For Patients & Families

If you or someone you care about is living with hearing loss, tinnitus, or sound sensitivity, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it only through internet searches. I’m an audiologist and clinician–scientist at UCSF. I care for adults with:

  • Hearing loss
  • Tinnitus (ringing or sounds in the ears)
  • Hyperacusis and sound sensitivity
  • More complex hearing situations that haven’t responded well to standard care

My approach is evidence-based and whole-person. That means I pay attention not just to test results and devices, but also to how hearing and tinnitus are affecting your daily life, relationships, work, and energy. I also think in terms of systems—how scheduling, communication, and follow-up support the care you actually receive.

How Care Works at UCSF

All clinical care happens through UCSF, not through this personal website.

At UCSF:

  • What I do personally: I evaluate adults with hearing and tinnitus concerns, discuss options, and help build care plans that fit real life. This may include hearing devices, counseling and education, coordination with other specialties, and referrals to appropriate programs or clinical trials.
  • What our team does: I work with a multi-site audiology team and colleagues in otology, primary care, mental health, and other specialties. Together, we:
    • Provide hearing and tinnitus evaluations
    • Fit and manage hearing devices
    • Coordinate care for more complex cases
    • Connect eligible patients with research or clinical trials

For appointments, questions about your own care, or referrals, please use UCSF’s official channels:

Note: This site can’t be used for scheduling or medical advice.

EARS: Hearing & Tinnitus Education Between Visits

To support patients and families outside the exam room, our team created the
EARS patient education hub.

EARS is a free, online library of plain-language information about hearing and tinnitus, hosted by UCSF Audiology.

EARS is designed for people who are:

  • Preparing for or recovering from visits
  • Trying to understand their diagnosis
  • Supporting a family member or friend

You can visit EARS here: ears.ucsf.edu.
A few examples of what you’ll find:

These resources are meant to support conversations with your own clinicians, not replace medical care.

If You’re Looking for Help

If you’re seeking care at UCSF, you may be referred through your primary care provider, otolaryngologist (ENT), or another specialist. New patients are typically scheduled through UCSF’s central systems, not through this site.

Current patients can use the UCSF MyChart portal and clinic phone numbers for appointment and care-related questions.

At an initial audiology visit, you can generally expect:

  • A conversation about your hearing, tinnitus, and day-to-day experiences
  • Hearing and/or tinnitus testing, as appropriate
  • A discussion of results in clear language
  • Next steps, which may include monitoring, devices, education, or referral to other services

Bringing a list of your main concerns, medications, and any prior hearing test results (if you have them) can be helpful, but it’s not required for you to be “ready” for care.

Living With Hearing Loss or Tinnitus

Hearing loss and tinnitus can be frustrating, exhausting, and isolating. Many people worry that they’re “overreacting” or that nothing can be done. Those feelings are common—and they’re understandable.

You deserve care that takes your experience seriously, explains options clearly, and gives you space to ask questions over time. My work at UCSF, and through projects like EARS, is focused on building that kind of care.

This page is a starting point, not a substitute for medical advice. For personal medical questions, the safest and most effective path is always through your own clinicians and health system.