Are you or someone you know challenged by hearing loss? Is hesitancy to seek a solution keeping you or a loved one from fully participating in conversations with friends, family, or co-workers? If so, there’s help close-at-hand from two local audiology professionals, including one who hails from this neighborhood.
Alisa Weinzimer and Allison Bradley are both Doctors of Audiology. They are co-owners of Pacific Audiology Clinic, a business they launched in 2007. The duo, colleagues prior to starting their own operation, has two locations from which they both work in Portland—one on the west side on Macadam Avenue in the John’s Landing Water Tower building, and the other, a northeast side office—which may have moved by printing date to its new digs at 3502 NE Broadway. Expansion needs are at the heart of the move from longtime quarters on NE 33rd Avenue to the new Broadway location, which will triple the space they’ve had. In a recent interview with Alisa, a Beaumont-Wilshire resident since 1998, she explained the details: “We’re averaging a growth rate of 20-30 percent per year. We need more support staff and are likely adding another clinician, so moving was a necessity,” she said.
In addition to the extensive outreach and education efforts of Pacific Audiology, Alisa attributes the growth in business to increased awareness about hearing loss. Still, she said, the average time it takes for people to act on a concern about hearing loss is seven years: “People aren’t sure what to do about their hearing loss after they accept they have a problem. They aren’t sure what action to take.”
Alisa said Pacific Audiology is excited about some advances in the field, which can make getting help more palatable to the hesitant. They include an extended wear, disposable hearing aid inserted by a specialist. The product lasts about 3 months: “It’s ideal for patients with dexterity challenges, or who simply want the freedom to shower and be active without worrying about taking their hearing aids out.”
For the technology-comfortable, Alisa noted there are now hearing aids that can be adjusted via an IPhone app when the sound environment around the patient becomes dynamic. The same app uses GPS to find lost hearing aids, too. Pacific Audiology also offers hearing aids which sport rechargeable batteries: “This is so much better than dumping old batteries into our landfill, and our patients really appreciate the benefit to our environment,” said Alisa.
Outside the office, Alisa said folks may find her at Beaumont Hardware or Beaumont Market.
“I like to patronize the businesses within a mile of my home. Also, I chose my first northeast office location based on where I lived; my goal was to have no stoplights on my way to work!”
By the end of April, assuming all final permitting paperwork comes through as anticipated, find Pacific Audiology Clinic, a longtime advertiser in this newsletter, at its new east side location at 3502 NE Broadway, or call 503-284-1906. Find the west side location at 5331 SW Macadam Ave., #395. For more information visit pacoregon.com.