Yesterday a client called looking for an appointment. When we suggested that he could come in today, and we inquired if his wife was planning on coming with him, he took offense at the suggestion. We explained why his wife should attend. We cited three key reasons 1) she is most aware of any hearing problems he might be suffering with 2) out of concern, she would want to know first hand about any potential hearing loss, and finally we stressed that usually both parties like to talk over financial matters together. After much arguing from the client, he finally agreed to ask his wife to come in with him.
Another client called yesterday also looking for an appointment. He had no problem arranging the appointment with his wife to accompany him. However, he kept repeatedly asking the “how much” question. Finally after asking several times, we heard his wife yelling to him, to stop asking.. It is very hard to know his life style, his needs, his degree of hearing loss, and his dexterity over the phone.All of these factors plus many others go into evaluating a persons need for hearing aids. Apparently the wife was used to this behavior from him, and had to take control.
I bring these instances to your attention to stress there are many factors in making a decision to even having your hearing tested. Many factors have to be considered,and it can not be done over the telephone. The purpose of you calling the office is to make sure you feel comfortable with the staff, and to set up the appointment. At the appointment when we have a hearing test in front of us we can then offer you an explanation of what you hear and what you don’t hear. And based upon the information we obtain, we then begin the process of making recommendations.
The first gentleman did come in with his wife. It was a great appointment. WE got to know one another a bit, I was able to get some history and found out the areas of concern about his hearing. When we were done, and I put on a trial set of hearing aids, the wife went down the hall and was able to talk to and get responses from her husband. When she returned, her mind was made up, and she told her husband they were taking them.
The second appointment also showed up as a team. This was a bit more difficult, the husband wanting to know price before anything and the wife asking lots of questions as well. Finally after getting a better picture with his hearing results in front of me I began to explain why he couldn’t always understand his wife. I also pointed out why he was having problems understanding others. This immediately softened both of them. Once they understood the why’s, now they were asking me to solve their problems. When I showed them possible solutions, money was no longer a concern. They did settle for a mid level moderately priced set of hearing aids.
The point in both cases is you never know. People have all sorts of objections to getting hearing aids. Sometimes they make excuses to put off doing the right thing.Sometimes they need more information, sometimes they need to hear what they have been missing. But given the right information, and having it explained in a friendly manner, without any pressure to “sell”, most people will do what is right and what is necessary.
Your in better hearing.
Howard
And-How Hearing 