Hear Center

At age 19 I was no longer covered by CCS. My parents had to pay full price for my hearing aids. CHLA referred us to Sonus in Downtown LA and that’s where my hearing aids were fitted and ordered since I was 6 years old. We decided to stay there and buy hearing aids with Sonus since they know me and have my whole record of hearing evaluations. I got my previous hearing aids 5 years ago and I decided its time to get new ones. I’m now responsible and old enough to get my own pair. I reached out to HEAR Center and had a hearing aid consult with Allison. I was shocked to learn that I would be paying less for better quality hearing aids plus accessories than what my dad paid for my previous hearing aids. I also decided that I wanted to try newer technology. I have been using Phonak for years but a bit nervous to try out something newer and current.
When I had my hearing aid fitting I right away noticed a difference which I was warned about. I knew I would have to get used to it and I would feel normal within 2 weeks or so. I was not a stranger to this situation. My previous hearing aids were my first digital hearing aids and it took me some weeks to get used to how everything sounded. However I felt disappointed with my new hearing aids. I took down notes of what I liked and didn’t like. I went back to my old hearing aids meanwhile. I felt frustrated but I know that its hard to understand things from the perspective of a hard of hearing person. I talked to Allison and she was able to help me out. I explained as detailed as possible what I liked and didn’t liked about the new hearing aids. Allison was so patient with me and so understanding. She decided I should try out a different hearing aid model. Guess what? Everything I described to her was solved with this other model. I still had to adjust to them but after a while everything sounded normal to me. Thanks Allison!
p. s. I love my Streamer Pro. I can listen to music on my phone directly to my hearing aids and answer calls. Technology is awesome! I was missing out on a lot for 5 years.

My daughter (age 10) has been a speech client of Hear Center since April 2015. Although it did take some time to receive an initial speech evaluation appointment, we are so happy with the service that we receive. Hear Center has a friendly environment while maintaining confidentiality. My daughter has a bit of anxiety of working with speech therapist because she’s had a few negative experiences at other centers. However, each week she is excited to work with her therapist, Meline, at Hear Center.
Meline is fabulous! She incorporates games and fun activities into my daughter’s therapy. She always has a smile and a positive attitude. According to my daughter, «Sometimes therapists smile, but it doesn’t seem real. I like Meline because she’s happy and seems like she cares.»
I enjoy that I can watch and listen to my daughter’s therapy session on a monitor. I feel like when I am in the room she can be easily distracted so the monitors are great. I also appreciate receiving written reports that state my daughter’s progress towards her speech goals. Keep up the great work, Hear Center!

