Not for profit 501 (c)(3): Affordable Hearing Aid Dispensing, Speech Therapy, & Audiology
10/16/2025
Today's Blog is: Types of Professionals Who May Attend To Your Ears
There are many types of medical professionals who specialize in hearing issues and treating ear conditions. Ear-nose-throat doctors, audiologists, and audiometrists all specialize in diagnosing and treating various ear ailments. However, there are distinct differences between these professions. Here is everything you need to know about audiologists, audiometrists, and ear, nose, and throat doctors.
Today's Article is: Hard of Hearing: Improving Your Listening Experience
If you or someone you know is hard of hearing, there are other factors besides hearing loss that can make communication difficult. Some of these include:
Hard to understand communication partners
Presence of background noise
Poor lighting on speaker’s face
How can we improve communication to help the hard of hearing? Check out this
Tips for Improving Conversation in Noisy Environments for tips to improve your listening experience.
You can also watch our webinar: “Best Practices for Communicating with the Hard of Hearing” on Youtube for additional information.
Source:
American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association. (2022). Tips for improving conversation in noisy environments. Audiology Information Series.https://www.asha.org/siteassets/ais/ais‑tips‑for‑improving‑conversation‑in‑noisy‑environments.pdf
Today's Blog post is: How to Help Your Child's Speech Development at Home
Every person uses some form of expression to communicate. Pointing at an object, using sign language and verbal speaking are all forms of communication. For children who have hearing loss, speaking properly can be frustrating and challenging. One way you can help your child is to use some language-building strategies at home.
Today's Blog is: How the HEAR Center Helps Californians Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
For those who are deaf and hard of hearing, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone. The truth is, though, that approximately 1 in 10 people in the United States live with some level of hearing loss, and diagnosis and treatment are within reach. For those in Los Angeles County, California, HEAR Center is an innovative non-profit hearing and speech clinic dedicated to their clients, their families and the community.
Today's Article is: What's the difference between over-the-counter sound amplifiers and prescribed hearing aids?
You’ve probably seen advertisements for over-the-counter (OTC) sound amplification devices (hearing helpers, sound amplifiers, personal sound amplification products, etc.) that promise better hearing in noisy, crowded environments or when watching television.
But can these devices truly replace prescription hearing aids? The truth is, these devices work best for those with normal hearing who are trying to hear better in certain situations. If you have or suspect you have hearing loss, a prescription hearing aid will perform much better
The facts about OTC sound amplification devices (Forbes)
These devices don’t compensate for hearing loss. It’s worth repeating that OTC sound amplifiers are intended for those with normal hearing; they cannot treat hearing loss. They are intended for individuals who want a boost in specific listening situations, such as sitting in the back of a classroom or dining in a noisy restaurant.
These devices amplify everything, not just speech. Prescribed hearing aids can mute or amplify certain frequencies depending on a person’s unique hearing loss. While personal sound amplifiers can increase the volume of speech, other sounds in the environment become louder as well: dogs barking, whirring fans, road construction–often making it harder to hear clearly.
These are not medical devices. Unlike hearing aids, which are regulated medical devices under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), OTC sound amplifiers are not intended for medical use. They are not a substitute for professional prescribed hearing aids.
Today's Article is: Consonant pronunciation in children
What is the average age children learn to pronounce most English consonants? Check out this graphic based on a 2018 cross-linguistic study.
HEAR Center has partnered with See's Candy once again, this time for a Summer fundraiser! Between now and 08/31/2025 order See's candy from the link below, and a portion of the proceeds will go to HEAR Center!
Today's Blog post: Milestones for Speech and Language Development in Children.
When children develop neurotypical speech and language patterns, they generally do so in a predictable way. Though every child is unique, for most, speech and language development happens in a series of roughly age-appropriate milestones. Find out which sounds are typical for specific age groups and what signs to look for to identify potential speech or language delays.
Today's Article is: Apps for Hearing Aid Users: Speech-to-Text
Did you know there are free apps that enhance your hearing experience using just your smartphone? One helpful type is speech-to-text apps.
What are Speech-to-Text Apps?
Speech-to-text apps convert spoken word into written text on your smartphone, computer or tablet. These apps use voice-recognition software–typically requiring an internet connection–and some work even better with an external microphone for added accuracy.
These apps are useful in loud environments or whenever you’re having trouble hearing conversations clearly. Since smartphones are portable, it’s easy to use speech-to-text apps on the go.
Free Apps to Try
Android Users: Try Live Transcribe developed by Google.
iPhone Users: Check out Live Transcribe for iOS (not developed by Google despite the similar name).
You can also use built-in tools in your smartphone:
iPhone: Enable the Dictation feature in your settings–great for texting or taking notes. Learn how to turn on Dictation.
Android: Use the built-in voice typing feature. Here’s how to enable voice typing.
TEE SPONSORS: ARCOSA, Associated Ready mix, Beth and Rick Frank, Colibri Transport, Hi-Grade, Penetron USA, Inc., Simon Accounting, Solomon Colors, Xypex Chemical
DONORS:
A Noise Within Magic Castle
Armida Baylon Designs Marilou Ladines
Anthropologie Martin Marietta
Beverly Froelich Melissa Mejia
Costco Mitsubishi/ Robertsons
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Edward Osea M.D Pasadena Playhouse
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Gourmet Gift Basket Rose Parade tickets
HEAR Center Board of directors Southern Glaciers
Hollywood Wax Museum The Board
Huntington Museum Vulcan Materials Company
Kendra Scott Jewelry
L.A Lakers
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
04/15/2025
HEAR Center has partnered with See's Candy once again, this time for a Spring fundraiser! Between now and 05/02/2025 order See's candy from the link below, and a portion of the proceeds will go to HEAR Center!
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The HEAR Center was founded in 1954 by Ciwa Griffiths, Ed.D. As a dedicated teacher of the deaf, she developed the Auditory Approach: helping hearing-impaired children gain the gift of speech through early identification of hearing loss, amplification with hearing aids and training in learning to listen and speak.
Close friends of Dr. Griffiths and true believers in her vision, Glen and Margaret Bollinger gave significant funding to the HEAR Center to expand her vision. In January of 1969 they broke ground on their headquarters in Pasadena, CA.
Dr. Griffiths promoted the idea that if you place hearing aids on children identified with hearing loss at a young age, the child could had a significantly increased chance of learning to speak normally. She had studied the specialized education of deaf children in London with educators who were performing ground-breaking research. It was there that Dr. Griffiths first observed the impact of early amplification.
She vigorously and emphatically shared the truth that there are varying degrees of hearing loss and that the evaluation of hearing ability at an early age was critical to the quality of life for these children. Her advocacy for not giving up on children that others were ready to dismiss as totally deaf helped to bring about the awareness that these children could learn to listen and speak.
The application of Dr. Griffith's Auditory Approach, while initially scoffed at by the medical establishment of the time, has become standard operating procedure in hospitals across the nation. Throughout the years, the HEAR Center has become internationally recognized for its innovative and extensive testing and therapy programs.
