QUESTION: At what age does hearing loss occur?
ANSWER: From birth on.

QUESTION: What causes hearing loss?
ANSWER: Some causes are heredity, meningitis, high fevers, toxic drugs & medications, diabetes, heart problems, thyroid, re-occuring ear infections, dizziness, exposure to loud noises, ringing in the ears, or the aging process.

QUESTION: Are there any groups of individuals that are more prone to hearing loss than others?
ANSWER: Hearing loss affects people over 55 more that any other age group.

QUESTION: What about kids today and their blaring music; does this have an effect on their hearing?
ANSWER: Yes, definitely. Loud sounds affect the high frequency nerves in the inner ear. This starts a deterioration of these nerves that cannot be reversed. Sometimes it takes as many as 10 to 15 years to detect. Musicians like Elton John, Sting, and some of the Rolling Stones, wear hearing aids today -- from loss caused by loud music.

QUESTION: Can the type of work a person does have an effect on their hearing, and what can be done to prevent or minimize this effect.
ANSWER: Besides loud music, working around loud noise, as in construction work, jack hammers, loud blowing machines, printing presses can cause hearing loss. Those in the following professions are also at risk: aircraft workers; airline pilots; stewardesses; dentists; hunters. Preventative measures may be taken by using ear plugs or head sets. Special custom molds may be used and some have special attenuators in them so you can still hear conversations, but it blocks out loud noises.

QUESTION: What are the signs a person should look for if they're concerned about their hearing?
ANSWER: A family history of hearing loss, inclination to believe that "everyone mumbles", a feeling that people don't speak as clearly as they used to, feeling a growing nervous tension from the effort to hear, straining to understand conversations and watching people's faces intently, frequently misunderstanding or needing to have things repeated, or the TV set too loud.

QUESTION: Can you test for hearing loss?
ANSWER: Yes, we can test for hearing loss. It takes about 20 to 45 minutes for a basic hearing test. There is no charge for this basic test, and it should be done at least once a year. A copy of this test can be forwarded to your doctor for your records.

QUESTION: What is involved?
ANSWER: A base line test includes not only speech frequencies, but a test for understanding ability. Many people hear, but do not understand. Early detection is the best remedy. The worse the hearing loss, the more difficult it is to understand.

QUESTION: What type of professional should be contacted if I suspect hearing loss.
ANSWER: A person that is Board Certified and licensed by the state of California.

QUESTION: You have a lot of initials after your names on your business cards, what do they signify?
ANSWER: BC/HIS indicates Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences. This is acquired by having been in the hearing aid business and fitting hearing aids for at least five years and it is an exam given by the government, not by our own industry. We have been in the industry since 1959.