Dr Vass Hearing Clinic in Deakin, Australian Capital Territory | Audiologist
Dr Vass Hearing Clinic
Locality: Deakin, Australian Capital Territory
Phone: +61 2 6282 2717
Address: Suite 14 John James Medical Centre, 175 Strickland Crescent 2600 Deakin, Australian Capital Territory
Website: http://drvasshearing.com.au
Likes: 108
Reviews
to load big map
24.01.2022 What are we really paying for when we go for the lowest price possible? Big hearing aid companies are driven by sales. They are not driven by solutions. Their practitioners are paid to make targets and to push clients into buying their products, whether or not they actually need them. This is greed before need, and Australian patients are losing when we choose a saved dollar over our hearing health. To find out more, follow this link - https://www.drvasshearing.com.au/no-competition-big-compan/ Image via Pinterest.
22.01.2022 It seems theres no limit to what some companies will do to make a quick buck. This week we have had several people contact our office, regarding a letter they have received offering a free hearing assessment and free hearing aids valued at $7,000.00, replaced every five years!. Sounds too good to be true? Yep, we made some calls to clarify a few things. Heres what we found out: - Its not as simple as it sounds, surprisingly, there is a long process involved and you may... or may not qualify for the next stage! - These schemes are not government related (as they would lead you to believe) - Ask too many questions and you will receive some very vague answers, I couldnt get to the bottom of it. After speaking with one company in particular, I am still unsure as to how they operate and what they are offering, however, it was clear the motive was financial. The old marketing practice of buying a data base, sending letters and cold calling people, must still work (it seems to be happening regularly). However, it seems to be most effective when they target people of a trusting nature. This really makes us mad! If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. If you have had a similar experience, we would love to hear about it. See more
22.01.2022 BUYER BEWARE: There is no doubt that large corporations are taking advantage of the rising hearing aid market, and patients are increasingly suffering for it. At least once a week I see a patient who has been sold hearing aids, that are well beyond their needs and their budget. Yesterday, a lady came into our practice, and explained that she had just purchased hearing aids from another provider, at the cost of $5,000.00, only to find out (too late) she qualifies for the government scheme, and is entitled to FREE hearing aids. If you have any questions regarding your entitlements please contact my office on - 02 6282 2717 or go to our website for further information drvasshearing.com.au
20.01.2022 ‘89 Year Old Pensioner Robbed of $15,000.’ Were the police called??? No, because this crime took place in a business not on the street. Every day people are being ‘sold’ hearing aids they either don’t need or can’t afford because of greed. Let me say as a clinician who’s been around a long time, no pair of hearing aids is worth $15,000. There is no independent research that disputes this statement but people are told they must spend big to solve their hearing problems. There... is no regulation in Australia of hearing aid sales. Anyone can sell hearing aids and there has been an increase in the use of salespeople instead of clinicians. Added to this fact, over 85% of hearing aids are sold by eight companies, many of the these companies are manufacturing the hearing aids and then selling them through their own retail chains. Imagine a drug company owning your local chemist. I’m fed up with people getting robbed and government doing nothing to stop it. Hearing impairment is marginalized or ignored by government. NDIS is a great example of this (you have to be very hard of hearing to qualify) or consider the House of Representatives Committee’s Still Waiting to Be Heard report. Of the report’s 22 recommendations only one recommendation was accepted. Looks like we’re still waiting to be heard!!!! Perhaps it’s time for the hearing impaired citizens of Australia to come to Canberra to protest. Maybe showing up to support reform is the only way we will finally be heard.
20.01.2022 Our practice has the honour of servicing many amazing people, Mr Cook is no exception. He is such a delight to have as one of patients (not just for the amazing fresh fruit and vegetables he brings us from his own garden), but also for his sunny disposition and wonderful insight into life. He is a true gentleman.
19.01.2022 At Dr Vass Hearing we believe in putting patients before profits.
19.01.2022 A common complaint in my industry, patients who feel their clinician isnt listening to what they say...
19.01.2022 https://www.accc.gov.au//leading-australian-hearing-clinic I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend and is feeling refreshed. This came to my attention over the weekend and once again I am grateful to the ACCC for their focus on the hearing industry.
19.01.2022 Dr Vass is answering questions today on Instastories today - He has been quizzed on many subjects from his sales stance, hearing questions and even how many cats does he own!
18.01.2022 Everybody has the right to be heard! It is important that we feel comfortable enough to speak up. #patientsbeforeprofits image via Pinterest.
