About

There is much history behind the formation of HES. Prior to April 1978, it was against the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association’s (ASHA) code of ethics for audiologists to dispense hearing aids. The audiologists providing diagnostic services to BOG were determining the necessity for amplification and then referring the patients to hearing aid dispensers in the community to be fit with devices. When ASHA stepped back from that position, Tom White and Dr. Ginsberg developed a proposal to form HES as a non-profit organization to best serve these BOG patients in need of amplification.

Due to ASHA’s early stance in regard to audiologists dispensing hearing aids, the most prevalent model for hearing aid dispensing was the sales or commercial model. HES proposed a professional model, whereby the audiologist would take a counseling approach to the fitting of amplification devices. The selection of the appropriate hearing aid was central to the success of the program; however, the device would be considered only a tool in the total rehabilitation process. The audiologist’s salary would in no way be tied to the number of devices fit. The patient’s best interest would always be in the forefront of the treatment process, even if that meant in some cases that a device was not recommended, and only counseling or assistive listening devices were provided.

The non-profit corporate structure provides some unique features to the dispensing of hearing aids. The corporation’s financial picture is reviewed by a Board of Directors (BOD); however, the day-to-day corporate decisions are made by the ED of HES who collaborates with the management team and staff and guides the direction of the organization. As a non-profit organization with no owner, all staff members of HES are stakeholders in the practice with a vested interest in ensuring the long-term health, growth, and development of the organization. This has led to a strong team culture that attracts high level employees and ensures the highest quality of patient care in a diverse and growing practice. HES has evolved over the years, but the business continues to operate with a non-profit structure governed by a BOD. The original counseling model has also been maintained.

HES has always sought complete autonomy and, in that regard, has expanded its scope from a strictly dispensing business to a business that offers a full range of audiological services.

In 2000, Tom White retired from the organization and Dr. Ann Stadelmaier was named ED by the BOD. Dr. Stadelmaier extended HES’s outreach into the community through the acquisition of a mobile trailer for industrial testing and the development of an Industrial Hearing Conservation Program in 2002 which ran until 2022. Under Dr. Stadelmaier’s direction, HES also acquired the Hearing and Balance Center of WNY in 2003. This allowed the organization to expand its services by proving videonystagmography (VNG) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) evaluations. Unfortunately, after 22 years of practicing audiology, Dr. Stadelmaier passed away in 2006 and the BOD appointed Dr. Anne Orsene to the position of ED. In honor of Dr. Stadelmaier, Dr. Anne Orsene, along with other HES staff, founded the Dr. Anne Stadelmaier Hearing Aid Fund (AES fund) in 2006. Since its inception, the AES fund, with the assistance of over 46 local Lion’s Clubs, has helped hundreds of individuals in financial and audiological need reach their goal of better hearing.

The organization continued to grow under the direction of Dr. Orsene. In 2009, HES began testing patients for another local ENT, Dr. William Belles and HES subsequently opened an office in Tonawanda. HES also partnered with the Hearing & Speech Center of Western NY and opened an office in the Williamsville Pediatric Center in 2010 extending HES’s services to the pediatric population.

Dr. Orsene collaborated with otoneurologist Dr. Lixin Zhang, of the Dent Neurologic Institute (DENT) and together with HES AuDs, the Dizziness and Balance Center began seeing patients in 2009. This collaboration enabled HES to become involved in high level vestibular evaluations within a neurology practice. HES decided to leave DENT in 2022 and subsequently began its own comprehensive vestibular program in 2023, with the addition of rotary chair and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP).

In 2012, HES expanded its services once again with the implementation of a tinnitus program. This program grew using research-backed clinical management strategies and the incorporation of the latest tinnitus management devices.

In 2014, the BOG merged with the Buffalo Medical Group (BMG) and the AuDs at HES began providing services to an expanded group of physicians in WNY.

As a non-profit organization our philanthropic programs have evolved over the years as well. HES began its international outreach in 2015 with the addition of annual mission trips to Guatemala. In 2016, HES began helping even more individuals in need with the addition of the Reconditioned Hearing Aid Program (RAP) as an add-on to the AES fund.

In 2018, HES began an Ototoxic Monitoring program and began receiving referrals from the Roswell Park Survivorship program as well as referrals from other area Oncologists. HES expanded into Senior Living Facilities in 2019 with a contract at Fox Run.

In early 2020, a unique non-profit audiology practice, Life Sounds Audiology, Inc (LSA) was incorporated with Anne Orsene serving as the first Executive Director. LSA was created to provide premium audiology services to individuals in WNY in a fiscally responsible manner. LSA is in network with lower reimbursement plans, including Fidelis, Medicaid and many Managed Care plans, however it is out of network with all other commercial plans. Later in 2020, HES began subleasing space, staff, and equipment to newly formed LSA in the Amherst Location. In 2021, Nicole Ball became the ED of LSA. Under her direction, the business relocated from Amherst to Tonawanda, Williamsville and Orchard Park locations. In addition, she expanded the practice beyond WNY by providing tele-audiology services. The LSA Providers have obtained dispensing audiology licensure in several states and began seeing patients virtually to increase access to audiologist-led care.

In 2020, the organization fit its first Cochlear Implant device extending its reach to those with severe to profound hearing loss. This became a part of our medically implanted hearing device program.

In 2022, HES began helping school-age children by expanding into Educational Audiology. HES now services multiple school districts. The non-profit organization that Tom White founded in 1981 has stood the test of time. HES’s reputation for providing the highest quality of hearing healthcare has been maintained. The organization now operates out of four HES locations, BMG, Fox Run, and a number of school districts. HES continues to expand its diagnostic services and outreach throughout WNY and beyond and is proud to have reached its goal of becoming a truly autonomous freestanding audiology practice. HES has always kept its patients’ best interest at heart by improving lives through personal and honest hearing healthcare.