Audibel Hearing in RB improves lives

Concerned about your hearing? Audibel Hearing is here to help.

Audibel Hearing, at 11717 Bernardo Plaza Court, Suite 102 in Rancho Bernardo, opened about a year ago and has been helping San Diegans find the best hearing aids for their needs ever since.

Owned by Tiffany Stacy, a Poway native and hearing instrument specialist, the Rancho Bernardo location is part of the larger Audibel company, which has locations across the United States.

“We are a full-service hearing aid dispensing office,” said Stacy. “We provide hearing aid health care and full-spectrum heating testing (as well).”

Stacy’s background was in pharmacy before she discovered her true passion while assisting a friend with some billing issues the friend’s office. “I realized how much I like the patient care aspect (of being a hearing instrument specialist),” said Stacy. “So I made a life change.”

Stacy has been working in the hearing instrument industry for about ten years.

The average consultation with Audibel Hearing lasts for about 90 minutes. Stacy said she begins by taking a “really strong” case history to rule out anything pathological that could be causing hearing loss, which would require medical care beyond what Audibel Hearing can provide.

Then, they take a look at three factors that impact what hearing care will be provided. “The three main factors we look at are taking a look at the patient’s lifestyle, doing a hearing test and looking at their speech discrimination, which tells us if the hearing loss has caused damage in the brain,” said Stacy.

Full diagnostic testing is also done in a sound-proof booth.

After all the testing, Stacy said she sits down with patients to talk about what type of hearing loss they have, discuss options and give them a demonstration of hearing technology by putting a hearing aid in their ears.

“The most important thing is to get to know our patients and their issues,” said Stacy. “I’m really patient-care driven, and I want to make sure they have realistic expectations for how their hearing will be corrected.”

Stacy said many people don’t understand how hearing aids work, and how hearing works in general. “There is a lot of counseling involved,” said Stacy.

If the decsion is made to move forward and purchase a hearing aid, it usually takes about a week to be delivered. Audibel Hearing will then spend time making sure the patient fully understands everything about how the hearing aid works and how to maintain it.

After two weeks, the patient is asked to return to do a follow-up and make sure everything is working as it should, said Stacy. Minor adjustments can be made to improve the hearing assistance it provides.

Another appointment two weeks after the follow-up will ensure that the adjustments are working out, and after that, patients are asked to come in every three or four months to maintain the hearing aid, as well as yearly exams to keep track of any further hearing loss.

“It’s all about patient care,” said Stacy.

Audibel Hearing is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and has evening and weekend appointments available upon request. To find out more or to make an appointment, call 858-375-5717 or visit www.bernardoaudibelhearing.com.