1 in 5 Americans Suffer from Hearing Loss
New Berlin, WI, November 18, 2024 – Wisconsin Vision, the state’s largest independent vision care provider and retailer, announced today it has launched hearing services statewide. The services, including free hearing screening testing, free virtual appointments with licensed hearing professionals, and affordable hearing aids, will be available at all of its 26 Wisconsin locations by the end of the month.
The new hearing services follow the FDA’s approval of over the counter sales of hearing aids, allowing consumers with mild to moderate hearing loss to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers without the need for a medical exam or prescription.
“Hearing loss is one of the public’s leading chronic health conditions with more than 40 million American adults reporting some form of hearing loss. Yet, the typical patient waits about 10 years from the time they notice a hearing problem until they do something about it,” said Wisconsin Vision President and CEO Darren Horndasch. “We want to make it easy and cost effective for our patients and customers to get the care and treatment they and their families need.”
Wisconsin Vision has partnered with MDHearing, a leading virtual hearing care provider and manufacturer of affordable, FDA-registered hearing aids. Their devices utilize the newest technology to minimize background noise while enhancing sound with exceptional clarity.
Using an iPad and headphones, the free hearing screening takes less than 10 minutes. Patients then schedule a free virtual appointment with an MDHearing licensed professional to discuss results and next steps, including hearing aid options if needed. While the average price of hearing aids typically cost $2,500, MDHearing/Wisconsin Vision hearing aids range between $300 to $600.
Wisconsin Vision first launched hearing services this summer at its six Illinois Eye Boutique locations following a successful spring pilot and started to introduce the new services in Wisconsin last month. To date, the provider has conducted about 700 hearing screenings. Wisconsin Vision plans to add hearing services at its Indiana Heartland Vision locations later this year.
A Growing Portfolio of Virtual Care Services
The new hearing services are the latest in a line of growing virtual care offerings from Wisconsin Vision. They also provide comprehensive telehealth eye exams performed remotely by licensed optometrists at nine of their locations in the Milwaukee/Waukesha, Madison and Fox Valley metro areas. Since it first introduced Tele-Optometry in late 2021, Wisconsin Vision has performed nearly 28,000 virtual exams and now averages about 400 monthly.
“Patient convenience and demand have been the top drivers,” Horndasch said. “With remote exams, appointments are available during open hours at the same fee as traditional exams and covered by most insurances.”
Telehealth exams will be among the additional services offered at Wisconsin Vision’s new and expanded location, opening today in The Corners of Brookfield. The provider first moved to The Corners in 2017 with a 1,900 square-foot site on Market Street. Wisconsin Vision has relocated to a more visible location on Union Street with over 2,400 square-feet of space. With the larger space needed to provide telehealth exams, Wisconsin Vision patients will be able to schedule appointments during evening and weekend hours, including Sundays.
The telehealth exams have supported Wisconsin Vision growth and maintained its ability to serve patients amidst an industry shortage of optometrists. Horndasch leads a nationwide task force focused on the challenge.
