3 Common Questions about Hearing Health, ANSWERED

DR. KEVIN BOLDER AuD, Audiology Associates

When it comes to hearing loss, it’s normal to have a lot of questions. As hearing care professionals, we frequently have patients come in with questions about their hearing, hearing aids, different types of hearing loss, and how we can help them find a solution.

Q What causes hearing loss?

A Depending on the type of hearing loss you have there are many factors that could have contributed to your hearing loss. Some common causes of hearing loss include: ear infection, head/ear trauma, malformation of the outer/inner ear, aging, genetics, earwax build-up, perforated eardrum, exposure to loud noise, or medications that are toxic to hearing.

Q Can I talk on the phone with my hearing aids in?

A You can talk on the phone with your hearing aids in, and with today’s technology you won’t receive any distracting feedback or whistling. With Bluetooth compatible hearing aids, you can connect your devices directly to your smartphone. This allows you to stream phone calls straight to your hearing aids. Bluetooth hearing aids make listening to phone calls easier and less complicated.

Q What if I lose my hearing aids?

A If you lose your hearing aids and they’re still under warranty, contact us immediately. Many manufacturer warranties will replace a lost hearing aid within two years after you’ve purchased the device, but it varies depending on the manufacturer and type of device.

The best thing you can do to make sure you are maintaining your overall health and wellbeing is receive regular hearing screenings in addition to your other doctor visits.

To schedule a hearing aid consultation today, please call Audiology Associates at 661284-1900. Kevin Bolder, Au.D, and John Davis, Au.D. are two of the best in Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley. Visit our website at www.AudiologyAssociates.net or stop by our office located at 25425 Orchard Village Road, Suite 220, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.

We are hearing healthcare excellence! 

Scv Chamber Ranked In Top 3 Of Responses Produced In La County Bizfed Poll

Members of more than 200 nonprofit business associations, serving employers of all sizes across 20 industries, participated in the 2023 Pulse Poll. The Pulse Poll, now in its fifteenth year, is BizFed’s largest annual data-gathering project and one of its most valuable advocacy tools. The SCV Chamber finished third out of 244 participants as it brought responses from a diverse network of businesses to discuss the state’s challenging business climate.

Employers who participated in the 2023 Pulse Poll conducted by BizFed cited high taxes and fees, unworkable labor costs and restrictive business regulations as top reasons for leaving the state –and taking jobs with them. Nearly 650 business leaders responded to the approximately 40-question annual survey. Approximately two-thirds of respondents reported feeling uncertain, pessimistic, or very pessimistic about business during the next 12 months. Respondent pessimism nearly doubled from 2022 to 2023, and nearly quadrupled from 2021 to 2023.

John Musella, who serves as the 2023 Chair of BizFed, was quoted as saying, “If you look closely at historical Pulse Poll data, you’ll see many of the same business issues coming out on top over the years. What jumps out at us this year is crime climbing to second place, higher on the concern scale than we’ve seen in 15 years. We need to be proactive with policy solutions. If employers, employees, and customers don’t feel safe, businesses won’t grow, and communities won’t thrive.”

Economic optimism dipped among Pulse Poll respondents for the second consecutive year, while business leaders also forecasted slower workforce growth in 2023. Inflation and supply chain disturbances could be contributing factors; 80% of respondents said the cost of business had increased more than they anticipated in 2023.

• Respondents pointed to taxes and fees as their most critical concern. Following a decade-long run as the top concern among BizFed Pulse Poll respondents, taxes and fees fell to second place in 2020 and 2021, and fifth place in 2022.

• Homelessness ranked first during those years; it fell to fourth place in 2023, perhaps reflecting the business community’s view that recent emergency declarations and improved coordination between cities, county agencies, nonprofit service providers and private sector partners are accelerating efforts to connect unhoused Angelenos with shelter and care.

• Crime ranked second in 2023, followed by inflation, homelessness, energy costs, government regulation, interest rates, energy reliability, legislative gridlock, and housing, in order of concern.

