PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sam Thomasson, CEO and Founder of Zounds Hearing, Inc. received the 2014 Health Care Heroes Innovator Award at the Phoenix Business Journal's Health Care Heroes awards ceremony. The Award was presented by Ray Schey, Publisher of the Phoenix Business Journal. Mr. Thomasson also received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives in recognition of his outstanding contribution.
Thomasson has spent his career developing new technologies in the medical device and consumer electronics industries, developing 57 groundbreaking patents that enable Zounds to dramatically improve the performance of hearing aids. “Receiving the award for Innovation in particular means a great deal to me, as continually striving to advance hearing technology is the driving force behind everything I do,” said Thomasson. “It is important to note that there is a team of dedicated, talented engineers at Zounds who devote all their energies to this effort, and I share this honor with them.”
As the father of a hearing impaired child, Thomasson understands the frustrations of those who wear hearing aids. “My daughter’s struggles with hearing loss and the limitations of traditional hearing aids triggered what can only be described as an absolute obsession,” said Thomasson. “Being able to use my abilities to develop a hearing aid that has dramatically improved her quality of life is incredibly rewarding.” Sam’s wife, LaWana, and daughter, Kate, were at his side for the presentation. “My dad has always been my hero,” said Kate Thomasson. “It is great to see his hard work recognized by others.”
Hearing loss affects over 20% of the American population, approximately 48 million according to The Hearing Loss Association of America, and often goes undetected for years. Untreated hearing loss has been called a growing national epidemic and linked to feelings of depression, anxiety, frustration, social isolation and the early onset of dementia. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD), approximately one third of Americans between ages 65 and 74 and nearly half of those over age 75 have hearing loss.
About Zounds Hearing, Inc.
Zounds Hearing designs, manufactures and retails high-performance hearing aids for use with mild, moderate, severe and profound hearing impairments. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company's technology enables breakthroughs in product, performance, selection and value. Zounds utilizes internally developed research and 57 exclusive patents. For more information, please visit http://www.ZoundsHearing.com.
