Miracle-Ear is celebrating 30 years of helping people hear the world around them.
Miracle-Ear has been servicing the citizens of Poplar Bluff at the current N. Westwood location for four years now, but for several years the business functioned out of the Kniebert Clinic office.
Hearing instrument specialist, Tom Wright said, “I’ve been doing this 15 and half years so I have seen a lot of changes in technology improving and making it easier to hear and understand, especially in noisy places.”
Wright is a lifelong resident of Southeast Missouri and began working with Miracle-Ear in 2018.
“Last year was the busiest year I have ever had and the last 12 months have been even busier,” said Wright.
He explained with COVID there were a lot of people who realized they had hearing loss because people were wearing a mask, and once the visual cues were gone they realized they could not understand people.
Hearing aid technology has advanced a lot throughout the years according to Wright. Patients can now Bluetooth cell phone calls and television to their hearing devices.
The Miracle-Ear foundation helps underprivileged people who are unable to get hearing aids.
“If a patient comes in and they don’t have insurance, they can’t afford hearing aids and they can’t get the financing we can run them through the foundation,” said Wright, “if they are a child there is no charge, for adults, there is a $150 fee, but for those who have trouble with that we also have the Lions Club and several other businesses that help.”
“My favorite part of working with Miracle-Ear is that everyone is family. When you come into a Miracle-Ear location, they go the extra mile for patients to ensure the best outcome which I find very important,” said Wright.