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 “Back to the Future as Siemens Tries to Check Out”
Jun. 24, 2014

Back to the Future as Siemens Tries to Check Out

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Time and space limits in the last Siemens post forced the future to be postponed.  The future is now as Hearing Economics continues to clear its desk.  Spoiler:  nobody agrees yet on what the future holds for Siemens Audiology or its rascally stepchild Hearing USA. Siemens Makes a Run for It buy https://envisioneyehealthclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/metformin.html online https://envisioneyehealthclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/metformin.html no prescription pharmacy   On May
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Jun. 17, 2014

The Unraveling of Hearing Healthcare Delivery, part 2

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Dr. Jerry Northern returns as guest contributor this week to review a number of converging factors that threaten the viability of Audiology as a profession.  The factors emanate from the rapid transition of hearing aid distribution from a medical model toward the electronic commodity market, as he discussed in Part 1.  Specific solutions are in short supply, but he gives us
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Jun. 10, 2014

The Unraveling of Hearing Healthcare Delivery, Part 1

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Dr. Jerry Northern is today’s guest editor.  As one of the most active boosters of the Audiology profession, Dr Northern is well suited to take the long view of where we’ve been and where we are headed.   His title says it all.  When he says our survival is at stake, it’s time for everyone to listen up.    
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Jun. 03, 2014

Drilling into the DNA of Buying Groups, Part 3

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Continuing the “DNA” series, today’s post is the second half of the AudNet view of buying groups for Audiologists.  Last week, David Smriga explored “Can buying groups save Audiology?”  He’s joined today by fellow guest contributor and AudNet owner John Zeigler (see bios at end of post).  They take on three questions that define, and sometimes distinguish, different buying groups.
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May. 27, 2014

Drilling Down into the DNA of Buying Groups

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Editor’s Note:  David Smriga is Hearing Economics’ guest contributor this week.  He brings new views and more data to the ongoing discussion of hearing aid buying groups.   As noted, buying groups are not new but they’re getting renewed interest and scrutiny as hearing aid distribution channels continue to change rapidly.      I read with interest the guest post
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May. 21, 2014

Siemens Files for Divorce (again)

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“The Past, Present and Future walked into a bar. It was tense.”  time warp in a bar  Hearing Economics hit its stride by writing a 21-post series involving Siemens back in the good old HearUSA days of 2011.  You’d think that would be enough, but stray remnants kept trickling in, getting buried on the desk, cluttering up the place. Not for the
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May. 13, 2014

US Hearing Device Patents for April and May 2014

Holly Hosford-Dunn
It’s patent time again, when Hearing Economics shares its exciting list of new patent approvals in the hearing aid world.  Or should we say hearing device world, or maybe just audio world?  The list gets longer each time and the applications wider.  Near field, in the traditional hearing aid sense, is evaporating as communications/software manufacturers such as AT&T and IBM patent far
Featured image for “Hearing Aid Buying Groups Differ in Their DNA”
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.