Miracle-Ear
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hearing aid and hearing care |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Kenneth H. Dahlberg |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Parent | Amplifon |
Miracle-Ear, Inc. operates as a hearing aid and hearing care provider through a combination of franchised and company-owned retail outlets. It functions as a subsidiary of Amplifon, a global frontrunner in hearing care and hearing aid retail, headquartered in Milan, Italy. Miracle-Ear's main office in the United States is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By 2023, the brand boasts more than 1,500 locations nationwide and holds the distinction of being the most widely recognized hearing aid brand within the United States.
Origins of Miracle-Ear
Miracle-Ear began as a hearing aid product developed by Dahlberg Electronics, established in 1948 by WWII veteran Kenneth H. Dahlberg after departing from Telex Communications. Initially, the company manufactured pillow radios intended for hospitals and motels but shifted its focus to hearing aids in the early 1950s, embracing transistor technology ahead of many competitors. Early offerings included hybrid models combining transistors and vacuum tubes, followed by the release of a fully transistorized hearing aid in 1953.
In 1955, Dahlberg unveiled the D-10 Magic Ear, recognized as the first "in-the-ear" hearing aid that housed all components within a small shell connected to an earmold, weighing only half an ounce. Among other innovations was the D-14 "Solar Ear," a hearing aid embedded in eyeglasses powered by solar cells.
Advancements in product technology
The Miracle-Ear IV, introduced in 1962, was the first hearing aid to incorporate integrated circuits. Later, in 1971, the company launched the Dahlberg SHARP circuit—an ultra-low power design created with internal hybrid manufacturing capabilities. In 1988, Miracle-Ear brought to market the Dolphin, which was the industry’s first programmable hearing aid. Following clinical trials at universities in 1997, FDA approval was granted for claims that Miracle-Ear’s Sharp Plus circuitry enhanced hearing performance in noisy settings.
Corporate development
Kenneth Dahlberg briefly sold his company to Motorola in 1959 but reacquired it in 1964 after Motorola withdrew from consumer product lines. Miracle-Ear began expanding through franchising starting in 1984. In 1993, Dahlberg sold the business to Bausch & Lomb. Subsequently, in 1999, Amplifon purchased Dahlberg, Inc. from Bausch & Lomb and consolidated it with its subsidiary Miracle-Ear, Inc., forming the current entity known as Miracle-Ear, Inc.