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.
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May. 06, 2014

Hearing Aid Buying Groups Differ in Their DNA

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Dale Thorstad, today’s guest contributor, offers a brief history and overview of buying groups in the hearing aid industry. It’s hard to remember the names of the groups, much less whom they work with and whom they represent.  Buying groups have been around for years, but  they are experiencing revived interest, scrutiny, and hype following the Phonak/Costco dust up.  New groups
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Apr. 29, 2014

Hi/Lo Bets on Hearing Aid Margins

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Are you willing to bet that many audiologists focus on selling as many high-cost premium hearing aids as possible in order to make a living?  Ethics aside, it sounds logical that you’ll make more money if you sell more expensive stuff, whether it’s diamonds or hearing aids.  Maybe so for top-quality gemstones, but don’t take the bet for hearing aids.
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Apr. 21, 2014

I’ll Take That Bet and Raise You

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Our profession was treated last week to a timely and balanced discussion of unbundling by Robyn Cox PhD.  She is one of audiology’s most reasoned thinkers, test creator extraordinaire, talented researcher, and a nice person to boot.   Dr. Cox addressed concerns being raised in policy-making circles that traditional hearing aid dispensing models are pricing many consumers out of the market.
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Apr. 15, 2014

Hearing Healthcare: Fish or Fowl?

Holly Hosford-Dunn
March Phonak-Costco Madness ushered in urgency to the health of hearing healthcare providers.  March Mayhem was foreshadowed for 3 years in Hearing Economics posts, starting with resurrection of 1990s prognostications of professional schizophrenia and bimodalism stemming from creative destruction. And lo, it came to pass as disruptive technologies and economics came among us and we were sore afraid. Otherwise, March was a pretty good
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Apr. 08, 2014

Developing a Viable Best Practice Model for Online and OTC Hearing Aid Distribution, Part 2

Holly Hosford-Dunn
  Ryan Kalef, Guest Editor, brings back Mr. Ideal for a second week of bliss.  Several weeks ago he introduced us to this gentleman — the perfect Audiology patient and wearer of hearing aids.   Last time we saw Mr. Ideal, he sailed through the traditional system of assessment and fitting approach, requiring only  3 hours and 5 minutes of professional time spread
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Apr. 01, 2014

Do Hearing Aids Cost More than Laptops?

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“Time out. Our  … conversation … has to be based in fact. It can’t be based in fantasy or wishing…”  Dawn M. Zier, Nutrisystem CEO When major news bureaus start running articles entitled “Why Do Hearing Aids Cost More than Laptops?” you know it’s time for a change up in how Audiologists are positioning themselves, especially considering the burgeoning increase
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Mar. 25, 2014

Developing a Viable Best Practice Model for Online and OTC Hearing Aid Distribution

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Hearing Economics  welcomes back Ryan Kalef as Guest Editor for the next few weeks.  His previous posts have given readers the Canadian perspective with An Earful From Canada, Call of the Wild, and Different Views on Selling.  Today he jumps in the bare-knuckled Price ring, joining the Pricing Series to the effort started last week by Terry Ross to find rational and professional means
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Mar. 18, 2014

Costco and Phonak: Much Ado About Nothing?

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Inquiring minds want to know about the imminent Phonak-Costco partnership. HHTM readership soared last week after David Kirkwood  reported corporate confirmation of the deal and Hearing Economics began sorting the deal’s rumors from reality. Elsewhere, web-based professional and social media rapidly filled with Audiologists’ tears of betrayal, stories of heartbreak, fear and growing outrage. Readers will want to look at Kevin Liebe’s
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Mar. 11, 2014

Phonak, Costco, LiNX, MFi Hearing Aids: Rumors and Realities

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Two long-rumored events became reality in the last week or so, both of which will likely have long-term effects on the practice of dispensing Audiology.  Both have already elicited large short-term effects in the chatter level and hand wringing departments of our profession. Phonak Rumors and Realities   The Rumor Mill Hearing Economics got an email tip last December to
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Mar. 05, 2014

Hearing Device Patents in January and February 2014

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Polymer materials were the standouts in today’s round of patents.  Audiologists’ training is short on polymers so we may not fully appreciate their importance:  Patent #8628831 praises polymers for their special properties such as “positional selective metallization” which can be applied to hearing aid components where “it may be desirable to combine electrical and mechanical functions in a single component,