Why I Chose Tinnitus (And Why I Only See Tinnitus Patients Now) — Dr. Emily McMahan, AuD

Why I Chose Tinnitus (And Why I Only See Tinnitus Patients Now) — Dr. Emily McMahan, AuD

If you’ve ever been told to “just live with” your tinnitus, you’re not alone.

For many people in the Bay Area, the search for real help leads eventually to the same name: Dr. Emily E. McMahan, AuD — a nationally recognized tinnitus audiologist, owner of Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center, and co-author of breakthrough research on Lenire®, an FDA-approved tinnitus treatment.

Today, she focuses her clinical work almost entirely on tinnitus. And through a special partnership with California Hearing Center in San Mateo, she now brings that expertise to patients across the San Francisco Peninsula and greater Bay Area.

This is the story of why she chose tinnitus — and why she only sees tinnitus patients now.

A personal path into the “ringing in the ears” nobody talked about

Before she became a nationally known tinnitus specialist, Emily was just like many of the people she sees today: surrounded by loved ones who struggled with hearing and sound they didn’t understand.

As a kid, she watched how hearing challenges and constant ringing in the ears could chip away at people’s quality of life — not just their ability to hear the TV, but their ability to participate in family conversations, enjoy hobbies, and feel like themselves.

That early exposure stuck with her.

Later, while studying communication sciences and disorders and then completing her Doctor of Audiology degree, she kept coming back to one group of people who seemed especially lost in the system: patients with tinnitus — the ones who were told, over and over, that there was “nothing that can be done.”

For Emily, that answer was never good enough.

From general audiologist to tinnitus-only specialist

Like many audiologists, Dr. McMahan started out seeing “a bit of everything”: hearing tests, hearing aids, balance issues, pediatric cases, general diagnostics.

But one pattern kept bothering her:

  • Tinnitus patients arrived late in their journey, often anxious or desperate.
  • They had seen multiple providers already.
  • They’d been told their hearing was “fine” or that they needed to learn to live with it.

Meanwhile, the science of tinnitus — especially brain-based models and sound therapies — was evolving quickly. Research showed that while tinnitus often starts in the ear, it’s the brain and nervous system that keep the sound “turned up” in the background.

Emily realized two things:

  1. Tinnitus care is complex. To do it well, patients need more time, more counseling, and more follow-through than a typical “15-minute” visit allows.
  2. Very few clinics specialize in it. Many professionals simply don’t have the training, systems, or time to build a full tinnitus program — so patients are left believing there are no options.

So she made a decision that many considered bold:

She would build a practice that puts tinnitus front and center — and over time, focus her clinical work almost entirely on people living with tinnitus.

Building Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center

In Anchorage, Emily founded Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center (also known as All Ears Alaska) with a clear mission: to help people “hear the life they love” again, whether the challenge was hearing loss, tinnitus, or both.

Over the years, her clinic has become known for:

  • Comprehensive tinnitus evaluations that go far beyond “you passed the hearing test.”
  • Evidence-based tinnitus management, including sound therapy, counseling, and collaboration with physicians when needed.
  • Teleaudiology and remote support, allowing patients across Alaska and beyond to access expert tinnitus care via secure video visits.

She didn’t just treat patients — she also began teaching other audiologists how to build tinnitus clinics and served on the Board of Directors of the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), helping shape best practices and patient education on a national level.

In other words, Emily wasn’t just another audiologist who happened to “see tinnitus.” She became one of the leading tinnitus specialists in the country.

From clinic to research: co-authoring breakthrough Lenire® data

As her tinnitus caseload grew, Emily wanted better answers for patients whose symptoms stayed severe despite traditional approaches. That curiosity led her into the world of bimodal neuromodulation — specifically, Lenire®, an FDA-approved device that combines gentle tongue stimulation with customized sound to help retrain how the brain processes tinnitus.

At Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center, she became one of the first Lenire providers in the United States and treated hundreds of patients with the device.

Then came a major milestone:

  • She co-authored a real-world evidence study on Lenire, published in Nature Communications Medicine.
  • The study reviewed outcomes for patients with moderate or worse tinnitus treated at her clinic and found that Lenire helped a large majority achieve a meaningful reduction in tinnitus severity when used under the guidance of an experienced tinnitus clinician.

That research didn’t just validate her clinical work — it put her at the forefront of a new era of tinnitus care.

You can read more about this work via:

Why she says “tinnitus patients deserve more than ‘there’s nothing we can do’”

If there is one phrase that lights a fire in Dr. McMahan, it’s this:

“My doctor told me I just have to live with it.”

From her perspective, that’s not compassion — it’s a gap in the system.

She knows there is no single magic cure for tinnitus, and she’s always honest about that. But she also knows:

  • Many people can dramatically reduce how loud or intrusive their tinnitus feels.
  • Others can keep the sound the same but change their brain’s reaction to it, so it fades into the background of life instead of dominating every moment.
  • New tools like Lenire® are giving patients more options than ever before.

Her philosophy is simple:

“You deserve a specialist who will listen, explain what’s happening, and walk with you through a structured plan — not just tell you to ‘get used to it.’”

