Pristine Hearing Aid Solutions is a one-stop shop for hearing aids and service, and lucky for us, they recently leased office space at 13610 Washington Street in the Business Complex between Pizza Shoppe and Liston Insurance Agency in Martin City!
“This is a really exciting time for us,” says Kerby Ball, Pristine’s Owner and Hearing Instrument Specialist. “We looked at several options around the city and this location seemed to fit everything we were looking for.” Pristine just recently opened their doors after several months of redeveloping the space.
“When you experience hearing loss, things that don’t seem like they matter, matter,” says Ball. Because of that, we wanted to make sure we designed a space that feels comfortable for everyone, hearing or not.” The ceiling has been completely remodeled to add padding for sound buffering and acoustics.
It’s often easier to have a conversation in your own home rather than in a busy restaurant and the difference is usually in the acoustics. The worse the acoustics are, the more difficult it is for a hearing aid wearer to hear. Even the best hearing aids will not cope satisfactorily in surroundings where the acoustics are poor and “we don’t want people to have that experience here,” says Ball. The walls have been buffered for sound, and the addition of a large wall behind the front desk in the lobby also acts as a sound buffer between the front and back office noise.
Glass has been installed in all the doors to give clients a sense of safety. “Many people don’t realize how uncomfortable it can be for a person who is hard of hearing to sit in an office where they cannot see or hear what is happening on the other side of the door,” says Ball. “We want them to see what we see so no one feels left out.”
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in the United States, affecting more than nine million Americans over the age of 65, and 10 million Americans age 45 to 64. “And it isn’t just the person with the hearing loss that’s affected,” says Ball. “Family relationships can be strained when loved ones who are unable to engage in conversation seem distant or uninterested. This can contribute to misunderstandings, causing both parties to retreat from one another. As an individual begins to fear social interaction because of their hearing loss, they begin to withdraw, leaving friends and family feeling rejected and hurt. This often escalates into depression, anxiety and paranoia.”
Ball knows first hand what that feels like as he has been experiencing hearing problems since the age of 4 years old. He was 23 years old when he was issued his first hearing aid and said he was unaware of all he had been missing without it. “You learn to compensate when you can’t hear because you don’t want anyone to know, and you don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable,” says Ball.
One of the reasons Ball says people keep hearing loss to themselves is the stigma of being labeled deaf, or old, or somehow less intelligent. Hearing loss is still perceived as an old people’s affliction, even though research from around the world tells us something else.
“There is nothing to hide or be ashamed of,” says Ball. “Hearing loss is a very common condition and does not only affect old people. We need to do a better job of educating normal hearing people on how to communicate with those of us who are hard of hearing, and take away some of the stigma.”
Pristine Hearing Aid Solutions specializes in diagnosing and treating all kinds of hearing loss. There is no charge for an office visit and/or hearing screening, and they carry hearing aids from all the top manufacturers.
“Hearing aids are very service oriented and we know people sometimes have to go out of their way to find a service center,” says Ball. “We can service all brands right here on site, and every purchase comes with lifetime free service.”
All hearing aids include a free trial and affordable payment options are available for qualified applicants. Custom acoustical molds may be designed for musicians as well as hearing protection for hunters, factory workers, and construction workers.
Pristine plans to staff the new office with at least 3 full-time people in the next six months and will continue to invest in improvements in the space. We are thrilled to have them in Martin City and look forward to watching, and helping, the business grow!
For more information about hearing loss and hearing aids, please visit Pristine Hearing Aid Solutions website.
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