Why I Love Our Lifetime of Service Structure at Family Hearing
Please enjoy this article written by Ruth Goldenberg, an incredible audiology technician who just left the team to pursue graduate school at Northwestern University. We wish Ruth the best of luck in her educational pursuits — we just know she’ll go on to do great things!
One of my favorite parts about working at Family Hearing is our Lifetime of Service approach to providing care. When patients choose to invest in their hearing health with us, they don’t just walk out the door with hearing aids — they gain ongoing support for years to come. That includes unlimited follow-up appointments, which means I get to truly know the people I serve. Over my past 10 months at Family Hearing, this model has allowed me to form genuine connections with many of our patients, and that’s what makes my work feel so rewarding.
These follow-up visits are about more than just cleaning hearing aids or adjusting their Bluetooth settings — they’re opportunities to build relationships. One memorable moment came when I mentioned I hadn’t picked a Halloween costume yet, and a patient generously offered me some of their retired ballroom dance attire. It was such a sweet, unexpected gesture that made me feel part of the community we serve.
Another patient and I discovered a personal connection when, during their second visit, we realized they had grown up celebrating holidays with my great-grandparents back in Minnesota. It’s incredible how something as simple as a follow-up appointment can lead to discovering deep family ties.
The conversations aren’t always personal — sometimes they’re literary! I’ve bonded with patients over books we have read, including The Guest List by Lucy Foley (amazing plot twist and ending, though the buildup felt a bit basic). Discussing stories, characters, and plot twists has turned routine visits into something much more engaging and personal.
Then there are the practical moments — like hopping into a patient’s car to help them adjust their Apple CarPlay map settings or teaming up with someone to troubleshoot their Apple Watch together. Those small moments of teamwork and learning reinforce how much this job is about supporting people, not just their devices.
Meeting patients’ loved ones during appointments adds another meaningful layer. I’ve met spouses, kids, grandkids, and friends — each with their own stories and perspectives to share. These interactions remind me how interconnected hearing health is to our relationships and daily lives.
I’ve also been entertained (and amazed) by the wild stories patients have shared about losing and recovering their hearing aids — like one that was found after a swim in Boulder Creek, or another that was found after a journey on a train across the world. These stories highlight not just the resilience of the devices but also how integral they are to our patients’ lives.
One of the most satisfying moments is giving a hearing aid a deep clean and hearing a patient’s surprise when it goes from nearly silent to crisp, clear sound again. It’s a small fix that can make a huge difference in someone’s day-to-day experience.
Working at Family Hearing has shown me how important quality care and accessibility are in this field. The relationships I’ve built with patients remind me every day why it matters that they can connect to the sounds — and people — that matter most to each of them. The Lifetime of Service structure doesn’t just benefit our patients — it has made my experience with Family Hearing more fulfilling than I ever imagined.
Ruth Goldenberg, Audiology Technician