Dr. Melanie Vanderpol

Should You Buy Hearing Aids from a Big Box Store or a Local Audiologist? What Idaho Families Should Know By Melanie Vanderpol, Au.D – Joy Mobile Audiology Hearing Aids Are a Big Decision — And the Options Can Feel Overwhelming More than ever, people in Idaho are asking: " Should we buy hearing aids from a big box store like Costco, or should we work with a local audiologist?” Both options can help people hear better, but the experience, expertise, and long-term results can be very different....

If you’ve ever felt hesitant about seeking help for your hearing, you’re not alone. Many adults — especially older adults and their families — have had experiences that left them confused, pressured, or unsure whom to trust. Unfortunately, the hearing industry has a wide range of providers with very different levels of training, and the quality of care can vary dramatically. Recently, a retirement community here in Idaho shared with me that they’d had providers behave unethically in their...