Do not get fooled by the term «non-​profit.» My advice is to go anywhere else, but here. I moved my mother to Southern California in 2010, focusing first on her cataract surgery, with the express intent of hearing aids next, so as not to overwhelm her with everything at once. When I saw in early 2011 that The Hear Center was conducting hearing screenings at the Pasadena Senior Center, I jumped at the opportunity. That is how we came to the Hear Center.
The first purchase of Widex Hearing Aids was on March 3, 2011. The hearing aids were $ 1800.00 + $ 70 for the hearing test, which reflected a 30% discount because we came through the Senior Center. I believe they came with a 2 year warranty.
Throughout this entire period I have been a bit of a thorn in Gayle, the audiologists side, because I kept asking her to raise the volume but she kept telling me that when she tested them out on my mother in the sound-​proof room, the volume level was perfect for her. I tried to reason that life does not take place in a sound-​proof environment & that I felt she needed a bit of an increase in volume. To begin with, the left one always sounded very crisp & clear to me, but the right sounded as if she were in a vacuum tunnel.
In November, 2013 the right one failed altogether & because they were out of warranty the repair was $ 150.00 for a 6-​month warranty or $ 250.00 for a one year. We opted for the one year. The Hear Center has very limited hours — they actually lock their doors between noon and 1:00 PM for lunch, so if you are just a regular busy person out & about running errands this can be quite inconvenient if you happen by during that hour, which is exactly what happened to me. Since I was simply dropping off, I decided to enter though the side door & leave them with someone back there. I was immediately swarmed upon by a slew of hateful faced women demanding to know what I was doing there — you would think I had just barged in on The Secret Service. Fortunately, the receptionist, Debbie, who is an absolute sweetheart, appeared and came to my rescue.
In July, 2015, my mother lost the right hearing aid, so we had to order another one. The price for one had come down to under $ 800.00. The very night that we ordered the hearing aid, our dog found the missing one & bit through the casing, so the new purchase became a $ 400.00 repair, instead. By this time Gayle was no longer there. I again mentioned about the difference in sound quality between the left & right hearing aid to the new audiologist, Allison, who checked them out & agreed with me.
When the repair was done, I again asked Allison to please raise the volume because even with her hearing aids in, it was apparent that my mother could not hear us. So, she raised & raised & raised the volume, until finally, my mother told her «I can’t hear you!» Finally, Allison decided to scroll through my mother’s chart & mentioned that she had not had a hearing test since March of 2011 & that it was very possible that her hearing had diminished. That was exactly what I had been telling them, periodically over the years, by forever asking them to raise the volume — I must have been speaking Swahili!
Then she told me that the volume was maxed out & that my mother needed to come back in for a hearing test. I asked her if my mother would never be able to hear us again, what was the point. She looked very uncomfortable, hemming & hawing, until I finally asked, «Are you saying that she has gone as far as she can with these hearing aids, but that we can purchase another pair to accommodate her current needs?» She breathed a sigh of relief and said «yes.» I then said, «Couldn’t someone have told us that $ 400.00 ago, as much as I complained that she was not hearing?» Allison is a very young Asian girl, very sweet & very timid, and obviously in no position to be the moral compass for the company. She didn’t say anything.
I’m sorry, but I am not in the audiology field. To my uneducated way of thinking, a pair of hearing aids is a pair of hearing aids that get adjusted as is necessary over time. I feel that they are the professionals & it is their responsibility to educate us that after so much time, she should have had another hearing test — especially in light of my constant complaining about both the sound quality in one of them and the fact that she wasn’t hearing us!!!
My question now is — who is supposed to absorb that $ 400.00 wasted expense? Had I paid for them with a credit card, I would have some leverage — but I paid with a debit card. I had actually, been in touch directly with Widex previously to complain about the sound quality & that no one would pay attention to me at the Hear Center. Widex asked me, at the time, if I would like them to speak to the Hear Center on my behalf. I declined the offer, reasoning that adding to their dislike for me could adversely affect the care that my mother received. I am also sending this letter to Widex. Will keep you posted.

Since I first admitted I needed hearing aids 9 months ago at the age of 72 I’ve gone to the Hear Center. From the front desk reception, Debbie, to my personal audiologist, Allison, I have felt welcomed into a friendly environment. The tests, adjustments, successful attempts to help me, etc. have all been handled in a very professional and excellent manner. Whenever I have a concern or question I don’t hesitate to call or go by because I know I will be treated with respect and receive what I need. A couple of months ago when I called the manufacturer of my hearing aids to inquire about the remote control for adjusting the volume I was sadly informed that it had been discontinued and they had no more in stock. I even tried eBay and Craig’s list with no luck. On a visit for adjustments last week, without being asked, Allison personally called a technician at the manufacturer to find out if there just might be a remote control that I needed just sitting on a shelf somewhere. I couldn’t believe my ears when Allison told me that the technician had found one and would mail it to the Hear Center! Now I can adjust the volume whenever I need to. It’s really made a wonderful difference. My only complaint is that sometimes it takes a few weeks to get an appointment, but that’s because others want their services too. I plan to continue to allow them to assist with my hearing needs. I couldn’t recommend them more highly! P. S. I am NOT related to anyone there.

