Questions we hear every week.

I bought my hearing aids somewhere else. Will you work on them?

Yes. We service and program all seven major manufacturers: Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Starkey, Widex, Signia, and Unitron. Cleanings, adjustments, repairs, and reprogramming. Details here.

What is Real Ear Measurement, and why do you keep bringing it up?

Real Ear Measurement (REM) puts a thin probe microphone in your ear canal while the hearing aid is running, so we can see the actual sound reaching your eardrum and adjust it to the prescriptive target for your loss. Without it, a fitting is a software prediction. Industry surveys put the share of providers who routinely perform REM at roughly a third. We do it on every fitting. The full explanation.

What if I buy hearing aids and they do not work out?

Under California Civil Code section 1793.02, every hearing aid sold in California can be returned within 45 days for a full refund. That is state law, not a store policy, and it applies here.

What warranty comes with hearing aids I buy from you?

Every brand we sell carries three years of repair coverage and three years of loss and damage coverage, with one replacement per hearing aid during that period (a manufacturer deductible applies to replacement). Repairs typically take two to three weeks, and we provide loaner hearing aids in the meantime, in and out of warranty.

How often should my hearing aids be cleaned?

Come in anytime something sounds off, there is no charge for our patients. On top of that, we automatically schedule a deep vacuum cleaning every six months, because desert dust and moisture build up in microphones whether or not you notice it yet.

Do you charge sales tax on hearing aids?

No. Patients are not charged sales tax on hearing aids in California.

Will hearing aids help my tinnitus?

We do not treat tinnitus, and no hearing aid makes it disappear. That said, many patients whose hearing loss is properly fit and verified tell us their tinnitus bothers them less, and published survey research (Kochkin and Tyler) suggests roughly 60 percent of hearing aid wearers report some relief. We are careful with this one: it is an observed outcome, not a promise.

My hearing dropped suddenly. Should I book an appointment?

No, and please read this before anything else: sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency with a short treatment window, and you need an ENT physician now, not a hearing aid appointment. What to do right now.

Do you take my insurance?

Some health plans include a hearing aid benefit and many do not, and the details vary widely. Call us with your plan information and we will help you find out before your visit.

Which hearing aid brand is best?

None of them, and all of them. Every major manufacturer makes excellent devices, and which one suits you depends on your loss, your ears, and your life. What matters far more than the brand is whether the fitting was verified. That is why we hold accounts with all seven manufacturers, so the recommendation can start with you.

Will I be pressured to buy something?

You will never be pressured here. You will get an evaluation, a clear explanation of what we found, an exact written quote, and the time to decide. How our pricing works.

What happens at a first visit?

A conversation about what you have been noticing, a look in your ears with video otoscopy so you see what we see, and a hearing evaluation in a sound treated booth. The whole visit, step by step.