We got in touch with The Ear Clinic Cornwall who recently reached a milestone – delivering over 1000 ear and hearing health appointments! We spoke to Leanne to find out how she achieved this and to see if she had any wise words to inspire other Accredited Tympa Users.
How did you start your journey using the Tympa System?
“I started out working as a Hearing Aid Audiologist for a private company, but as our family grew – now 3 children under 5! The 9-5 hours were proving more and more difficult, so needed a change. I’d been lucky enough to spend a day watching a wax removal clinic led by a health care assistant and that really piqued my interest in training with TympaHealth.”
“Before Tympa I trained using loupes and I couldn’t understand how people were removing wax with such a limited view (after watching Tympa in action). I decided to speak to Tympa about enrolling in their training programme and using the Tympa System to deliver ear and hearing healthcare. They were professional and pro-active from day one…I was completely won over!”
How much demand has there been for the service?
“I’ve tried hard to advertise my services locally. Building a professional website has been really useful, but not only that, I’ve been out in my local area trying to build relationships with local businesses and people. I initially started providing ear and hearing healthcare services in a clinic or rented room for 2-3 days per week – these were always fully booked! So, I decided to expand and now I have my own clinic which I do 3-4 days per week and I’m nearly always full!”
What obstacles may you have encountered along the way and how did you overcome them?
“There have been a few obstacles, one of the biggest challenges for me was finding somewhere suitable to practice. I was very keen to only be present in professional or medical practices. A lot of the rooms to rent were in beauty rooms but I wanted to make sure I gave off the right impression when someone came to get their ears checked.”
What are your plans for the future?
“I would love to expand one day, there is definitely the demand for the service! There are some locations that I am keeping an eye on but for now I’m focusing on enjoying my new premises and developing my customer base.”
What has been your favourite thing about using the Tympa System?
“For me, I’d have to say two things stand out the most. Firstly, the Tympa System having such high-quality imagery. You can record and take pictures of patients’ ears and show it to them there and then which is amazing. Not only that but you can see exactly what you’re doing and it’s truly revolutionary compared to the alternatives I’ve tried.”
“Secondly, for me is the hearing check. It’s a fantastic tool, which can be used in the same appointment with the patient. As a hearing aid audiologist, it’s been great to be able to talk to patients about their hearing and advise them on the next steps for them if there is a hearing loss present.”
Any advice for others starting out on their Tympa journey?
“The key, as with anything is…practice, practice, practice. The more patients you see the easier it gets, your confidence grows, and you can help more and more people – which is what it’s all about. I’d also recommend, if you’re thinking of starting your own clinic, to invest time in finding the right premises for you – it gives the patient their first impression of your service.”
