How Private Equity Is Buying Up Hearing Aid Practices

Episode notes

Private equity has been quietly consolidating independent hearing aid practices across the U.S., rolling up a fragmented $8 billion market dominated by aging baby boomers. In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine the strategy behind audiology roll-ups: why PE firms are buying mom-and-pop clinics, how they're leveraging insurance reimbursement changes, and what it means for patient care. We focus on one specific example - Audiology Holdings, LLC, a mid-market platform that acquired 47 independent practices between 2020 and 2025. We break down the typical deal structure, the multiples paid (around 6-8x EBITDA), and the operational playbook. Lucas explains the revenue uplift from centralizing billing and negotiating better rates with manufacturers like Sonova and Demant. Luna asks whether consolidation actually improves patient outcomes or just pads margins. We also touch on the regulatory landscape, including FDA over-the-counter hearing aid rules that took effect in 2022 and how they've changed competition. By the end, you'll understand why your local hearing aid clinic might soon be owned by a PE-backed roll-up - and whether that's good or bad for your ears.

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