At first I thought this place was great. My son was evaluated here last year. The office staff and speech therapist were friendly at that time. I was so shocked by the unprofessional and poor treatment I received by the office staff. They made me feel as though my child was unimportant. If this place truly cares about its patients then I would expect better treatment. I rescheduled an appointment and missed another appointment. I never received a phone call confirming the appointment. I found out that I missed it because I got billed in the mail. I called to ask if the fee could be waived. The office staff said the system could have been down, but I still had to pay the fee. I paid the fee of $ 40.00. Months later I tried booking an appointment for my twins and was refused service. I was told I had to go somewhere else because they couldn’t risk me not showing up! (I’m human with twins and a six year old and I forget appointments.) I’m convinced this place has placed the love of money over the love of its patients. Unfortunate, but I’m glad there are many other great Speech and Language therapist in the area that do place patients above their pocket book. I was referred here from the Doctors office and insurance company. I have notified them both about my experience here.

Took my grandmother to get her hearing test and unfortunately, the computer that ran the tests suddenly turned off by itself and the auD had to repeat the tests again. I understand that was terrible luck but the office did nothing to try to compensate for the extra time and inconvenience of redoing the tests. If they had good customer service would have offered something to make up for the unprofessional service. My grandmother only speaks Spanish so when they did the word test, they called someone with a hearing impairment to test my grandma and asked me to stand next to this assistant so I could make sure she was hearing my grandma correctly. She actually was not hearing my grandma accurately, so I was keeping count of the incorrect words myself. When everything was done, the audiologist told us they were not contracted with a hearing aid company that would accept my grandma’s insurance (medi-​medi). In sum, we live in Los Angeles and they should really consider hiring a Spanish speaker and improve their customer service. Also, since they knew what kind of insurance we had from the beginning, they should have told us that they would not be able to supply/​order the hearing aids from the beginning.

If this review was only based on the front desk staff it would be 5 stars. The receptionist was really nice, very helpful and made me feel really comfortable. Debbie was truly a star. The speech therapist my son saw was quite the opposite.
Let me start by saying I was referred to the Hear Center through my insurance. I had no prior knowledge of the Hear Center. My son had also just had an evaluation done by the regional center. It was a great experience and gave me a fair expectation of what would happen. The therapist was rude and disrespectful towards me and my 2 year old. Her comments were so shocking. Comments like, «Are you even the birth parent?» No so bad but the look on her face said otherwise. Or after I informed her about the previous evaluation by the regional center she responds, «That report isn’t accurate, he is MUCH farther behind.» Statements like, «He can’t even make eye contact or respond to simple things.» These things were so inconsistent with his daily behavior and the report by regional center. Then she proceeds to tell me that services would more than likely be denied. So if your evaluation is correct why would he be denied? I was hopeful that he would be denied. The sadness that came over when I got the letter saying that my son was approved for services was overwhelming. I would not want my child subjected to her. I’m grateful that I was able to call my insurance company and request a different provider. Maybe she was having a bad morning. Maybe she didn’t plan on being rude, disrespectful or anything else but it rubbed me and my 2 year old son the wrong way. I’m so happy with the therapist he is seeing now. He has grown so much. My advice: evaluate the people giving service to your child and decide appropriately. Good luck.

For the past several months I had trouble hearing from both ears. I researched three hearing aid specialists in the Pasadena area, and decided to go with HEAR Center. I selected HEAR Center over my other options because it’s a nonprofit and Debbie, the Office Manager, was very friendly and helpful. The Hear Center facility was very neat and the staff was super friendly and professional! Ellen Simon, the Executive Director and Audiologist of HEAR Center took care of me as she guided me throughout the hearing test. She was very nice and helpful as she recommended me to an ENT Doctor; Dr. Shen. I can now hear perfectly! It feels wonderful being able to hear again! :)

I recently experienced ear pain and was referred here by my ENT for a hearing test. The audiologist whom I saw, Joanna, is just great. She explained to me what to expect during my hearing test, gave me a report of the test results. And suggested musician’s ear plugs for me to wear to my classes at the gym (source of loud music). I appreciate their professionalism. Free paking, no waiting in line, nice clean facility. Recommended.

I’ve been bringing my son here for a year now and I wish I had found this place earlier. The service is great, audiologists are professional and helpful, parking is free, facility is clean, and prices are reasonable. I would definite recommend this place to any child in need of hearing services.

What can I say? I’ve been coming here for so many years after finding out I was hard of hearing. Their service is wonderful and made me feel like home. :)