Why Atherton Patients Choose California Hearing Center for Tinnitus Care

Tinnitus is incredibly common in the Bay Area, especially among people with busy, high-stress lifestyles. But finding specialized tinnitus care in Atherton can be difficult—many clinics focus only on hearing tests or hearing aids.

At California Hearing Center, tinnitus care is not an afterthought. It’s a specialty.

Our team includes Dr. Emily McMahan, one of the country’s most recognized tinnitus experts. Patients from Atherton and nearby communities regularly choose CHC for her:

• Advanced training in tinnitus and sound sensitivity
• Experience treating thousands of complex tinnitus cases
• Clear, calm explanations of what’s happening in the brain
• Evidence-based therapy plans that help patients regain control
• Access to Lenire, sound therapy tools, and structured counseling

Whether your tinnitus started suddenly, has become louder, or has been disrupting your sleep for years, you’ll get a personalized plan — not a generic “learn to live with it.”

Common Tinnitus Symptoms We See in Atherton Patients

People from Atherton and surrounding cities often come to us with:

• Ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whooshing sounds in one or both ears
• Sudden-onset tinnitus after illness, stress, or a loud event
• Tinnitus in one ear only
• Tinnitus linked to stress, anxiety, or jaw/neck tension
• Tinnitus with sound sensitivity (hyperacusis)
• Tinnitus after concerts, flights, work travel, or medications

If your symptoms are new, changing, or affecting your daily life, scheduling an evaluation early can prevent things from getting worse.

Meet Your Tinnitus Specialist: Dr. Emily McMahan, AuD

Many patients make the short drive from Atherton, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Los Altos specifically to see Dr. McMahan.

She combines advanced audiology training with a calm, empathetic counseling style to help you understand:

• Why tinnitus often feels louder during periods of stress
• What real tinnitus habituation looks like over time
• Which treatments actually help and which are not worth your energy
• How to retrain the brain to move tinnitus out of the spotlight

Learn more about Dr. McMahan’s background and approach: Meet Dr. McMahan »

What to Expect at Your Tinnitus Evaluation

Your visit goes far beyond “your hearing is fine.” Our tinnitus evaluations are designed to understand what you’re hearing, how it affects your life, and what we can realistically do to help.

During your appointment, we typically include:

• Comprehensive audiological testing – including tests often skipped at standard clinics.
• Tinnitus pitch and loudness matching – to better understand your tinnitus profile.
• Medical rule-out guidance – to determine whether imaging or ENT referral is appropriate.
• Personalized treatment roadmap – based on your symptoms, lifestyle, and goals.

Most patients leave their first visit feeling more informed, more hopeful, and more confident about next steps.

Treatment Options for Atherton Patients with Tinnitus

California Hearing Center offers one of the most complete tinnitus therapy programs in the Bay Area, including:

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT is a structured program that helps your brain stop over-focusing on tinnitus. Over time, the sound becomes less noticeable and less emotionally charged.

Sound Therapy & Wearable Devices

We use carefully selected sound therapy tools, including wearable devices and sound generators, to gently support habituation and reduce the contrast between tinnitus and silence.

Cognitive & Behavioral Strategies

Tinnitus often spikes when stress, anxiety, or poor sleep enter the picture. We incorporate strategies drawn from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles to help you respond differently to tinnitus and reduce its impact.

Lenire (Bimodal Neuromodulation)

Lenire is the first FDA-approved bimodal neuromodulation device for tinnitus. It uses a combination of gentle tongue stimulation and sound therapy to encourage the brain to dial down tinnitus over time.

Lenire is available at our San Mateo and San Carlos clinics, which are both convenient to Atherton. Learn more here: Lenire Tinnitus Treatment »

Convenient Tinnitus Care Near Atherton

While there are limited tinnitus-focused resources directly in Atherton, our San Mateo and San Carlos clinics are nearby and offer advanced tinnitus care and technology.

• San Mateo Clinic – approximately 10–15 minutes from Atherton
• San Carlos Clinic – approximately 10–15 minutes from Atherton

Both locations offer easy parking and a calm, patient-centered environment.

When to See a Tinnitus Audiologist Right Away

You should schedule a tinnitus evaluation as soon as possible if you notice:

• Sudden onset tinnitus, especially in one ear
• Pulsatile tinnitus (hearing your heartbeat in your ear)
• Tinnitus with dizziness, imbalance, or sudden hearing changes
• Tinnitus that is disrupting your sleep, mood, or ability to focus
• Tinnitus lasting longer than 48 hours after a loud noise exposure

Early evaluation can help rule out urgent concerns and set you on a clearer path forward.