Whisper Hearing Center

I was so upset today. I schedule appt for fitting. I get to my appt early for them to tell me I was not scheduled. I wrote it down and confirmed before we hung up. Too hot for this!

Buying hearing aids can be an extremely frustrating experience. Considering so many options out there, at least it was for me, That is until I met Dr. Susanna Storm at the Whisper Hearing Center on 30^th Street. Dr. Storm is a a Board Certified Audiologist. I was referred to her by my internist who professionally knows Dr. Storm and has met with her on several occasions. Before my appointment, I had visited several other hearing aid dispensers, including Costco, with mixed results. They all have their pros and cons. If price is your primary concern, perhaps you should look elsewhere. There are other alternatives.
Before I even met Dr. Storm, Whisper Hearing’s office administrator had me fill out a questionnaire designed to help them evaluate my needs as a patient. Price, while important, was not my primary concern. Service and attention to detail was.
I was very impressed by the service rendered by everyone at the Whisper Hearing Center office. Dr. Storm gave me a thorough, professional examination, not simply a cookie cutter hearing test. Instead of immediately recommending various products that she felt might work, Dr. Storm, based on the results of her examination, suggested that I first see an ENT to determine whether my loss of hearing was age related, or if my condition had medical implications. She is extremely thorough!
After seeing an ENT and determining the cause of my hearing loss, based on the recommendation of Dr. Storm, I selected the Oticon Alta model and have been exceptionally pleased with the results. No hearing aid is 100% perfect, and Oticon Alta is no exception. We’re still in the process of fine tuning the instrument, which can take several weeks and frequently needs to be adjusted over the years as an individual’s hearing loss intensifies. What I like about Dr. Storm is she is not just there to sell you a device which will improve your hearing. She’s there to ensure that 2 – 3 years down the road, your settings are at the right level as well as make whatever adjustments are necessary over the life of the product. Like eyeglasses, where every several years or so, your prescription needs to be updated, hearing aids are no different. But, to do so, you should be seen on a regular basis by a competent audiologist who is professionally trained to deliver the best personalized results for each patient in their care.
Whisper Hearing, Oakland, employs the staff to do this and Dr. Susanna Storm is one of the best!

I did not want to admit I needed hearing aids… and I did not want to wade into researching what I’d heard was the horrible, never-​get-​it-​right, take-​advantage industry of hearing centers.
I was lucky enough to be lead to Dr. Storm and her colleagues partly through Unilocal,so I am adding my comments in hopes it helps someone else in need/​denial.
First off, Dr. Storm is the most patient, kind, confident, up-​beat burst of personality you will ever meet. You will immediately feel cared for and cared about as she listens intently and her patient care, interaction and interest is genuine. You will get unfailing determination and unlimited trials to fit the right equipment to your loss as well as comfort. That is all backed up with lifetime support visits to ensure the equipment is property cleaned and functional.
The entire team at Whisper was obviously hand-​picked to provide the support and patient care that is afforded each person coming through the door… thanks also to Beatrix and Dr. Gregoire for their part in my success.
If there were anything I could wish for, it would be that Dr. Storm become an MD so that I could see her for all-​over care!

I have now taken three different people for hearing assessments with Dr. Storm and Dr. Gregoire. They are BOTH exceptionally caring and competent audiologists. They will not try to sell you products you don’t need. They WILL give you great service and treat you like you matter! I wholeheartedly recommend them.

I am very happy with their prompt service and education upon hearing aids. Storm will break you through when you know you can hear better!!! awesome performance:)

Being new to Oakland, I spent a lot of time finding an audiologist and was advised by a friend to try Whisper Hearing Center. I’m so glad I did! I’ve see Dr. Susanna Storm there, and she is utterly FANTASTIC! She’s young, energetic and passionate about providing the best possible care for her patients. She’s also up-​to-​date on the technology definitely hip yet she always makes me feel totally comfortable (and I’m definitely NOT young) She spent time making sure she understood my situation (complicated) and then came up with a solution that’s been fabulous. Being able to hear again has been a real gift!
The entire staff is really great. Beatriz and the rest are professional but not at all stuffy. I’ve seen them interact with many other patients and they are alway so nice.
I have recommended Whisper to others and would encourage you to check them out if you need help with your hearing. They are great!

I spent *hours* on researching and visiting hearing aid providers in addition to researching the topic itself. You can benefit from my time investment and go straight to Dr. Elise Gregoire at Whisper.
My 88-​year old mum desperately needed new and much better hearing aids. We bought a pair at Costco that we returned, and we visited two other hearing aid practices. I think it is certainly possible to get your hearing aid needs met at Costco but quite difficult. I can’t recommend it.
My brother went to Dr. Gregoire yesterday, after seeing my Mum’s experience, and was thrilled. My sister is making an appointment, and I will eventually make one, as well. (Are we hearing-​challenged, or what?)
I’ve learned that hearing aids are not a commodity, and that getting the best results depends on the fitting and follow-​up care.
Dr. Gregoire is skilled and delightful.

I was referred to Whisper Hearing by my former audiologist, who retired. I lost a hearing aid recently, and it turned out to be an obscure model that wasn’t easy to replace. But the staff got one and fitted me quickly and easily. I greatly appreciated their courtesy and professionalism.

Is it possible to have the sort of rapport with an audiologist that you have with a primary care physician? Miraculously, that’s what I found at Whisper.
The key difference, compared to run-​of-​the-​mill hearing aid dispensers, is that the professional staff have doctorates in audiology. They understand hearing and hearing loss though and through. This helped enormously with choosing the right hearing aid and with programming it to suit my particular hearing loss and even my particular lifestyle.
Oh, and they’re friendly and supportive. After a few moments I was comfortable enough to discuss not only what I wasn’t hearing but also how bad it made me feel – which they offered valuable advice to deal with.
Their help has made a difference not just in how I hear but in how I feel. Not a place to whisper about — a place to Unilocal about!