Local care, close by
Dr. Emily McMahan, AuD
Palo Alto patients tend to be discerning and evidence-minded, and they choose us for measured, verified fittings rather than a quick sale. They also come for specialized tinnitus care and the continuity of seeing the same audiologist each visit, close enough that a follow-up never means a lost afternoon.
For Palo Alto patients specifically, that means care led by Dr. Emily McMahan, AuD, whose focus is tinnitus and complex hearing needs — the reason many patients seek her out specifically. Read more about Dr. McMahan.
At a glance
- Palo Alto patients can see Dr. Emily McMahan, AuD at California Hearing Center's San Carlos office.
- Small enough to know you by name, equipped enough to handle complex fittings and tinnitus care.
- From a first hearing test to advanced tinnitus treatment, the full range of care is under one roof.
Hearing well in demanding listening environments
For many Palo Alto patients, the challenge is not quiet conversation at home but the hard stuff: back-to-back meetings, open-plan offices, video calls, and noisy University Avenue restaurants. Following speech when several people talk at once is a specific skill, and off-the-shelf devices rarely solve it on their own. We use speech-in-noise testing and real-ear verification to fit and program hearing aids for exactly those settings, so you can keep up where it actually matters.
A city that never stops listening hard
From Old Palo Alto and Crescent Park to College Terrace and Professorville, and along the two downtowns of University Avenue and California Avenue, Palo Alto is full of people whose work depends on hearing every word. Add the Stanford campus and its lectures and events, and you have a community that needs clarity in complex, layered sound. For these patients we focus on speech-in-noise performance and precise verification, not just an audiogram, so hearing aids earn their keep in the rooms where the day happens.
The hearing aids we fit
We keep demonstration units of the current platforms at our San Carlos office, so patients from Palo Alto can hear the difference rather than read about it. A demonstration takes about half an hour and costs nothing. Bring a recent audiogram if you have one, or we can test first — and whatever you choose, the fitting is verified with real-ear measurement, which usually changes your result more than the platform does.
Getting to us from Palo Alto
About 15-20 minutes from our San Carlos office on the 101. We are about 15-20 minutes from University Avenue, California Avenue, and the Stanford campus by way of the 101 to our San Carlos office. Call us at 650-342-9449 and we'll confirm timing, directions, and what to bring.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered
Does Dr. Emily McMahan see patients from Palo Alto?
Yes. Dr. Emily McMahan, AuD, sees patients from Palo Alto at our San Carlos office. Her practice is focused on tinnitus care. Read more about Dr. McMahan.
What does Dr. McMahan focus on?
Dr. McMahan has built her work around tinnitus — evaluation, sound therapy, counseling, and Lenire — spending more time on the details general appointments often skip.
How do I book with Dr. McMahan specifically?
Call 650-342-9449 and ask for a tinnitus consultation. We'll match you with the right appointment and location.