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Zounds! – Port Richey Area ‘Hears’ New
Retail Concept Coming

Zounds Hearing Center Enters Port Richey on a Father’s Promise;
Grand Opening to Feature Baseball Pitching Legend, Tommy John

Port Richey, Fla. – February 28, 2008 – Zounds Hearing, a unique manufacturing and retail company focused on providing hearing aids with state-of-the-art fidelity, price point and professional service, opened its doors recently in the Gulf View Mall.  The official grand opening, featuring baseball pitching legend Tommy John, will take place on Wednesday, March 5, at 3:00 p.m.

Years ago, Zounds Founder Sam Thomasson, promised his hearing-impaired daughter that he would create a new hearing aid to overcome her frustration with her aids due to excessive feedback, poor sound quality and discomfort in the ear.  That promise led him to create the technology behind Zounds with a new hearing center in Port Richey, its sixth in Florida.

“Port Richey and Florida have been great to Zounds Hearing and we’re glad to have a presence here,” said Thomasson, “As with our existing hearing centers, Zounds’ mission in Port Richey is to develop and offer hearing aids with the best sound quality available, provided with convenient, professional service.”

Growing Hearing Loss – Port Richey –
According to a MarkeTrack survey, hearing loss affects about 10 percent of the U.S. population, while three in 10 people above age 60 are affected by hearing loss.  In Port Richey, more than 30 percent of the population is above 65, which means there is a significant percentage of people likely affected by hearing loss in the area based on recent census data.  That number is greater considering all of Pasco County.  However, only 20 percent of those that need hearing aids actually wear them.  

Zounds hearing aids are based on three distinct technology and design innovations:
1. Enhanced noise cancellation that eliminates up to 90 percent of background noise for exceptional voice clarity and enhanced feedback cancellation that virtually eliminates the squealing that traditional aids are known for. The revolutionary hearing aids are also rechargeable and come with a remote control to fine tune one’s listening experiences throughout the day or night.

2. It takes less than two hours to test, fit, and program by licensed professional rather than the weeks needed for traditional aids, as well as rechargeable aids that eliminate the need to buy/replace tiny batteries.  

3.  The streamlined design also allows Zounds to charge half the price of current premium hearing aids: One aid costs $1,299, and a pair costs $2,499 (simple financing is available).


Grand Opening Brings Baseball Fever to Port Richey –
The crack of the bat, the cheer of the crowd, the umpire’s calls – all are essential elements of enjoying the game of baseball – and need proper hearing to be experienced.  Zounds is bringing spring training to its hearing center by providing autographs, photographs and meet-and-greets with baseball legend, Tommy John and musical entertainment.  

The grand opening festivities start at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5 at the Zounds Hearing Center in Gulf View Mall near Dillard’s.  All ages are encouraged to join the official ribbon cutting ceremony and autograph session.  

The Port Richey location makes this the sixth Zounds Hearing Center in Florida.  This week, the company officially opens two additional centers in Sarasota, Fla., and Moorestown, New Jersey.    

About Zounds
Zounds Hearing designs, manufactures, and markets high performance hearing aids for use with mild, moderate, and moderate/severe hearing impairments.  Headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, the company's technology enables superior product performance, lower price, and a faster purchase process through its branded retail hearing centers.  Zounds utilizes a combination of internally developed research and exclusive, licensed technology developed by Acoustic Technologies.  Zounds aids are available through a network of state-of-the-art Zounds Hearing Centers in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  For more information, please visit www.ZoundsHearing.com or call 1-888-5ZOUNDS.