SCV CHAMBER RECOGNIZED ON BOTH SENATE AND ASSEMBLY FLOOR FOR 100TH-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

The SCV Chamber was recognized on both the Senate and Assembly floors for our Centennial recognition. It was an honor to be recognized by Senator Scott Wilk and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo. We thank them for recognizing this milestone in the SCV Chamber history.

SCV CHAMBER ADVOCATING FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR’S $180 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE

While the SCV Chamber was in Sacramento being recognized for our Centennial recognition, a delegation, led by President & CEO, Ivan Volschenk, advocated with elected officials on policy matters in support of business.

SCV Chamber members met with the office of the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senator Scott Wilk and Assemblymembers Pilar Schiavo and Greg Wallis. The delegation advocated with elected officials on policy matters in support of business, such as transportation, filming, and education.

We voiced our support for the Governor’s Infrastructure Package with all elected officials. We are pleased to announce that a deal was successfully reached a day after the delegation held the advocacy day, which included $180 million in investments over the next decade.

A substantial victory that was achieved was a “shot clock” limiting the duration of certain lawsuits filed under CEQA.

Here are other items that were secured in the budget deal:

• New accountability measures for transit and homelessness programs.

• Fast-tracking for clean energy projects that help us meet ambitious climate goals.

• New tax credits for businesses that manufacture semiconductor chips, clean energy facilities, and other projects that create an estimated 400,000 good-paying jobs.

• $180 billion over the next decade for vital infrastructure projects.

This infrastructure streamlining package is essential to accelerate critical energy, water and transportation infrastructure projects we need to achieve California’s world-leading climate goals while also preparing our economy for the future and creating hundreds of thousands of good paying, union construction careers.

These proposals will streamline permitting, cut red tape, reduce time-consuming litigation and make other changes that will take years off of the time line of projects while saving taxpayers, state and local governments and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars.

14th Annual State of the County

In May, we were pleased to host our 14th Annual State of the County with Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Supervisor Barger addressed the Valley’s elected officials, prominent business leaders, and community influencers and discussed topics pertinent to our business community and the Santa Clarita Valley. From economic development to housing, mental health resources and job creation, Supervisor Barger engaged in a conversation about her vision for the future of the Santa Clarita Valley and Los Angeles County. The event provides the platform to be able to collectively pause and reflect. As the Supervisor’s office works to produce good public policy, the State of the County event sets the stage to examine what has been learned and use that information to inform future strategies. For the past 100 years, the SCV Chamber has been the leading organization in the Santa Clarita Valley, and it made this event that much more important to the full community during the Centennial year.

We thank Supervisor Barger who has been a great supporter of the business community and the SCV Chamber. Further, we thank UCLA Health for returning as the Title Sponsor for the seventh year. Thank you to the Gold Sponsors: City of Santa Clarita, Chiquita Canyon, FivePoint, New Urban West, Shadowbox Studios, Tejon Ranch Company, Trammell Crow and Williams Homes. Silver Sponsors included: Agua Dulce Airport, Burrtec Waste Industries, College of the Canyons, Integrity Property Group, Kaiser Permanente, SchlickArt Photography and Video, the SCV Water Agency, The Signal, and Six Flags Magic Mountain. Bronze Sponsors: California Institute of the Arts, Logix Federal Credit Union, Mission View, SoCalGas, and Southern California Edison.

Celebrating SCV Businesses

From celebrating new businesses opening or marking special occasions and achievements, we continue to be honored being part of your celebrations.

We encourage everyone to come and support our new businesses. All our grand opening/ribbon cuttings are free and open to everyone to attend.

out more at www.equityunion.com. Thank you to all that came to support

Congratulations to The on your opening and celebration in June! Find out more at www.theflyingyolk.com. Thank you to all that came to support them! Photo credit:

Do you have a grand opening or anniversary coming up?

Email us at hello@scvchamber.com for details about hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Please join us at these upcoming Grand Opening/Ribbon Cuttings.