2627 North 3rd Street Ste. 100, Phoenix, AZ 85004 | 14418 West Meeker Blvd. Bldg B, Ste 102, Sun City West, AZ 85375
JUNE 2019
602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com
We Don’t ‘Sell Hearing Aids’ We Treat Hearing Loss
Often, when a patient asks me if they can buy a hearing aid from Arizona Hearing Center, my response leaves them puzzled.
loud, or are exceedingly uncomfortable. No matter the problem, if a hearing aid is not appropriately selected and adjusted, it won’t serve its intended purpose and treat hearing loss. I want to stress that the fault of this broken system rests with care providers, not patients. Our standard advice to patients used to be, “Go buy hearing aids.” Beyond that, they were left to fend for themselves. As I mentioned last month, a Consumer Reports study found that nearly two-thirds of hearing aids don’t meet the prescriptive needs of a patient. It’s not hard to see why. Given that hearing loss is the absence of detection of sounds, a patient is not able to determine if the devices are presenting at the appropriate volume. Simply put, patients do not know what they are not hearing. that might not work for them and started treating their hearing loss in-house. We begin by assessing the patient’s listening lifestyle to understand their needs. If you are somebody who loves listening to music at all hours of the day, you’re going to need a different solution than somebody who only wants to hold a one-on-one conversation. Understanding these needs is crucial in selecting and fitting a treatment device that will be reliable for years to come. To reverse this trend, we have stopped sending people off to buy a product
From there, we work in close collaboration with the patient to ensure the aids are meeting the patient’s hearing prescriptive need. Not all ears are the same, so it is essential to validate the output of the hearing aids while the patient is wearing them. This is accomplished with an Arizona Hearing Real Ear Measurement. Only then do we send a patient on their way, but they will follow up with us on a regular basis to monitor their hearing health and to ensure the hearing aids are performing as best as possible. This is much better than just "selling hearing aids," right? I firmly believe we need to provide the high level of hearing care that people actually need rather than just telling them to "go buy hearing aids." With excellent hearing care and service, we can reduce the number of people who suffer with ill-fitting, improperly working hearing aids. We then know we are helping our patients to get their hearing loss well-treated.
“We don’t sell hearing aids,” I tell them. “We treat hearing loss.”
Part of their confusion is understandable. Patients can
purchase a hearing aid directly from us, so, technically, we do sell hearing aids. However, my answer does serve a specific purpose. I don’t want patients to think a hearing aid is a product they’d buy like any other. Instead, hearing aids are part of a comprehensive solution to treat their hearing loss. "I firmly believe we need to provide the high level of hearing care that people actually need rather than just telling them to 'go buy hearing aids.'" For nearly as long as hearing aids have existed, they’ve been treated as a commodity. Most people end up buying hearing aids from the same place they get their meat, trash bags, and toilet paper. And these commodified hearing aids often don’t work properly, make everything too
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'INFLUENCE' A Roadmap to Closing Deals
The Truth About Meditation AN ANCIENT SOLUTION TO MODERN PROBLEMS
Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
This is the first step in every meditation session. Though often associated with the New Age metaphysical movement, meditation isn’t all about incense and healing crystals. Meditation is an ancient practice that strengthens your mental focus, and recent research suggests that it offers real solutions to modern problems.
Business majors and longtime entrepreneurs will be very familiar with this work. And in an age when many shiny new theories on leadership and personal development come out every year, it’s refreshing to revisit a classic that has stood the test of time. Thirty-five years after its original publication, “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” should still be required reading for marketers, small- business owners, and anyone else looking to improve their negotiation skills. Written by Dr. Robert Cialdini, “Influence” explores why people say yes. A professor of business and psychology, Dr. Cialdini is uniquely qualified to tackle this question, combining scientific data with practical applications. “Influence” is still a subject of praise, with marketing research groups and journals of psychology lauding the book as a “proverbial gold mine.” You don’t have to get too far into “Influence” to see why. Dr. Cialdini lays out six “universal principles” of the human psyche. These include “Reciprocity,” our tendency to want to return perceived kindness or concessions; “Commitment and Consistency,” our tendency to cling to past decisions; and “Scarcity,” our tendency to assign value to things based on their rarity. While these may sound like surface level business concepts, the way Dr. Cialdini uses these principles as a launching point gives “Influence” value. With each principle, the author dives into examples of how these psychological elements can be used by you or against you in any negotiation. Take “Commitment and Consistency” for example. If you are able to get a person to agree with you on several small points, you lay the groundwork for them to agree with you in the future. Conversely, you can be more alert when people try to use this tactic on you. One of the most powerful results of reading “Influence” is that it helps you recognize behaviors you yourself were unaware of. Indeed, that’s the whole underlying thesis of Dr. Cialdini’s work: As social creatures, we all have habitual behaviors geared towards finding common ground with others. Once you are aware of these behaviors, you’ll begin to see conversations and negotiations in a whole new light.
WHAT IS MEDITATION?
