Attorney General Alan Wilson recognizes National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is encouraging all South Carolina law enforcement and members of the military to get their hearing checked by a qualified professional and also warning all consumers to be aware of misleading sales tactics.

Nearly 50 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, including nearly 15% of South Carolinians.

“Now that National Speech-Language-Hearing Month is here, this is a reminder to take 30 minutes out of your day and schedule a hearing test and learn about ways to protect your hearing, especially our senior citizens, law enforcement personnel, and military veterans. As a Colonel in the National Guard, I know how important it is for our men and women in a time of war to take care to protect their hearing. Moreover, all consumers need to be mindful of unlawful and misleading products on the market,” Attorney General Wilson states. “We are seeing more and more companies attempt to sell hearing aids that are not approved by the FDA or contain a misleading registration.”

Attorney General Wilson advises consumers to remember these five tips before buying hearing aids:

1. Oftentimes, over-the-counter, direct-to-consumer hearing aids are of poor quality and may not work properly for those with hearing loss.
2. Research the seller with the Better Business Bureau before you purchase the product. Be skeptical of online reviews and endorsements.
3. Know your cancellation and refund rights. Pay attention to the timeframes and conditions for returns and refunds.
4. Prioritize getting a hearing screening and opinion from a hearing professional who can tell you what type of hearing device will work for you.
5. Finally, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is!