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 “Steps for Selling Successful Hearing Aid Practices”
Nov. 18, 2014

Steps for Selling Successful Hearing Aid Practices

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Grant Smith returns to finish his post series on selling practices.  Last post was focused on the psychological considerations that precede all sales, where owners must recognize and weigh the opportunity cost of the choice to sell.  Without addressing those considerations early and thoroughly, owners run the real and literal risk of dying to sell, in which case they have
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Nov. 11, 2014

Selling Hearing Aid Practices — The Psychological View

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Grant Smith is blogging today at Hearing Economics.  Previously, he blogged in Hearing Views on the importance of hearing professionals differentiating themselves to today’s hearing aid consumer.   Grant has worn many hats in the hearing aid industry, one being to broker hearing aid sales and acquisitions.  It is in that role that he writes today’s post, giving readers a
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Nov. 04, 2014

US Hearing Device Patent Approvals for September and October 2014

Holly Hosford-Dunn
The list of US patent approvals in the hearing industry grows longer with each bi-monthly period.  The Big 6 are well represented, but new players continue to enter the arena.  Inventor-owned patents are a rarity these days, accounting for just 10% of all new patents, down from 25% in the past.  In his new book, The Innovators, Walter Isaacson  charts changes
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Oct. 29, 2014

Siemens in the re-making: Latest update

Holly Hosford-Dunn
This week, the lead item on Hearing News Watch is a post about the ongoing saga of the sale of Siemens Audiology Solutions. It is written by my blog colleague Holly Hosford-Dunn, PhD, who published it October 24 on Hearing Economics. I thought this timely report would be of interest to Hearing News Watch readers as well.  David H. Kirkwood, Editor,
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Oct. 29, 2014

Not Another Zombie Post

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Well, yes.  Hallowe’en demands attention to the growing, under-served, ever-changing Zombie market for hearing healthcare.  Past posts  uncovered the market and provided pointers to Audiologists on how to capitalize on it. Today’s post pulls together zombie odds and ends in hopes of extending market reach and protecting Audiologists’ newly dug-up turf from other less-qualified biomedical professionals.   Here are  suggestions and
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Oct. 24, 2014

Siemens in the Re-Making: Breaking News

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Siemens’ plan to strip off Audiology was first reported by David Kirkwood as rumor in February and again as fact in May of this year.   Various types of stripping were dissected at Hearing Economics and by its many Commentators.  A few well-informed, anonymous sources offered their views.  It was all very exciting, as always, when Siemens shows up at the
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Oct. 21, 2014

Right Place, Right Time, Right Patient. Right Provider?

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Tom J. Northey gives us the second half of his ACO  and Audiology post today.  In his current forecast of what’s ahead for Audiologists in the changing healthcare market place, he’s introduced us to the ACO (accountable care organization) model, electronic medical records (EMR), and health information exchanges (HIE).   It’s time to take those acronyms and own them.  Mr. Northey
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Oct. 14, 2014

Does ACO Spell Audiology?

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Tom J. Northey is this week’s guest contributor.  In July, Hearing Economics did a multi-part series going back in time to 2000, when Mr. Northey wrote a seminal article forecasting our profession’s future choices and coining that popular phrase “Audiology Economics.” Lucky for Hearing Economics, the series caught Mr. Northey’s attention.  Though he left the field of Audiology years ago, he graciously
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Oct. 07, 2014

A Siemens Divestment Could Renew Market Competition

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Amyn M. Amlani, PhD, is today’s guest blogger at Hearing Economics.  Dr. Amlani’s work is a rare combination of Audiology and Economics which has moved our profession forward and expanded our thinking in recent years.  He first introduced us to the concept of Price Elasticity of Demand back in 2007. Dr. Amlani continues to walk the walk and talk the
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Sep. 30, 2014

Caffeine Research: Drink to Your Hearing Health

Holly Hosford-Dunn
The 2014 updated list of research findings on the effects of caffeine and coffee on our health is here, with new findings highlighted in red.  Even though the “benefits” column far outweighs the “risks” column these days, not everyone is on board when it comes to endorsing coffee/caffeine as a health supplement.  But the barriers keep getting knocked down as