It’s like magic-once you turn the respectful age of sixty, you notice that the content of your mailbox seems to change. Nearly every week, you are “blessed” (I’m being sarcastic!) to have a full mailbox (both your physical and electronic mailbox) with literature about “essential vitamins for seniors,” “how to choose the right assisted living residence,” “how to invest your retirement money,” “join AARP,” and “which digital technology widget is best for your hearing loss.” Somewhere along the line, hearing health care started down the dangerous road of becoming a retail transaction. Heck, I’ve even seen some hearing widgets sold at big-box retailers and chain pharmacies…. Although I don’t know who would ever consider buying medical treatment for progressive degenerative disorder alongside a giant vat of peanut butter! Like I ask my patients: “Would you get your colonoscopy performed at one of the big-box chains? NO. So why would you treat your hearing loss there?” I don’t blame the patient for sometimes entering the office thinking he/she is going to be “sold” something.
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Archives
May 2019
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