Hearing Aid Maker Settles FTC Complaint: The...

Hearing Aid Maker Settles FTC Complaint: The Federal Trade Commission said Beltone Electronics Corp., one of the nation’s largest makers of hearing aids, has agreed to pay $825,000 in penalties to settle charges of false-advertising claims. The agency said the case involved Chicago-based Beltone’s marketing of its ClearVoice and Voice Enhancer hearing aids. The settlement includes provisions to prohibit Beltone from misrepresenting the ability of its hearing aids to focus on speech in noise situations, the FTC said. It said the settlement also requires Beltone to give refunds to dealers whose customers have returned their aids after a trial period and to make certain advertising disclosures to help customers understand the limits of the hearing aids.