Healthy Hearing & Balance in Baltimore: Audiologist with Comprehensive Vestibular Care
Healthy Hearing & Balance is an independent audiology practice in Baltimore focused equally on hearing testing and balance assessment, serving patients who need both services and those managing dizziness, vertigo, or fall risk alongside hearing loss. The practice operates as a standalone clinic without hospital affiliation, meaning referrals are not required and appointments can be booked directly by calling the office.
What Healthy Hearing & Balance actually offers
The practice provides diagnostic audiometry, hearing aid fitting and adjustment, and vestibular testing on the same premises. Vestibular evaluation sets this clinic apart from typical audiology-only practices in Baltimore; most standalone audiologists perform routine balance screening, but Healthy Hearing & Balance conducts videonystagmography (VNG) and dynamic posturography, tests that require specialized equipment and clinician training. This dual focus matters because hearing loss and balance disorders often coexist in older adults, and managing both under one roof reduces referral delays. The clinic does not perform cerumen removal, ear tube monitoring, or other procedures that require physician supervision; patients needing those services receive referrals to local ENTs.
Services and pricing
Hearing testing costs $150 to $200 for a comprehensive evaluation (verification recommended; fees can shift seasonally). Hearing aid prices range from $1,200 to $3,500 per device, depending on style and features, with a 30-day trial period included. Most major insurances are accepted, including Medicare; out-of-pocket costs vary based on plan. Vestibular testing (VNG or dynamic posturography) runs $300 to $400 per session and is typically covered by Medicare and many commercial plans. The practice dispenses hearing aids from multiple manufacturers (Phonak, Signia, GN ReSound, Widex) rather than being locked into a single brand, which gives patients actual choices. Adjustment appointments for hearing aids are free for the first year after fitting. Follow-up vestibular exams cost the same as initial evaluations.
How it compares to other Baltimore audiologists
Baltimore has three broad categories of audiology providers: hospital-based clinics (University of Maryland Medical Center, Sinai Hospital), independent practices, and big-box retail (Costco, Best Buy). Hospital-based audiology typically offers the broadest referral network if complications arise, but wait times average 4 to 6 weeks. Healthy Hearing & Balance usually books new patients within 2 weeks and does not require physician referral. Independent practices like ENT Associates of Maryland (which houses audiologists) offer similar flexibility but focus primarily on hearing rather than balance; choosing that clinic makes sense if you need only hearing aid fitting and prefer proximity to an ENT specialist in one building. Costco and Best Buy charge less upfront for hearing aids (often $800 to $1,500 per device) but employ staff without doctoral credentials and cannot perform vestibular testing; those retailers suit straightforward hearing aid replacement but not patients with balance concerns or complex hearing loss. Healthy Hearing & Balance sits between hospital system comprehensiveness and retail simplicity, offering specialist-level testing without the wait.
Who it suits and who it should not
Healthy Hearing & Balance is the right choice for patients over 60 with both hearing loss and dizziness, fall risk, or vertigo symptoms. It also suits adults of any age recovering from stroke or neurological illness affecting balance, and people with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (where vestibular involvement must be ruled out). Anyone wanting to compare hearing aid options across brands before committing will benefit from the multi-manufacturer model. The practice does not suit patients needing ear surgery, patients with conductive hearing loss due to structural ear problems, or those without a phone to book directly (the practice does not accept walk-ins). Patients requiring memory care or cognitive support during appointments should arrange a companion visit; the clinic has no case manager on staff.
What the first visit involves
New patients should allow 90 minutes. The session opens with a detailed history about hearing changes, balance history, medical conditions, and medications, since certain drugs can affect balance and hearing. The audiologist performs otoscopy (visual inspection of the ear canal) and pure-tone audiometry in a soundproof booth, plotting results on an audiogram. If balance is a concern, VNG testing follows: the patient sits in a chair, wears special goggles that track eye movement, and follows dots or performs head turns to assess how well the inner ear and brain coordinate movement. A standing balance test (dynamic posturography) may be added if dizziness is severe. Results are discussed same-visit; hearing aid trial fitting occurs at a second appointment two to three days later, allowing time to process test findings.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Healthy Hearing & Balance operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with evening slots available Thursdays until 6 p.m. (verify current hours by calling). The clinic is located in Canton, with a small parking lot shared with nearby businesses; street parking on O'Donnell Street is available if the lot is full. Public transit access via the circulator bus is reliable from downtown Baltimore. Appointments typically require 24-hour notice to cancel; the practice charges a $50 no-show fee. Phone number is listed on the practice website; email appointment requests are not accepted.
Healthy Hearing & Balance fills a specific gap in Baltimore's audiology landscape: patients with dizziness or fall risk do not have to choose between seeing a hearing specialist and a balance specialist, and do not face the delay inherent in hospital system referrals.