17.01.2022 Our commitment to the environment - every little bit helps. Why should batteries be recycled? Despite most batteries being considered hazardous waste, less than 3% of all household batteries purchased in Australia are recycled every year. Toxic metals can contaminate groundwater and soil and can have disastrous effects for the future. At Dr Vass, weve embarked on a new initiative to encourage people in Canberra to bring in their old hearing aid batteries for recycling. Sim...ply bring your old batteries to us and well handle the rest. To find out more, visit our journal: https://www.drvasshearing.com.au/saving-our-environment-on/
16.01.2022 Dr Vass welcomes the ACCCs action against a large hearing aid retailer for misleading advertisements targeting pensioners. https://www.accc.gov.au//accc-takes-action-against-hearing Once again this highlights the need for those indivduals requiring hearing services to know their rights. - Always seek out an independent practioner - Always ask questions regarding their motives... - Are they being paid commisions or do they need to met sales targets? - Who owns the company? If in doubt of your rights you can call our practice on 02 6282 2717 for clarification. We are happy to assist! You can access the full report here: https://www.accc.gov.au//accc-takes-action-against-hearing Dr Vass is an independent doctor of audiology and has been proudly serving the Canberra region for over 20 years.
15.01.2022 Who's ready for the weekend? We will be closed this coming Tuesday (3 July) but we will be open during our normal hours for the rest of the week. Call us on 6282 2717 to make an appointment or to schedule a quick aid check-up. Image via Pinterest.
14.01.2022 What do you hear? Yanny or Laurel? Dr Vass hears Laurel, but many hear Yanny. Dr Vass has been talking extensively on ABC radio, Australia wide in the last 24 hours, as to why we hear different words. Regardless of which word you hear, this topic has divided the internet.
14.01.2022 This is exactly what I've been talking about!!!! Have a listen and please share this post.
13.01.2022 If you have a set of headphones handy try this virtual barber shop experience. This recording, produced by Q Sound Labs, is a wonderful example of a binaural (meaning hearing with both ears) recording. According to the Binaural Airwaves Blog, ...it is the most perceptually realistic recording technique in the world for humans. By capturing sound the way we hear as humans, our brains can most easily understand the subtle complexity of the sound and make sense of it. So find a quiet spot to listen, put your headphones on and close your eyes.
12.01.2022 At Dr Vass Hearing we are very aware of the impact our industry has on the environment. The amount of packaging and promotional material that come with our products is disgraceful. As part of our commitment to reducing the waste we now offer a drop off box in our practice for used hearing aid batteries. Simply bring them to our office and we will dispose them thoughtfully. Image via Pinterest
10.01.2022 May is Better Hearing Month, and in an effort to raise awareness for hearing health and highlight the importance of hearing as a social sense, Dr Vass is offering comprehensive hearing assessments for only $75.00 (usually $145.00). This offer is valid until May 31st 2018. To make an appointment please contact our office on 6282 2717 or visit our website and click on the make an appointment tab. The video below is courtesy of the American Academy of Audiology.
10.01.2022 Happy chilly Monday. What better way to start the week than with some wise words from C.S. Lewis. via Pinterest
09.01.2022 Wow!! I had a patient in for a second opinion this week who said she had recently been to a hearing aid shop where the salesperson told her that if she didnt get hearing aids, then she would develop dementia. Wow. I was really amazed that anyone would make such a comment, but this patient is not the first person to have told me this story. There is a correlation between cognitive decline and hearing loss. It is well documented that hearing loss can lead to depression, anxiet...y, isolation and that hearing loss is linked to dementia and Alzheimers Disease as a risk factor. However, if you have hearing loss it does not automatically mean that you will develop dementia or Alzheimers Disease. What motives a salesperson to make such a claim? The answer is money. If you can scare a person into believing they will develop dementia or Alzheimers Disease, then you probably have a sale and you will receive thousands of dollars in sales commission. Hopefully, people will not fall for such unethical sales tactics. If you, or anyone you know is told this lie, you need to have nothing more to do with this salesperson and seek qualified and professional advice. See more
09.01.2022 How does this make you feel? Last week, I was approached by a patient looking for a second opinion. The week prior she had been to a retail hearing aid store in her local shopping centre, hoping to get some advice regarding her hearing loss. As a pensioner, she should have been able to claim free hearing aids as part of the Australian Governments hearing loss scheme under the Office of Hearing Services, but when she inquired about the program she was told by the salesperson that the government-issued hearing aids were of poor quality and inadequate for her needs. To find out more follow this link - https://www.drvasshearing.com.au/upselling-hearing-loss-re/
09.01.2022 89 Year Old Pensioner Robbed of $15,000. Were the police called??? No, because this crime took place in a business not on the street. Every day people are being sold hearing aids they either dont need or cant afford because of greed. Let me say as a clinician whos been around a long time, no pair of hearing aids is worth $15,000. There is no independent research that disputes this statement but people are told they must spend big to solve their hearing problems. There... is no regulation in Australia of hearing aid sales. Anyone can sell hearing aids and there has been an increase in the use of salespeople instead of clinicians. Added to this fact, over 85% of hearing aids are sold by eight companies, many of the these companies are manufacturing the hearing aids and then selling them through their own retail chains. Imagine a drug company owning your local chemist. Im fed up with people getting robbed and government doing nothing to stop it. Hearing impairment is marginalized or ignored by government. NDIS is a great example of this (you have to be very hard of hearing to qualify) or consider the House of Representatives Committees Still Waiting to Be Heard report. Of the reports 22 recommendations only one recommendation was accepted. Looks like were still waiting to be heard!!!! Perhaps its time for the hearing impaired citizens of Australia to come to Canberra to protest. Maybe showing up to support reform is the only way we will finally be heard.
