Endowing the Gift of Hearing

More than 48 million people in the US have hearing loss. A 2021 American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) poll conducted found that more than half (51%) of all adults reported having hearing problems, but only 11% of those respondents have sought treatment. “Hearing is a vitally important sense for people to feel connected with others and the environment. Sadly, attention to hearing health has historically been a sensitive subject with people feeling embarrassed. I have such a deep appreciation for the independent providers, networks and retail hearing care professionals. They have been so effective in helping people experience the full sound of life again. It is our intent to refer more individuals to them for quality hearing care," says Sharon L. Fletcher, President & CEO, Birdsong Hearing Benefits™.

Birdsong Hearing Benefits™, located in Jacksonville, Fla offers supplemental hearing benefits to commercial health plans, Medicare Advantage, and other governmental programs. Birdsong provides a nationwide network of hearing care professionals through Your Hearing Network. In addition, Birdsong is an umbrella of multiple established subsidiaries in each of their focus market that include Advanced Hearing Providers, AudioNet America, a third-party administrator located in Clinton Township, Mich., a workers' compensation organization headquartered in Portland, Ore., and Great Lakes Provider Network as well as Your Hearing Network. Birdsong contracts with health plans as a licensed TPA (Third Party Administrator) to service their members and offers access to a nationwide NCQA-accredited provider network and market-leading hearing aid brands.

Member experience is a crucial concern and an opportunity in hearing benefits - There is a clear requirement for concierge service and white glove experience for members. Birdsong Hearing Benefits was explicitly designed with health plans and their members in mind. “We were lucky to be able to build Birdsong from the ground up, organically, which gave us the opportunity to design our systems and processes through the voice of health plans, providers, and the end user to ensure compliance and IT security were top of mind,” adds Sharon, a hearing aid user- she knows the value of a quality care journey herself!

Sharon is renowned for her empathetic leadership, creativity, and unwavering commitment to employee well-being. Her ability to foster open communication has created a culture of trust and collaboration at Birdsong Hearing Benefits. She believes in the power of innovation, encouraging her team to think outside the box and adopt innovative technologies through effective capabilities in hearing solutions. Her advocacy for inclusivity has transformed the workplace into a vibrant community where diverse ideas thrive, ultimately enhancing the company's performance and employee morale.

The pioneering leader fosters an environment where team members feel valued and heard. She invests in professional development, working with her teams to provide continual resources for mentorship and stretch assignments that make them ready for leadership roles. By promoting a culture of accountability, Sharon encourages her team to take the initiative and ownership of their projects. She leads by example, showcasing vulnerability and openness to feedback, inspiring her employees to embrace growth and aspire to be exemplary leaders in the future. Sharon also emphasizes to her team that success is rarely an overnight achievement. For Sharon, it has been a journey of several years marked by resilience and adaptability. One key piece of advice she shares is the importance of cultivating a growth mindset. Embrace failures as learning opportunities, seek advice from mentors, and remain persistent even in the face of challenges. Building strong relationships and networks is essential, as collaboration often leads to opportunities for advancement. Get to know your industry inside and out- take additional assignments, seek roles that expand your competence, be well rounded as you seek to interact with all stakeholders associated with your industry. This means you must be flexible, adaptable, and resilient. Change should become a close friend.

The mission of Birdsong Hearing Benefits is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with hearing impairments by providing accessible, innovative solutions that empower them to reconnect with the world around them. Sharon, a hearing aid user herself, is dedicated to breaking down barriers to access through educational initiatives and community outreach, ensuring that people from all walks of life can benefit from reliable hearing solutions. By promoting awareness and accessibility, Birdsong seeks to eliminate the stigma surrounding hearing loss and enrich lives across communities.

One of Birdsong Hearing Benefits' most significant achievements has been the successful launch of a groundbreaking telehealth platform that provides remote audiology services. This initiative has expanded access to hearing care for individuals in underserved areas, eliminating geographical barriers. The positive feedback from clients has validated our approach, showing that innovation can lead to measurable improvements in patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Sharon is committed to continuous improvement both personally and for the organization. One of the goals she is actively pursuing is enhancing the company's sustainability practices to reduce our environmental footprint and promote eco-friendly products. Additionally, she aims to diversify the company's offerings, incorporating cutting-edge technology to ensure that Birdsong remains at the forefront of hearing health innovations.

Looking ahead, Sharon envisions positioning Birdsong Hearing Benefits as a leader in integrated hearing health solutions, expanding partnerships with healthcare providers, and expanding our telehealth services. On a personal level, she plans to engage more in advocacy work, sharing her insights on women's leadership and health equity at speaking engagements and conferences, inspiring future generations of women leaders.