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"Launching Hearing PROmotions" by
Lorraine Fanizza.
I’d have to say my busiiness really picked me out of my
frustrations with my own hearing loss. I grew up wiith a moderate hearing loss in
both ears at a time when there weren’t any roll models, except my dad who
simply ignored or denied his own loss. (There wasn’t much help back then anyhow) so I
couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong, let alone what to do about it. This
"invisible condition" affected me socially, emotionally and later economically.
I received my first hearing aid after high school, then sometime later, my
hearing aid dispenser started a support group and introduced some technology that could
work with my hearing aids and enhance my listening range. Afterwhile I started researching
everything I could; hearing devices, ear health, the law relating to hearing loss
including the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I decided to organize all this
and put this information into a publication that could also help others. After using
different hearing devices I settled on a few of my favorites and began sharing these with
friends. These simple devices where making such a difference for me and my friends that I
saw a hugh need for them in the community.
Most of the problems I had in launching my business, then and now, come
from the social stigma that has been so strong to the point that many of us experiencing
hearing difficulties continued to deny our own hearing needs. I’ve been actively
offering Assistive Listening Devices and information for years, presenting group
demonstrations and hands on experiences. In the beginning many times I’d hear,
"Oh, I’m fine.", or " I don’t need anything." or
"I’m not that bad yet". My business has been pretty slow going.
The hearing devices I offer help individuals in their personnal
everyday life, but these same devices also assists businesses in helping their employees
participate more fully, assists schools in helping their students understand their
teachers better, assists hospitals in having an easier time communicating with their
patients, plus, places of worship are offering these devices for their people, hotels and
places of entertainment for their guests, etc, etc They have been understandably reluctant
in the past, not knowing what to expect, although by law they were suppose to provide
assistance. Now today, I hear this more often instead, "thank you, these devices are
great". or "Now hearing the speaker so much easier and better". "This
is so fabulous wish this was available years ago." I’ve sat with people where
we’ve both shared a range of; amazement, to tears of joy, to big smiles just from
being relieved of the frustration.
How do I sell to customers who will not admit they could use some help? Whether it’s
a business or an individual, I look at what will work for them and try to let them
experience the difference. I just keep sharing. The most difficult part of my business is
the still remaining remnant of the social stigma regarding hearing loss, I understand it,
afterall I lived it for most of my life. But, I know I just have to constantly keep
putting the information and help out there. I’m venturing out into pretty new
territory so my priorities are not set but flow instead, as the need changes. If something
is missing, I try to create it.
People expect an awful lot from their hearing aids, the little miracles that
they are and thank heaven for them. But when it’s just too noisy, as life often is,
or when the distance is too great that is where these hearing devices shine, bringing that
voice right to our ear cutting down on the background noise and helping with the distance
problem.
I don’t believe I could have done anything different given the
circumstances, and now with information, technology, and supportive people, everyday is
better. I’m making a difference in my life as well as many, many others and this
makes me happy. |
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