Untreated hearing loss can negatively impact your quality of life, social and emotional well-being. It can affect your ability to understand speech, learn in a group setting or participate in discussions. However, hearing loss can be treated either medically or through rehabilitation and is not necessarily a handicapping condition.
Brigham and Women's Hospital audiologists provide comprehensive, collaborative and patient-centered hearing health care for patients of all ages. Our audiologists assess hearing prior to consultation with the otolaryngologist, provide preoperative and postoperative evaluations, and assist in the diagnosis of hearing and vestibular problems. Seeing an audiologist can help determine the type and degree of hearing loss and a course of action to improve hearing and/or lessen its impact.
Brigham audiologists provide audiological care at our main campus in Boston, Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain and the Mass General Brigham multispecialty clinic in Foxboro.
To schedule an appointment at any of our locations please contact us at (617) 525 6509.
We strive to be leaders in caring patient services, improved patient outcomes, and excellence in hearing healthcare education and research. By providing the most appropriate and evidence-based audiologic treatment plan, our goal is to help each person overcome the consequences of hearing loss and achieve his or her individual communication goals.
The Audiology Program at the Brigham provides comprehensive services for both hearing and vestibular disorders. Clinical services include:
Mallory Brown, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Dr. Brown earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication disorders and a Doctor of Audiology from the University of Connecticut. She joined Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2015 after completing her fourth-year externship at the Brigham. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive audiologic and vestibular assessment, as well as hearing aid dispensing.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Hospital at Foxborough.
Angela C. Costanzi, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Audiology Manager
Dr. Costanzi earned her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders, an MA in 2012 and a Doctor of Audiology in 2016 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She completed her fourth-year externship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2016. She began her career as a clinical audiologist at Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons of Western New England in Springfield, MA in 2016. She returned to Brigham and Women’s Hospital shortly thereafter in 2017. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive diagnostic audiologic assessment, electrophysiology, implantable devices, and hearing aid fitting and care for the adult and pediatric populations.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Main Campus – Boston, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner, and Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Hospital at Foxborough.
Sean Elam, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Dr. Elam earned his bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing science from the University of Illinois in 2009, and he earned a Doctor of Audiology from the University of Minnesota in 2013. He completed his fourth-year externship at the Paparella Ear, Neck, and Head Institute in 2013. He joined the Brigham shortly thereafter. His areas of expertise include comprehensive diagnostic audiologic and vestibular assessment, electrophysiology, and hearing aid fitting and care.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s Faulkner, Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Hospital at Foxborough.
Jaimilee Dresser, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Dr. Dresser earned her bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Vermont and her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She joined the Brigham team after completing her fourth-year externship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2023. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive diagnostic audiologic and vestibular assessment, electrophysiology, and hearing aid fitting and care.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Main Campus – Boston
Connor Lawrence, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Dr. Lawrence earned his Bachelor of Arts in communication disorders and sciences at San Jose State University and his Doctor of Audiology from Salus University. He joined Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2022 after completing his fourth-year externship at the Brigham. His areas of expertise include comprehensive audiologic and vestibular assessment, electrophysiology, and hearing aid fitting and care.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Main Campus – Boston, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner, and Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Hospital at Foxborough.
Lauren McGrath, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA
Clinical Audiologist
Newborn Hearing Screening Program Director
Dr. McGrath earned her bachelor’s degree in communication sciences from the University of Vermont, and she earned her Doctor of Audiology from Towson University. She completed her fourth-year externship at Boston Medical Center in 2013 and practiced there for several years before joining the Brigham family in 2017. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive diagnostic audiologic and vestibular assessment, electrophysiology, as well as newborn hearing screening.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women's Hospital Main Campus – Boston
Sara E. Springer, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Dr. Springer is a clinical audiologist who joined Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2002. Dr. Springer received her Bachelor of Science in communication disorders from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, her Master of Science in audiology from Northeastern University, and her Doctor of Audiology from Salus University. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive audiologic assessment, vestibular assessment and adult hearing aid dispensing.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Main Campus – Boston
Deborah S. Waldman, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Dr. Waldman earned her Bachelor of Science in hearing and speech science at the University of Maryland, College Park, her Master of Science in audiology at Boston University and her Doctor of Audiology at Salus University. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive audiologic and vestibular assessment, as well as hearing aid dispensing including bone anchored hearing devices.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Main Campus – Boston
Lindsay Woods, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist
Dr. Woods earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication science and disorders at Western Washington University and her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She completed her doctoral residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive audiologic and vestibular assessment, implantable devices, as well as hearing aid dispensing.
Location(s) served: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Main Campus – Boston, Brigham and Women's Faulkner, and Brigham and Women's/Mass General Hospital at Foxborough.
If you suspect you have hearing loss, answer these questions suggested by the National Institutes of Health:
If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you may want to see a Brigham and Women's Hospital otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist), or one of our audiologists for a hearing evaluation.
Hearing Aids
We offer a full range of hearing aid products including the latest digital technology through the audiology department at BWH. Our fully operational hearing aid center is staffed by experienced audiologists certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association and members of the American Academy of Audiology.
The Hearing Technology Center provides a wide range of services related to hearing aids and assistive listening devices for patients of all ages. Patients considering hearing aids first undergo a thorough hearing evaluation to identify the nature and degree of hearing loss and ensure that medical intervention with otolaryngology is not indicated.
While at your appointment for a hearing aid evaluation, the type, style and size of amplification will be matched to your requirements. Ear impressions will also be taken. Typically, you will return in approximately two weeks for a fitting. We provide a 30-day adjustment trial period to ensure that you achieve the maximum amplification benefit.
We work with Phonak, Oticon and Widex hearing aids.
Specialized ear mold services include:
Videonystagmography or Electronystagmography (VNG/ENG)
This is the most commonly used test to evaluate the vestibular system (balance portions of the inner ear, nerve, and brain). When the head is in motion, the inner-ear balance organs send signals to the eye muscles to keep vision in focus. Therefore, eye movements can be used to evaluate the balance system. Specialized video goggles with infrared cameras, are used to measure eye movements. Each ear canal is irrigated with small amounts of warm and cool air (caloric test) as the patient lies on an examination table. The air causes a temperature change that creates eye movements (nystagmus) that can be measured and compared for each ear. Information obtained from the ENG, along with information from other clinical tests, can help make a diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. This type of testing cannot be used with infants and small children.
Click here for balance assessment testing pre-evaluation instructions in English.
Click here for balance assessment testing pre-evaluation instructions en Español.
Click here for a list of drugs to avoid 48 hours before testing.
You will receive a thorough diagnostic examination to evaluate if you have a hearing disorder and determine what course of treatment is needed. Careful monitoring and the involvement of an experienced otolaryngologist are important to the successful outcome for patients with ear, nose and throat disorders and conditions.
Brigham and Women's Hospital provides a multidisciplinary approach to patient care by collaborating with colleagues who have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating ear, nose and throat disorders and conditions. In addition, patients have full access to the Brigham's world-renowned academic medical community, with its diverse specialists, and state-of-the-art facilities.
Learn more about hearing disorders in our health library.
Visit the Kessler Health Education Library in the Bretholtz Center to access computers and knowledgeable staff.
Access a complete directory of patient and family services.
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