That philosophy is exactly what she brings to the Bay Area.

Bringing advanced tinnitus care to the Bay Area with California Hearing Center

Tinnitus patients from California were already traveling to Anchorage to see Dr. McMahan — some from the Bay Area specifically. At the same time, California Hearing Center in San Mateo and San Carlos was building its own reputation as a trusted, doctor-led audiology clinic and developing a dedicated Tinnitus Therapy program.

A partnership made perfect sense.

Today, California Hearing Center:

  • Hosts tinnitus clinics with Dr. Emily McMahan in its San Mateo office.
  • Offers Lenire® tinnitus therapy in the Bay Area, guided by Emily’s protocols and experience. Learn more here: Tinnitus Therapy & Lenire in San Mateo – Featuring Dr. Emily McMahan.
  • Provides ongoing, local support from its own team of audiologists, so patients don’t have to manage tinnitus alone or fly out of state for every appointment.

If you search for a tinnitus audiologist in San Mateo or a tinnitus specialist story that offers hope and real science, you’ll now find California Hearing Center and Dr. McMahan together.

What this means if you’re a Bay Area tinnitus patient

If you live anywhere in San Mateo County or the broader Bay Area and your tinnitus feels overwhelming, here’s what this collaboration offers:

1. Specialist-level evaluation

  • A deep dive into your tinnitus history, hearing, and triggers.
  • Testing that goes beyond a basic hearing screen.

2. Evidence-based treatment options

  • Sound therapy, counseling, and hearing solutions when appropriate.
  • Access to Lenire® through Dr. McMahan’s field clinics at California Hearing Center in San Mateo.

3. A team that truly understands tinnitus

  • Nationally recognized tinnitus expertise from Dr. Emily McMahan.
  • Local, ongoing support from the audiologists at California Hearing Center.

Where to learn more about Dr. Emily McMahan

If you’d like to explore more of Dr. McMahan’s work and background, here are a few helpful resources:

Ready to talk to a tinnitus specialist in the Bay Area?

If Dr. McMahan’s story resonates with you — if you’ve been dismissed, told your hearing is “fine,” or left to cope with tinnitus alone — you don’t have to keep doing this by yourself.

At California Hearing Center, we host regular tinnitus therapy and Lenire® clinics with Dr. Emily McMahan right here in San Mateo, supported by our local team of audiologists.

Learn more or request a consultation:

You deserve a tinnitus specialist who will take your symptoms seriously, explain what’s happening, and walk with you through a real plan.

That’s why Dr. Emily McMahan chose tinnitus — and why California Hearing Center is honored to bring her expertise to the Bay Area.

FAQ: Tinnitus, Treatment, and Dr. Emily McMahan

Can tinnitus really get better, or do I just have to live with it?

For many people, tinnitus can absolutely improve. Some patients notice the sound itself becomes softer or less frequent over time. Others still hear it, but their brain stops treating it like an emergency, so it fades into the background of daily life. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all “cure,” but with a proper evaluation and a structured treatment plan, most people can reduce how loud, stressful, or disruptive their tinnitus feels.

Do I need to know what caused my tinnitus before I see a specialist?

No. It’s helpful if you can share when you first noticed your tinnitus, any major noise exposures, illnesses, or medication changes—but you don’t need a perfect timeline to get help. A tinnitus specialist like Dr. McMahan will use your history and a full diagnostic workup to identify likely contributors and build a plan, even if the exact starting point is unclear.

What if my doctor told me there’s nothing they can do for my tinnitus?

Unfortunately, many patients hear this. It usually means the provider doesn’t specialize in tinnitus, not that you’re out of options. Modern tinnitus care can include sound therapy, customized counseling, hearing solutions (when needed), and in some cases advanced treatments like Lenire®. If you’ve been told to “just live with it,” that’s a good sign it’s time to see a tinnitus-focused audiologist.

How long does tinnitus treatment take?

It depends on the severity of your tinnitus and the tools you’re using. Some people feel meaningful relief within a few weeks of starting a structured program; for others, progress happens over several months as the brain gradually re-learns how to tune tinnitus out. Treatments like Lenire® are typically used over a defined program (for example, daily sessions for about 12 weeks), followed by a maintenance phase based on your results and goals.

Do I have to travel to Alaska to see Dr. McMahan?

No. Through a partnership with California Hearing Center, Dr. McMahan brings her tinnitus expertise and Lenire® protocols to San Mateo, with ongoing care supported by the local CHC audiology team. Some patients may still choose to see her in Anchorage, but Bay Area residents can often complete most or all of their tinnitus journey without leaving California.

Is California Hearing Center accepting new tinnitus patients?

Yes. California Hearing Center in San Mateo and San Carlos is currently accepting new tinnitus patients, including those interested in advanced options like Lenire®. If you’d like to learn whether you’re a good candidate for treatment with Dr. McMahan and the CHC team, you can start by requesting a tinnitus evaluation through our Tinnitus Therapy page or exploring our Tinnitus Knowledge Hub.