Sonova USA Inc. (“Sonova USA”), part of the global Sonova Group, fosters a world in which there is a solution to every hearing loss and all people equally enjoy the delight of hearing. 

We’ve developed the Sonova USA Brand Standards (“Standards”) for several reasons:

• to facilitate end consumers having a positive experience with and optimal benefit from our Phonak and Unitron branded products (“Branded Products”), regardless of where they purchase (in person or online);
• to enable our hearing care professional customers to compete fairly and in a manner consistent with applicable legal and ethical standards; and
• to protect our valued brands. 

The Standards require that any retailer of Branded Products (“Retailer”) abides by the following requirements:

• Retailer is responsible for ensuring they maintain all necessary and required professional licenses and certifications required for fitting, dispensing and marketing hearing instruments in their state and community;
• Retailer is responsible to follow state and federal law in their testing, fitting and dispensing practices;
• Retailer is required to be appropriately credentialed by any and all applicable third party payers for services rendered and goods dispensed to their beneficiaries;
• Retailer is responsible for requiring patients to submit a valid audiogram from a licensed hearing care professional;
• Retailer is responsible for providing an in-person or remote fitting (as permitted by applicable law) and fine-tuning appointment with a hearing care professional (“HCP”);
• Retailer is responsible for making follow-up care by an HCP available to the end consumer; and
• Retailer is not permitted to identify themselves as “authorized” or as an “authorized reseller” or “authorized dealer” or any similar term with respect to any Branded Product.

With this page, we're reaffirming our commitment to the requirements for prescription hearing aids as medical devices, regulated by the FDA.  Through these Standards, we aim to ensure that recipients of Branded Products receive appropriate treatment and professional support to facilitate an outstanding user experience, whether in a traditional setting or online.

End user consumers should be aware of the possible risks that may result from purchasing Branded Products (purported or genuine) online through any party that does not follow these Standards. Branded Products (or products that are advertised as such, but which are not genuine products) purchased from a source that does not follow these Standards could be:

• defective, damaged or refurbished; or 
• stolen, counterfeit, or imported into the United States by someone other than Sonova USA or its affiliate.

Purchasing products from a source that does not comply with these Standards may not provide you with the benefits you expect from genuine Branded Products. 

In addition, the purchase of a Branded Product from a source that does not comply with these Standards may result in the Original Manufacturer's Warranties for the product being null and void, in which event Sonova USA may appropriately choose not to accept return of such a product nor accept return of such a product to Sonova USA for service. 

As of the date of this posting, below is a list of Retailers that Sonova USA has requested comply with the Standards and who are not in current compliance with the Standards: 

• Club Hearing
• Fix Your Ears
• HearMore4Less

If you are uncertain about an online Retailer and want more information or suspect they are operating in a manner not consistent with the Standards, please let us know by completing the form below or emailing us at OnlineSales@Phonak.com.