The Minnesota Academy of Audiology (MAA), an organization representing audiologists within the state, is actively warning hearing healthcare consumers that the purchase of hearing aids over the Internet may have serious consequences to their health. The sale of any hearing device, whether a personal sound amplifier or hearing aid, without the diagnostic and rehabilitative services of a qualified, licensed professional puts the consumer at risk, according to the MAA. This is because audiologists must ensure a patient’s hearing loss is not due to medical or surgical conditions. Unfortunately for the consumer, a simple online hearing test does not successfully identify hearing loss that can be treated medically.