Dr. Brandy Weaver Talks Audiology Practice
Photographer / Angela Cornell
According to standard hearing examinations, one in eight people in the U.S. over 12 years of age have hearing loss in both ears. For those people, the terrifying reality is that if the loss progresses, they face a future where there is no sound. No music. No children’s laughter. No dripping rain or blustering wind. No ability to hear a friend calling their name. No way to hear warnings or danger signals. No way to enjoy silence as a calming, embracing absence of sound.
Audiologist Dr. Brandy Weaver helps people avoid the discomfiture of hearing loss, and can even help reverse the effects of hearing loss in some cases.
“People can have sudden hearing loss,” says Weaver, who has two offices, Dr. Engelberth’s Hearing Center in Warsaw and Hometown Hearing & Audiology in North Manchester. “If they do, and go in for treatment for that outside of me, their ear, throat and nose doctor will want a hearing test to determine if the doctor treatment helped the patient’s hearing recover.”
These issues can sometimes be early indicators for health problems like heart disease, dementia and balance disorders.
“Having a baseline is pretty important,” Weaver says. “That way, you can know how you are hearing and indicate possible problems later on.”
For that reason, and because some hearing loss is difficult to notice, she believes people can benefit by having audiology checkups about once every year or two.
“It’s kind of like getting your eyes checked,” Weaver says.
Weaver’s journey to becoming an audiologist began at Purdue University Fort Wayne, and continued as she obtained her doctorate at Ball State.
“I was originally going to school to become a speech language pathologist,” she says. “During that program, I decided I liked audiology better.”
Switching fields was a good fit for Weaver, who finds gratification in seeing quick results in her patients.
Her services range from hearing evaluations for all ages to selling and servicing hearing aids – even those purchased from other providers. She offers other services as well, like tinnitus evaluation and management, live speech mapping, and ear wax removal.
Offering such a wide range of options ensures that Weaver never has a dull moment.
“I do a lot of everything every day,” she says. “It depends on the day, but most of the time there’s a variety.”
Weaver says her highest satisfaction comes from helping her patients – something that stems from her Christian beliefs.
“I don’t hide it, but I’m not like a drill sergeant,” she says. “I’ve given everything to God and everything is in his hands. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”
Her caring spirit is something that her customers deeply appreciate.
“You get a family when you get us,” she explains. “When they schedule with me, that’s who they get. I think patients tend to like that they’re not going to be handed off to somebody else. I don’t turn down the tougher situations. I don’t give up real easily.”
Along with her deeply-rooted faith, Weaver also appreciates the role that her family – especially her husband Mark and her mother Kitty – has played in her life. She also appreciates that she can bring in her children, Delilah and Daphne, into the office where her patients enjoy visiting with them.
Weaver also feels indebted to her mentors. One is Dr. Suzanne Ginter, an audiologist with offices in Bremen and Goshen who is responsible for establishing Weaver in North Manchester.
“She taught me how to run an office, and supported the office to get it going,” Weaver says. “I’m thankful for that.”
Weaver’s other mentor is Dr. Sandy Engelberth, for whom the Warsaw office is named.
“I have no intention of changing the business name,” Weaver says. “Dr. Engelberth worked with me for a year and was a great colleague. She trusted me with her patients and her business enough to sell the clinic to me.”
Dr. Engelberth’s Hearing Center is located at 1610 East Center Street in Warsaw. For more info or to schedule an appointment, visit besthearingcare.com or call 574-269-5828.
Hometown Hearing & Audiology is located at 225 East Main Street in North Manchester. Visit them online at hometownhearingnm.com, or schedule an appointment by calling 260-306-3444.