Meditation has strong roots in various religious and cultural traditions, but anyone can find value in practicing it. The purpose of meditation is to strengthen your mind by promoting mindfulness, focus, and awareness.
DOES MEDITATION WORK?
It depends on what you mean by “work.” Will meditation allow you to defy gravity and hover above the earth? Probably not. But there are so many benefits that will leave you feeling lighter in another way. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that mindful meditation lowers stress levels, and patients who habitually meditate report less chronic pain. Another study published in the same journal found that regular meditation also fights depression. Meditating is as simple as sitting in a quiet place, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing for a few minutes. Whenever your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to your breath. You don’t need to climb a mountain or pay for a week-long retreat to start meditating. That said, there are plenty of resources that help beginners build a strong foundation for meditation. Popular apps like Calm or Headspace are available on any smartphone and offer guided courses you can start anywhere, anytime. You could also check online or at your local community center for group classes if you would like some in-person guidance. Meditation isn’t a magical ritual that will cure all that ails you, but plenty of research suggests meditation does provide tangible benefits to our mental and physical well- being. Maybe one day, meditation will be as commonplace as daily exercise. HOW DO I MEDITATE?
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602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com
It’s All Green to Me
The Best Green Foods to Add to the Menu
You need to eat more green foods.
soybeans are a familiar sight on sushi menus, but they’re also readily available in the freezer section of your local grocery store. Edamame is delicious and a great source of protein, making it the perfect snack.
No, this doesn't mean green Skittles. Green vegetables comprise one of the most important food groups, and most people aren’t eating enough of them. But if you do decide to get more nutrients from green veggies, remember that not all greens are created equal. Dark leafy spinach is basically a superfood, offering protein, iron, vitamin A, and tons of minerals. Meanwhile, iceberg lettuce or celery may fill your stomach up, but they offer little to no nutritional value. Next time you’re at the grocery store, keep an eye out for these top-rated green vegetables that are both delicious and nutritious. They’re tasty, they’re trendy, and they’re great for your eyes. Avocados are a great source of an antioxidant called lutein, which improves eye health. They’re also rich in vitamin E. Researchers have recently noted that people who get most of their vitamin E from their diet tend to have a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease. It’s all the more reason to enjoy that avocado toast! AVOCADO
WATERCRESS
Step aside, kale; here’s the real queen of green. With more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, and more vitamin C than an orange, watercress is one of the best greens you’re not eating. With all of these extra vitamins, watercress has been shown to improve heart health, bone health, and even act as an antidepressant. Next time you need a pick-me-up, consider a watercress salad. Your whole body will thank you!
Bad childhood encounters with canned spinach or steamed Brussels sprouts are why many people avoid green veggies. But the
produce section is full of tasty, healthy options waiting to appear on your dinner plate and improve your well-being.
EDAMAME
Looking for a filling mid-afternoon snack? Skip the potato chips and help yourself to some edamame. These Japanese
PUZZLE
HAVE A Laugh
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com 2627 N Third Street, Ste. 100 Phoenix, AZ 85004
14418 W. Meeker Blvd, Bldg B, Ste 201 Sun City West, AZ 85375
2627 N. 3rd Ste 100 Pheonix, AZ
Inside This Edition
1.
The Difference Between Selling a Product And Treating a Condition
2.
Take a Deep Breath
'Influence' and the Psychology of Yes
3.
Are All Green Foods the Same?
Have a Laugh
4.
Become a Pillar in Your Community
Make a Positive Impact 3 Strategies for Genuine Community Involvement Even if most of your clients are located in other parts of the globe, the place your business calls home is a huge part of your identity. When a company makes a point to get involved locally, it’s doing more than making new connections and getting its brand out there — it’s also making a positive impact on the place it calls home. Most companies experience a slowdown in the summer. Here are some strategies to take advantage of that lull and create a plan for your business to get involved in the community and be a good neighbor. Every town boasts its share of charities and nonprofits looking to make a difference. Find a cause you believe in, then help out. This could mean donating a portion of your revenue to a local women’s shelter, volunteering as a company at the soup kitchen, or sponsoring a gala that raises money for a children’s hospital. Supporting charities demonstrates your values and attracts the kinds of customers who share them. SUPPORT A LOCAL CHARITY
JOIN A PARADE
This sounds unconventional, but sometimes it pays to think outside the box. Most towns put on a Fourth of July parade in the summer, so why not join in? Building a float could be a great team-building exercise, and a lot of people will turn up and see your mobile advertisement in the parade. Being in the parade shows that you’re part of the community, and when you top it all off by tossing candy to the kids, you’ll really make an impact. Your company could donate school supplies or even sponsor a program. Art and music programs are often the first to suffer from budget cuts, so support from a local business could make a huge difference. Donate art supplies to the classroom, sponsor high school theater productions, or offer scholarships to help young musicians pay for new instruments. Keep the arts alive by helping the kids in your community do what they love. These suggestions require time and resources to pull off, but making the effort can transform your company from just another business in a sea of many to a pillar in your community. WORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS
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602-277-4327 | www.azhear.com
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