Hearing care in Palo Alto

Hearing loss creeps up slowly for most people. Family members often notice it first: the TV gets louder, restaurants feel tiring, phone calls get harder. Getting a proper hearing test is simple in Palo Alto. The options for hearing aids have changed a great deal since over-the-counter devices arrived in 2022.

This page is general information, not medical advice. It covers who tests hearing locally, how hearing aids are sold and paid for and when a problem needs a doctor quickly. Clinics named here were confirmed on their own websites in November 2026 and are grouped by type, not ranked. Hours change, so call before you go. If hearing loss comes on suddenly, seek medical care the same day.

Who does what

California licenses audiologists and hearing aid dispensers through the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board, which offers an online license lookup. A quick check before you buy is worth the two minutes.

Audiology at the big health systems

Stanford Health Care

Stanford's Audiology and Hearing Devices Clinic is at 2452 Watson Court in Palo Alto. The clinic lists full diagnostic testing, including auditory evoked potentials and balance testing. It also lists dispensing services for hearing aids and assistive listening devices. The Stanford Ear Institute shares the building in Suite 1700 and treats hearing loss and tumors of the skull base. Appointments for both are at 650-723-5281. New patients mail or fax a registration form before the first visit.

Sutter's Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Sutter lists audiology among the specialties at its Palo Alto Center, 795 El Camino Real. Its audiologists there are in the Jamplis Building, Level 2, with scheduling at 650-853-2952. Sutter's Mountain View Center at 701 East El Camino Real has another audiology office on the third floor of the North Wing, at 650-934-7900. Sutter asks new patients to call for availability. Our Palo Alto Medical Foundation guide covers parking on the El Camino campus.

Kaiser and the VA

Kaiser members should ask their Kaiser doctor about a hearing test and what their plan covers for hearing aids. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can ask their VA team about audiology. The VA provides hearing aids to many eligible veterans.

Hearing care for children

Every newborn gets a hearing screening before leaving the hospital. If a baby does not pass, or a child later struggles at school, a pediatric audiologist can test even very young children. Stanford Medicine Children's Health lists pediatric audiology at:

• Watson Court, 2452 Watson Court, Suite 1500, Palo Alto
• Mary L. Johnson Specialty Services, 730 Welch Road, Palo Alto
• Specialty Services in Los Gatos, 14601 S. Bascom Avenue

All three use the same number, (650) 498-4327. Stanford also lists a Children's Hearing Center at 650-497-8841 for children with hearing loss, including those with cochlear implants. Start with your pediatrician, who can refer you. Our pediatric care guide covers local pediatric practices.

Independent audiologists nearby

Private practices often sell several hearing aid brands and include follow-up adjustments in the price. One independent practice near Palo Alto lists two offices on its own website:

Both offices list Saturday as closed. The practice lists hearing tests, tinnitus management, hearing aid tune-ups and repairs. Large retailers and warehouse clubs also run hearing aid centers in the area. Whoever you choose, ask what is included in the price, how many follow-up visits come with it and what the trial and return period is.

Over-the-counter hearing aids

Since October 17, 2022, a federal FDA rule has allowed hearing aids to be sold over the counter to adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. No exam or prescription is needed. You can buy them at drugstores, electronics stores and online. Our pharmacies guide lists local drugstores.

OTC devices can work well for some people with mild loss, especially those who mainly struggle in noisy places. They are not meant for:

• children or teenagers under 18
• severe or profound hearing loss
• hearing loss in only one ear, or loss that came on suddenly
• ear pain, drainage, dizziness or a feeling of fullness

In any of those cases, see a doctor or audiologist first. Even with mild loss, a baseline hearing test helps you choose and set up an OTC device. Check the return policy, since fit and comfort are personal.

Paying for hearing care

• Medicare. Original Medicare does not cover hearing aids or fitting exams. Part B can cover a diagnostic hearing and balance exam ordered by your doctor. Some Medicare Advantage plans add a hearing aid allowance. Medicare's hearing aids page explains the rules.
• Private plans. Coverage varies widely. Some employer plans include a hearing aid benefit every few years. Ask for the exact dollar limit and approved providers.
• Children. California's Department of Health Care Services runs a Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program for eligible children who lack coverage for hearing aids. Ask your audiologist.
• Phones. The state's California Telephone Access Program provides amplified phones and other equipment to eligible residents with hearing loss at no cost.

Our health insurance guide explains Medi-Cal and Covered California. Older residents can get help comparing Medicare plans through the free programs listed on our resources for older adults page.

What happens at a hearing test

A standard adult hearing evaluation takes about an hour. The audiologist looks in your ears, then plays tones through headphones in a sound booth while you signal what you hear. Speech tests check how well you understand words at different volumes, sometimes with background noise. A quick test of the eardrum's movement can show fluid or other middle-ear problems. You leave with an audiogram, which charts your hearing at each pitch. The audiologist explains what it shows.

If hearing aids make sense, the audiologist will talk through styles, features and prices. Ask for a copy of your audiogram. It is part of your medical record. You will need it if you buy hearing aids elsewhere or try an OTC device.

Everyday tips

• Bring a family member to the first appointment. A familiar voice helps with some tests and a second listener remembers the advice.
• Give new hearing aids a few weeks. The brain needs time to adjust to sounds it has not heard clearly in years.
• Protect your hearing at concerts, games and with power tools. Foam earplugs cost little and work.
• Ask about captioning and assistive listening at theaters and public meetings. The city's ADA coordinator handles requests for city events; see our disability services page.

Frequently asked questions