09.01.2022 Dr Vass welcomes the ACCC's action against a large hearing aid retailer for misleading advertisements targeting pensioners. https://www.accc.gov.au//accc-takes-action-against-hearing Once again this highlights the need for those indivduals requiring hearing services to know their rights. - Always seek out an independent practioner - Always ask questions regarding their motives... - Are they being paid commisions or do they need to met sales targets? - Who owns the company? If in doubt of your rights you can call our practice on 02 6282 2717 for clarification. We are happy to assist! You can access the full report here: https://www.accc.gov.au//accc-takes-action-against-hearing Dr Vass is an independent doctor of audiology and has been proudly serving the Canberra region for over 20 years.
09.01.2022 1978 a young William Vass graduated from West Virginia University and began working in the hearing industry. He may have swapped the brown corduroy suit and flares for a slim cut pant, with a tailored shirt, but his push for more transparency in the industry hasnt changed. #celebrating40years image via pinterest.
09.01.2022 If something is not right, speak up. Quote via pinterest
09.01.2022 No act of kindness, no matter how small is wasted.
08.01.2022 When greed takes over. All too often I hear stories of veterans being ripped off by hearing clinics and this needs to stop. In a blatant attempt to get sales our service people are not being told of their entitlements, or they are up sold (also referred to as a top-up) expensive hearing aids they simply dont need. You see, the Commonwealth Government has a scheme for our veterans which includes assistance for hearing loss. To read this journal entry in full you can follow this link - https://www.drvasshearing.com.au/when-greed-takes-over/
07.01.2022 40 years in the industry and I still love what I do, this weeks journal post is on my thoughts regarding the current state of the hearing industry. https://www.drvasshearing.com.au/my-thoughts-as-i-enter-my/
07.01.2022 When a puppy meets a hearing aid!!! A dog might be mans best friend but dogs and hearing aids often dont get along. Its always a good idea to put hearing aids in a safe (dog proof) place.
07.01.2022 Our practice will open a little late on Monday, around 12:00 pm, as Dr Vass has some media releases to attend to and we all need to be there. But for now, have a wonderful weekend.
05.01.2022 Celebrating 40 years in the hearing industry.
05.01.2022 Listen, learn, and do good. Happy weekend, everybody, and well see you again on Monday!
05.01.2022 What people say about us matters. My latest journal entry is about the importance of stepping outside of our practice and looking at our business through the patients lens. At Dr Vass Hearing we are always keen to hear what our patients have to say about us and theirs experiences. Its amazing what you can learn if you are prepared to listen. https://www.drvasshearing.com.au/a-patients-perspective/
05.01.2022 Dr Vass talking all things hearing. So much knowledge to share after 40 years in the industry.
04.01.2022 At Dr Vass Hearing we our committed to our company values - 1. Honesty 2. Integrity 3. Compassion - all day, everyday.
04.01.2022 Im attending the American Academy of Audiology in Nashville Tennessee. Ive been a Fellow of the Academy for many years and really enjoy getting together with colleagues. There are over 5000 attendees and much of the meeting is about rehabilitation and diagnostics.
03.01.2022 Whos ready for the weekend? We will be closed this coming Tuesday (3 July) but we will be open during our normal hours for the rest of the week. Call us on 6282 2717 to make an appointment or to schedule a quick aid check-up. Image via Pinterest.
01.01.2022 Four days at the Audiology Australia conference in Sydney. Some great lectures and always good to get together with colleagues.
01.01.2022 Happy International Cat Day for yesterday! I have many cat questions on my instagram page
