So I have been telling patients when they purchase their hearing instruments that the serial number is connected to their name and to our clinic. In the event that the hearing aid is lost, hypothetically we hope that the device lands in the hands of someone who knows to take it to an Audiologist to determine the owner of the device. In 99% of my lost hearing aid cases, the devices are lost forever and we never hear anything about them again.
Until this past Saturday….
I follow the Doylestown Police department on facebook and received an interesting comment from them while I was at a wedding. Apparently, earlier that day, a hearing aid was located in the restroom at the Doylestown Park and they were reaching out to try to find the owner. I immediately sent back that if they had a serial number and manufacture name on the side of the hearing aid, then I would be able to help. Within several hours I got a response back and, by Monday morning, was able to notify the VA that one of their Veterans had lost his hearing aid and that it had been recovered by the Doylestown police department. The VA will notify the patient and all will be well.
After my conversation with the Doylestown police department all I kept saying to myself is “Oh my gosh, it actually worked!!” My only regret is that Phonak was not open until Monday. That way I could have notified the patient on Saturday, and probably save the poor guy from worrying about his lost aid the rest of the weekend!!
happy ending 🙂
Nice post Kristie and great work in helping the Doylestown Police Dept find the hearing aid wearers owner! Yes, it’s great when “it works” like it should in using the serial number!
Rich
I am sure they were impressed as well.
I love this for so many reasons! I love that you were able to help someone and save them from having to buy a new hearing aid but I also love that I learned something new from this myself. Now, if I ever find a hearing aid, I will know that there is hope to find the owner and I will know exactly what to do. I hope others will see your story and learn this as well since I had no idea that you could help find the owner until I started working here.