Rhee Nesson, Au.D

About Your EIA Certified Audiologist

From a young age, I’ve always connected well with people older than myself. My parents always joked that when we would go out with friends and family, I always ended up at the “grown-up table”. That desire to connect with others is something that I always cherished, so during high school, I volunteered my time at a local nursing home. I spent many hours listening to the residents and getting to know their stories. Even then I realized the importance of hearing and being heard. Everyone has a story to tell… and it’s important for people to hear it, too. Listening to others is what connects us all.

After high school, I attended the University of Michigan and then moved to New York City where I began working in a career that I found increasingly unfulfilling.  I always admired my father because as a physician, he was always able to help his patients in a dramatic, concrete way. When a close family friend who was an ENT introduced me to the profession of audiology, I knew I had found the perfect career for me.  Being able to blend my passion for helping others, while making a big change in their lives through better hearing, was the perfect fit.

With the support of both my mother and father, in the fall of 2001, I went back to Hunter College and then the Graduate Center of New York where I earned my Doctorate in Audiology. When I chose this profession, it never occurred to me that one day I would be helping my own family and friends navigate hearing loss. The day I fit my Grandma Esther with hearing aids was a truly magical one. It was like a light was turned back on and she could re-connect with her family again. While she developed dementia, it was so critical for her to be connected and engaged with the people around her. I was able to witness firsthand how hearing aids helped her to stay connected longer with those around her on a level that she would otherwise not have been able to maintain.

A few years later, my father and mother-in-law needed hearing aids, along with other close friends of ours. We would joke that now, when my kids (their grandchildren) are too loud, at least they can turn them off! I feel so fortunate that I get the opportunity to assist my family and help others reconnect with their loved ones and the world around them. The impact and confidence that better hearing brings is unmatched. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I am so fortunate to be in a position to help others create real, tangible improvement in other people’s lives.

Certifications and Awards

1. Bachelor of Science at the University of Michigan, 1999
2. Masters in Audiology at Hunter College, 2004
3. Doctorate in Audiology at the Graduate Center of New York, 2009
4. Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association
5. Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology
6. Licensed in Audiology by the State of New York and the State of New Jersey
7. Licensed as a Hearing Aid Dispenser by the New York State Division of Licensing Services and the State of New Jersey
8. Certified Person-Centered Care Provider by the Ida Institute
9. Certified Dementia Practitioner by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners
10. Certified Tinnitus Practitioner from AuD Experts
11. Certified Member of AuD Experts

What is an Excellence In Audiology Certification?

In order to become certified by Excellence in Audiology, a provider is rigorously tested by a highly respected panel of examiners to demonstrate their auditory and cognitive knowledge, clinical skills, and judgment. Those who achieve certification have taken a major step beyond the two to three years of advanced education required to be a hearing health care specialist.