SOMERSET, NJ October 23 – Helping clients to decide upon a hearing solution that is right for them represents one of the biggest investments of time and effort in most hearing care practices. How to facilitate decisions that will benefit both clients and practices was the focus of the 2013 Oticon Human Link Conference, titled “Providing Clarity in Hearing Health Decision Making.” More than 200 hearing care professionals from across the US attended the three-day conference held in Fort Worth, October 18 -20. Participants explored the topic of decision making from the patient’s and the professional’s viewpoints in a series of seminars, workshops and informal knowledge-sharing sessions.
(l-r) Jim Kothe, Oticon VP Sales; Marija Baranauskas, Director of Education and Training; Laura Shiplett, Manager, Oticon Pediatrics; Rasmus Borsting, Executive Director; Sally Hogshead, keynote speaker; Don Schum, VP of Audiology and Professional Relations and Oticon President Peer Lauritsen.
“When it comes to hearing health, probably no decision is more important than deciding to address hearing difficulties with a visit to a qualified hearing care professional,” says Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. “That first decision opens a world of possibilities for better hearing and even more decisions. This weekend, we aim to provide insight and practical tools to enable hearing care professionals to make decisions easier and more rewarding for clients, whether they are first time or experienced users.”
In the conference’s opening session, Barry Schwartz, PhD, a professor of psychology at Swarthmore College and author of the best-selling The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, discussed the paralysis that sets in when clients have too many choices, such as those available in today’s modern hearing solutions. Schwartz showed conference participants how the wisdom that comes from an experienced and skilled hearing care professional can help patients move to action and make satisfying choices.
Sally Hogshead, author of FASCINATE: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation and personal branding expert, helped participants to capitalize on their own “natural hardwired advantages” to gain client respect and inspire them to positive action.
A series of workshops looked at additional ways to generate client satisfaction through highly personalized fitting processes now available in a wider range of premium and advanced choices, including the Inium-based Oticon Alta and new Oticon Nera families. Participants were also introduced to Oticon Sensei, Oticon’s newest dedicated pediatric solution that features innovative technologies to empower parents and caregivers to better address the everyday practicalities of growing up with hearing loss.
“This year’s Human Link Conference accented the human side of what hearing care professionals do every day - putting the needs of people with hearing loss first,” says Lauritsen. “With new technologies and processes, we aim to make hearing health an easy choice for more clients than ever, providing solutions that can be personalized to each individual’s unique hearing needs and preferences.”
For more information about hearing health, Oticon Alta and Oticon Nera, visit oticonusa.com or the Oticon Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.
