Dr. Hosford-Dunn began blogging in her audiology private practice in Tucson, AZ. Back in 2009, blogging was a new and interesting way to quickly share and improve information with colleagues, consumers, and patients. As blogging gained attention, she had the opportunity to serve as chief editor of a multi-author blog for an hearing industry publication. The format was fun and successful. It rapidly evolved into Hearing Health & Technology Matters! (HHTM), an independent blogsite that she founded in partnership with other colleagues in 2011. Since its inception, Dr. Hosford-Dunn has served as HHTM’s first Editor-in-Chief, then Managing Editor, and now is CFO of the organization. After graduating with a BA and MA in Communication Disorders from New Mexico State, she completed a PhD in Hearing Sciences at Stanford and did post-docs at Max Planck Institute (Germany) and Eaton-Peabody Auditory Physiology Lab (Boston). Post-education, she directed the Stanford University Audiology Clinic; developed multi-office private practices in Arizona; authored/edited numerous text books, chapters, journals, and articles; and taught Marketing, Practice Management, Hearing Science, Auditory Electrophysiology, and Amplification in a variety of academic settings. Dr. Hosford-Dunn participates in life long learning by writing weekly posts and by embracing sequential learning endeavors. She spent a year training with the Gemological Institute of America, gaining certification as a Graduate Gemologist (GIA). She graduated with a B.A. in Economics and Psychology from the University of Arizona in 2013. Currently — and probably forever — she studies the Spanish language.
Featured image for “More Stinkin’ Barriers, part 2”
Apr. 05, 2016

More Stinkin’ Barriers, part 2

Holly Hosford-Dunn
There are no barriers that discourage new entrants to the hearing aid industry  (previous post at HHTM) Today’s Econ 202 post continues its contrarian ways by scaling barriers of varying sizes in the US hearing aid manufacturing and delivery system.   Part 1 itemized regulatory requirements for manufacturers, audiologists and providers which pose varying structural challenges to new entries, compared to incumbents.  The economic view
Featured image for “Barriers? We Don’t Got No Stinking Barriers!”
Mar. 29, 2016

Barriers? We Don’t Got No Stinking Barriers!

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“There are no barriers [that discourage new entrants to the hearing aid industry].  New entrants simply have to comply with regulations intended to safeguard our patients. This excerpt from a recent post on the PCAST report gives pause, prompting switching of hats from Audiologist to Economist. Though Hearing Economics has written on market barriers before, it hasn’t done an entire
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Mar. 22, 2016

Impact of Probe-Microphone Measurements and NOAH Quick-Fit on Patient Satisfaction and Loyalty

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Amyn Amlani, PhD, returns to Hearing Economics after a long absence, having written on “Efficacy of Smartphone-Based Technology in Improving Hearing Aid Adoption Rates” last July.   Dr. Amlani’s sustained interest in economic principles related to efficacy and consumer satisfaction are evident in these posts as well as several he wrote for the Hearing Health disruptions section several months ago.  
Featured image for “Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Falls”
Mar. 15, 2016

Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Falls

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Downstream Consequences of Aging is a bi-monthly series written by guest columnist Barbara Weinstein, PhD.   A quality reporting program designed to improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) gives participating providers an opportunity to assess the quality of care  delivered  to patients.  PQRS, first covered in 2013 at HHTM, continues to roll
Featured image for “US Hearing Device Patent Activity for January-February 2016”
Mar. 08, 2016

US Hearing Device Patent Activity for January-February 2016

Holly Hosford-Dunn
New hearing device patents featured new players, new money, new concepts, interesting art work, and political commentary.  Today’s feature image, courtesy of Starkey’s USPTO #9264824, may not be great art but it succinctly states the company’s dim view of Keynesian economics and government tax ideology. The art award goes to Qualcomm, which joined the hearing aid patent club with  USPTO
Featured image for “Three Important Perspectives on Why Many Adults Delay Care for Their Hearing Loss, part 2”
Mar. 02, 2016

Three Important Perspectives on Why Many Adults Delay Care for Their Hearing Loss, part 2

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“Signal & Noise” is a bimonthly column by Brian Taylor, AuD. Identifying and addressing the unmet needs of people with hearing loss means more than reducing costs (the Public Health Perspective) or improving devices (the Biomedical Perspective).  The extent and limits of those approaches were covered in part 1.  Today’s post suggests that we can meet people’s hearing needs better
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Feb. 23, 2016

Shooting from the HIPAA: Confessions of a Provider Trying to Provide

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to achieve. (With apologies to Sir Walter Scott) Speaking as a dispensing audiologist (“provider”) who writes on economic issues related to hearing care (“blogger”), let the record show that the confusing landscape of rules and regulations (R&Rs) these days has brought on writer’s block and a fear of failure
Featured image for “Three Important Perspectives on Why Many Adults Delay Care for Their Hearing Loss, part 1”
Feb. 16, 2016

Three Important Perspectives on Why Many Adults Delay Care for Their Hearing Loss, part 1

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“Signal & Noise” is a bimonthly column by Brian Taylor, AuD. I recently had the privilege of listening to a panel of distinguished executives from the leading hearing aid manufacturers and retailers. Aside from the pointless squabbling about who, among their competitors has a stake in corporate retail, and the irony that a female-dominated profession was represented by an all-male
Featured image for “John’s Journey:  His PCP’s influence on the hearing aid purchase decision”
Feb. 09, 2016

John’s Journey: His PCP’s influence on the hearing aid purchase decision

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“Peeling the Onion” is a monthly column by Harvey Abrams, PhD. As John takes action to purchase hearing aids, he is likely to proceed on the perception that hearing aids are medical devices, according to MT9 survey data reported in last week’s post.  Assuming he follows the medical path, he can consult a variety of professionals, including an ENT, his primary
Featured image for “John’s Journey Resumes:  Taking Action”
Feb. 02, 2016

John’s Journey Resumes: Taking Action

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“Peeling the Onion” is a monthly column by Harvey Abrams, PhD. When we last left John on his Journey toward better hearing (before taking some detours to the CDC and the PCAST), John was engaged in the preparation stage of his journey as defined by the Transtheoretical (stages of change) model of behavior.   Recall that the Transtheoretical (changes of