs/M7-satisfaction.pdf
22 slides – 1MB
MarkeTrak VII: Obstacles to Hearing Aid Adoption Among Adult Non-users in the U.S. (April 2007)
64 reasons why hearing-impaired adults do not purchase hearing aids by hearing loss segment in deciles, why hearing aids have been returned, factors impacting decision to purchase and the impact of hearing aid enhancements on purchase. Concludes by identifying opportunities for promoting hearing aids based on MarkeTrak research. 43 slides – 259 KB. (In press April 2007 Hearing Journal)
MarkeTrak V: Why my hearing aids are in the drawer (2/2000)
Based on a content analysis of 348 letters from hearing aid owners I have quantified why hearing aids are in the drawer. The publication is available at the following link: http://www.knowleselectronics.com/pdf/publications/MR41.PDF 47 slides - 1.1 MB
MarkeTrak VI: Measurement Drives Success (2/2003)
A composite presentation from the MarkeTrak VI series as well as other MarkeTrak satisfaction studies (36) detailing factors impacting choice of dispenser and hearing aid brand, improvements sought in hearing aids by consumers, the impact of the VC on satisfaction, the issue of value (price, benefit, satisfaction relationship) with concluding ideas for improving the consumer journey through an enhanced protocol. This presentation was derived from 4 MarkeTrak VI publications which can be found at the following link: (dispenser and brand choice: http://www.knowleselectronics.com/pdf/publications/MR49.PDF)
(Improvements sought: http://www.knowleselectronics.com/pdf/publications/MR48.PDF), (value: http://www.knowleselectronics.com/pdf/publications/MR51.PDF)
(VC: http://www.knowleselectronics.com/pdf/publications/MR50.PDF) 70 slides – 4.5 MB
