Listen to this articleClearSounds is a women-owned company that develops a complete line of communication and audio products for individuals with hearing loss and anyone seeking a remarkable sound experience. Below is our interview with Michele Ahlman, President and CEO of ClearSounds:
Q: Michele, tell us something more about ClearSounds and your impact?
A: ClearSounds is a small women-owned business that is the product of “and what else” thinking. A little history – in 1980 my mom founded HITEC Group, the first distribution & catalog company offering technology for people with hearing loss; primarily people with profound hearing loss. As you can imagine, in the early 80s there was not much “consumer technology” to begin with, even less that helped people with profound hearing loss. We offered products such as flashing light signalers to alert someone the phone was ringing or the smoke detector was going off. Also included in this analog-era mix were TTYs, amplified telephone handsets and closed caption decoders for the TV. By 1990, HITEC was the largest distributor of special communication equipment in the US representing the growing number of manufacturers entering the market as a result of Boomers reaching the age when all those rock concerts started taking a toll on aging ears. I was Vice President of Sales & Operations In 2000 when my dad, who was Executive Vice President of HITEC at the time, began to experience a rapid decline in his hearing as a result of noise exposure in the military; the tepid rate of innovation in our industry was obnoxious. With a vision & passion I decided to branch into product design & manufacturing because we thought, “Ok we are doing a remarkable job serving the needs of our customer base through service, knowledge, flexibility & products but seriously – are these products really the best we can do?“ This was the “and what else” thinking that motivated us to launch ClearSounds Communications. Within a year, we had developed a complete line of products for people with hearing & vision loss. Our line included amplified phones with all the same bells & whistles available in top of the line phones at the time, alarm clocks, signaling devices, neckloops & Infrared headsets. We continue to generate new ideas, being the first to introduce new technologies as we build on our line of Bluetooth devices.
ClearSounds is more than just a company name. It is our mission; to deliver clear sounds to every person young, old or in-between. Unlike vision loss, hearing loss involves the interaction between people. It impacts relationships. It impacts people’s perceptions of us and our perceptions of self. When untreated, it eats away at self-esteem. Unlike any other disability, it is insidious and pervasive. It affects the core of who we are as the effect of hearing loss deeply impacts every single interaction we have. The truth is, that freaks people out. Let’s face it – getting old still freaks most people out. And the “old-fart” stereotype still exists – a recent Taco Bell ad featured a couple of old codgers tooling around in their power chairs with their big ol’hearing aids obnoxiously obvious. Combine the fear of getting old along with the stereotype of hearing loss that still exists…well, that’s hardly inspiring and it certainly does not motivate people to take action.
So, what are we doing about this? We start by having an honest conversation with people. We frame the conversation around our products and solutions based on these key facts:
1) Hearing loss does not discriminate based on age: reported hearing loss affects over 15% of the population including children. 1 in 5 teens today experience some levels of hearing loss. (How’s this for irony? – We have no problem accessorizing our heads with devices that will blow our hearing, but once we’ve destroyed those hair cells in our ears and can no longer hear well, it takes us an average of 7 years to finally accessorize our heads with devices that allow us to hear again. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.)
2) Hearing loss is NOT harmless: Studies done by Johns Hopkins Medical Center, the National Institutes of Health and the National Council on Aging show that untreated hearing loss is a contributor to other very serious medical conditions. Their research reveals that people with untreated hearing loss have:
- A 500% greater probability of developing onsets of Alzheimer’s of dementia
- A 36% greater probability of poor physical health
- A 57% greater probability of poor mental or emotional health
- The National Council on Aging studies report significantly higher incidences of:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Loneliness and isolationist behaviors
3) Better hearing is not only possible with technology that offers a “cool-factor”; it is not going to drain your bank account.
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Q: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned since founding your company?
A: Leadership matters. Gratitude matters. Our greatest sense of pride and gratitude comes with the responses and comments we receive daily from customers. We know we’re having a positive impact when a customer calls in tears not out of frustration or anger but because they haven’t felt so supported or respected in a long time. We work with people, who in many cases, are disregarded, ignored and just treated poorly because they have difficulty hearing. We live by a set of principles that acknowledges people as unique gifts and treats each and every person with that level of care. We believe that respect pays forward and is how you make lasting and positive impact.
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Q: What advantage does ClearSounds have over its competitors?
A: First, a lack of fear. Fear paralyzes people and companies. Fear causes great minds to make sketchy decisions. Our “industry”, so-to-speak, is small compared to others. Although almost 20% of the population experiences hearing loss, around 3-5% of those people actually do something about it. Everyone basically knows each other. I would consider most of our competitors friends. They just don’t have the gonads we do. That’s not to say we are reckless. We are highly aware and we move cautiously when the ‘spideysenses’tingle. Our team has a unique connectedness that affords us the confidence to make things happen, which means we move faster, innovate more and stay ahead of the curve.
Q: What were the main challenges you faced in developing the company?
A: The challenges are more related to the growth of the company than the early development of the company. In a small company, you juggle a lot of balls. Your mind gets pulled in many directions and you have to fight the urge to give in to frustration. On my business card, I proclaim the title Company Cheerleader. That is by far, my greatest challenge and my greatest reward.
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Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Keep on rockin’ it! We recently launched another company, ClearDigital Media. This company has taken all of our learning in working with audiologists and hearing dispensers and created two remarkable programs: one for point-of-care patient engagement and one for physician’s waiting room marketing. ClearDigital Media has experienced a growth rate of nearly 200% over the past 2 years and we are excited to see what will come next.
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