Innovation

Advanced Audiology dispenses hearing aids to residents within the New York Metro area and assists people with hearing loss and vestibular disorders. In addition to hearing solutions and vestibular disorders, Advanced Audiology distributes custom-molded in-ear monitors for professionals in the music industry. The goal of their practice is to provide customers with the best possible hearing care based upon their individual needs. Services provided include diagnosis, rehabilitation, and prevention of hearing impairment.

Dominick Servedio and Barbara Grossman, Co-Founders of Advanced Audiology, have taken the necessary steps to implement an environment centered around the betterment of people’s lives on a day-to-day basis. In addition, Advanced Audiology has done tremendous work to provide individuals with financial strains an opportunity to receive audiological assistance. Aside from helping those with financial strains, Advanced Audiology has pioneered how audiological equipment is reused, reduced, and recycled.

On this topic, Dr. Servedio stated:

“Advanced Audiology has developed a recycling and reconditioning program for donated hearing aids which are refurbished and provided to hearing-impaired individuals who qualify at little to no cost. Through our affiliation with the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund, a registered 501 C-3 nonprofit organization that provides the donor with a letter that can be used as a tax deduction as a charitable donation. Aside from the benefits for the hearing-impaired community and the hearing aid donor, the environment is also protected since the electronic components and plastics are kept out of the landfills.”

Aside from helping those with financial strains, Advanced Audiology has implemented a hearing aid recycling program within their office. This allows patients a convenient and easy way to dispose of batteries which keeps chemical waste out of the environment.

Discussing possible hearing solutions with the community.

Inspiration

Dr. Servedio and Dr. Grossman both noted that, “Since opening our doors in October of 2003, we have always been a company that believed in being a good corporate citizen to both our employees and clients.” Their biggest inspiration was the ongoing need for affordable hearing solutions, especially in underdeveloped areas or those with financial hardships. As mentioned previously, Dr. Servedio has partnered with the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund which provides hearing aids to individuals that otherwise could not afford the cost of hearing aids.

On this topic and the process of donating old hearing aids, Dr. Servedio stated: “The foundation takes used hearing aids, has them refurbished, and gives them to people who are prescreened and qualify for assistance. If you or someone you know has unused hearing aids, you can mail or drop them off at our office. We will then evaluate the condition of the aids to determine if they meet the foundation's requirements. If they qualify, we will ship them to the foundation and then the donor will receive a donation certificate. This allows us and the community to be an integral part of making the difference in the life of a person with a hearing disability.”

On Advanced Audiology’s website, there is a submission link form to be completed for those who would like to donate their unused hearing aids. In addition, Dr. Servedio has discussed the importance of donating hearing aids in an online seminar with Justin Osmond, the CEO, and founder of the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund.

Overall impact

Advanced Audiology is dedicated to making a difference in improving the quality of life for those that may be financially challenged, by doing so they are closing the inequality gap. This is accomplished through their recycling and reconditioning program in which they donate refurbished hearing aids to hearing-impaired individuals who qualify at little to no cost. Providing quality hearing aids to the deaf and hard of hearing allows them to be all they can be, by promoting lifelong learning opportunities and opening the educational doors that would not be accessible without such innovation. Hearing loss can impact one’s success on the job, reducing earning potential, Advanced Audiology gives persons the opportunity to maintain their productivity. Advanced Audiology is changing the lives of many daily allowing them to fully participate in society communicate better and gain control over their life. “You hear better, you live better.” The testimonials found on The Olive Osmond Hearing Fund’s page prove that this innovation is positively impacting the lives of many who are unable to afford it on their own.

The zinc-air batteries, as well as other hearing aid batteries, contain levels of mercury, which should never be tossed in landfills. This initiative prevents the incineration or release of these batteries into landfills where mercury and other toxic substances can cause environmental harm, affecting air and water quality. This ensures healthy lives and promotes well-being for all at all ages. These toxic chemicals found in batteries have been linked to severe medical issues like developmental & neurological damage and congenital disabilities. According to the Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry, toxic metals like nickel and cadmium found in batteries are known human carcinogens that acts as an agent that causes cancer. When these agents interact with our air and water, we risk developing cancerous disabilities. Other businesses have also followed in their direction of battery recycling, understanding that it is important for human health and the environment in the long run.

Business benefit

Advanced Audiology’s recycling program is beneficial for consumers and for the business. By providing the general public with the hardware they need to hear, more citizens of New York are experiencing a gift that many take for granted. Being able to hear better for the hearing impaired is a benefit paralleled to none, as this sense is used every second of every day. Advanced Audiology is giving back to the community by helping the hearing impaired, which is not just beneficial for the public, but valuable for the business as well.

By providing recycled hearing aids to the less fortunate, Advanced Audiology receives positive feedback from customers. The selfless gift of hearing benefits the business in that positive word of mouth is spread from all the people that have been helped. A company that gives back to the community is a company that the community wants to support and pledge their business to. Because the business helps the community, many good things have come about. People who would not have the resources to get a hearing aid are receiving the device, opening up new opportunities for them as well.

Aside from helping the community and receiving positive feedback from the public, this endeavor also helps the environment. Recycling and reusing products keeps them out of landfills, which is beneficial to our environment. This is also good for business, as many companies are stressing the importance of Environmental Social Governance (ESG). Businesses across the globe are making attempts to use less and produce less waste. Advanced Audiology is contributing towards this initiative by recycling/reusing, and that positively affects their business.

Social and environmental benefit

Advanced Audiology is giving the gift of hearing to those that cannot afford the proper treatment. In a capitalist market, not everyone gets the same treatment when it comes to healthcare. The system that the United States has requires investment into a plan. Not every citizen of the country has the same access to healthcare benefits and that can cause disparities. Advanced Audiology is trying to limit this disparity by giving all patients the gift of hearing, especially those who cannot afford it. By giving back to the community, Advanced Audiology is positively benefitting society. Every day through this initiative, a patient experiences a life-changing gift that they can then use to positively influence the world around them. Giving the less fortunate the gift of hearing is a noble endeavor and positively changes the world for every hearing aid that gets recycled.

Along with helping the community and the people around us, Advanced Audiology also helps our environment. By recycling and reusing hearing aids, these devices are kept out of landfills. These devices, which usually are made of plastic, can take decades to decompose which is a detriment to the environment. Every hearing aid that gets recycled is a hearing aid that avoids sitting in a landfill. Also, by recycling devices, less are produced in the factory. With less production, there is less waste coming from the factory. Thanks to Advanced Audiology’s initiative, people are given the gift of hearing without causing any negative externalities to the environment.

Interviews

Barbara Grossman, Co- Founder

Dominick Servedio, Co-Founder