- April 18, 2024
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Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month! At Palm Coast Hearing Center, we are passionate about educating Palm Coast residents on the importance of hearing health. One of the simple ways we can do this is by sharing who we are and the types of problems we help our patients solve. This past year held many challenges and changes, including a period of involuntary closure due to the COVID pandemic. In August of 2020 Palm Coast Hearing Center re-opened under new ownership, but with the same friendly faces and some new ones! Our new owner and Clinical Director is Dr. Indira Alvarez, who has over 13 years of experience in treating patients with hearing loss. She is joined by Heather Curry, who has been serving the Palm Coast community for over 15 years as a Hearing Aid Specialist and Dr. Dominique Botta.
What is a Doctor of Audiology and how are they different?
Audiologists are health-care professionals who provide patient-centered care in evaluating, diagnosing, treating and managing hearing, balance, and auditory disorders for people of all ages. From newborn hearing screenings, to fitting hearing aids, to testing balance, our services are needed throughout the lifespan.
Our new Clinical Director, Dr. Alvarez, has a variety of experience among different settings, including Bay Pines VA Hospital, All Children’s Hospital and as a Clinical Supervisor for the University of South Florida. She is the only Tinnitus Practitioner’s Association certified provider and member of American Tinnitus Association in central east Florida.
What training is required to be an audiologist?
Since our change of ownership, we have noticed patients expressing curiosity in what an Audiologist (Au.D) is, and how our office is now different than before. An audiologist requires a doctoral level degree and four additional years of education after receiving a bachelor's degree. That’s 8 years of school! Adding audiology specialists to the practice has elevated the standard of care our patients receive, expanded the services we provide, and improved our already legendary commitment to service. We now accept all insurances and have lowered the fee schedule to better serve our community.
Audiologists truly never stop learning! As you can imagine, technology continues to evolve, which means audiology does too. Staying up to date on best practice includes being informed on the latest research, testing procedures, and advancements in hearing aid technology. Our audiologists and specialists complete copious continuing education credits every year to stay abreast of the latest diagnostic and treatment advances.
In addition to graduating from an accredited doctoral program, our audiologists must complete a clinical residency, pass a national exam and are required to hold state licensure.
What services do audiologists provide?
Our audiologists are trained and equipped to perform a wide variety of services. Listed below are some of the many services we perform:
The goal at Palm Coast Hearing Center is always to provide patient centered care that is backed by evidence-based practice. The objective is not to sell, but rather to improve an individual’s quality of life. There is a SCIENCE and SKILL that goes into picking the right technology for you or a loved one. So with all the changes, we hope that we can serve this community in the way it deserves. Call us today to find out how we can help! 386-270-0421 or visit www.palmcoasthearingcenter.com to request an appointment today.
Palm Coast Hearing Center
160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Suite A108, Palm Coast
