Meet Hang Lam of West Coast Hearing & Balance Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hang Lam.

Hi Hang, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from UC Berkely with a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and quickly realized I did not know what I wanted to do with my life. At this time, I was sharing an apartment with my older sister who was going back to school to pursue her career in nursing. I found work near home as a receptionist at a hearing aid dispenser to help support my sister while I tried to buy time to figure out my career options. I did not realize how much hearing loss could have such an impact on someone’s life until my sister came home crying one day because she realized her hearing loss was significant enough that she could not hear her patient’s heartbeat or lung sounds. I saw her struggling with whether she should give up on pursuing a career she wanted. I researched different options to help her overcome her barriers. At the time there were not a lot of options. I was able to get her set up with an over the ear amplified stethoscope. She was able to accurately hear her patient’s heart.
I spent five years working at Audiological Services of San Francisco learning both the front and back office. I then pursued my doctorate in audiology, graduated from UC San Diego/San Diego State Joint Doctorate of Audiology program in 2014. I have been working at West Coast Hearing and Balance Center for 11 years and recently became an owner in 2025.
My sister was my first patient. I fitted her with her first hearing aids. She is extremely challenging, stubborn, and it took a very long time for me to figure out what it was she needed from a hearing aid. Hearing loss is extremely personal. The loss can be gradual and over time, most people may not know what they have missed until they can hear again. The impact can be missing a career opportunity or connecting with loved ones. I find joy in helping my patients get back those opportunities and connections. Now as a business owner, I can help more than just my patients, but also my community.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I did not meet the basic requirements to apply for the doctorate program but applied anyways. I was fortunate enough to score an interview with audiology program director Steve Kramer who was curious about my background and was given an opportunity to prove myself. It was a struggle, but I did it. I took pre-requisite courses in addition to the doctorate courses. I bought a car and learned to drive in order to make it to the different classes and clinical rotations across town. There were many roadblocks along the way. I was fortunate to have a lot of people who helped me. I learned from them and strived to become a person deserving of their help. Now I am in a position to help the next generation of audiologists.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
West Coast Hearing and Balance Center specializes in audiology, specifically diagnosing and treating hearing loss, providing vestibular testing, and management options for tinnitus. We have four office locations in Ventura County: 1) 2876 N Sycamore Drive #303, Simi Valley, CA 93065 phone (805) 583-8698 2)
299 W Hillcrest Drive #100, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 phone (805) 379-0824 3)1700 N Rose Ave #460, Oxnard, CA 93030 phone (805) 983-4214 4) 2438 Ponderosa Dr. N #C110, Camarillo, CA 93010 phone (805)484-5951.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The hearing industry is growing due to the increasing aging population. However, less than 50% US physicians work in physician-owned practices. Most private practices are acquired by medical groups, hospital systems, and private equity firms. Larger systems does not always mean better customized care. Corporate-owned “big box” chains cut costs by providing standardized hearing aid options that are cheaper and “one size fit all” for their patients.
For us, we know that hearing is not standard. Hearing loss is extremely personal and a personalized approach is very important to help our patients find the hearing aids that fits their needs. Remaining independent is important to us as it allows us to provide a wider range of hearing options, more comprehensive testing, so that we can get our patients hearing to where they want to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wchearing.com

Image Credits
Capture the Shot Photography (first image)