Question
What is the current industry return rate of hearing aids, and what is the most common cause for those returns?
Answer
Current hearing industry RFC rates, within the trial period based on 2nd Quarter 2001 are:
Overall Answer: 18.4 percent
The reasons for RFCs are more difficult to ascertain. Manufacturers do not require an actual reason before accepting a return. The information described below are the reasons volunteered by dispensers when they returned the order.
No reason given: 72%
Patient unable to adjust to the aid: 24%
Model change: 18%
Patient claims no benefit: 12%
Patient refused to take delivery: 8%
Patient not satisfied: 7%
Poor fit or feedback: 9%
Financial circumstances: 4%
Preferred old aid: 4%
Patient passed away: 4%
Wanted to switch ears: Dead or intermittent: Prefers a competitor's product: Programmable issues:
BIO:
Michael Block, PhD, CCC-A, FAAA, is Director of Technical Services for Qualitone. Dr. Block has been an audiologist for more than 25 years. His extensive history includes research, audiology instructor, clinical service provider, clinical supervisor and academic department chair.