A new Dorp-based Audiology practice marks evolutions in hearing appliances and other treatments

by Jessica Jones-Gorman Photos By Amessé Photography

After working in the field of audiology for years, diagnosing hearing loss and conducting hearing aid evaluations, Drs. Stella Fulman and Zhanneta Shapiro discovered that a Staten Island need, and finding a comprehensive hearing center they could call their own, were mutually satisfiable.

“In our combined experience, we found that audiology services in this borough were very limited,” noted Dr. Shapiro, who worked at NYU Langone Medical Center and there witnessed an influx of patients commuting to the hospital to receive advanced services. “There were services for hearing evaluations and hearing aids in Staten Island, but the field has so much more to offer.”

So the pair, who met while completing their undergrad and then master’s degrees at Brooklyn College, decided to combine forces and in 2012 launched the New Dorp-based Audiology Island, a clinic that provides the latest audiology technologies and procedures.

“Technology was definitely lacking,” said Dr. Fulman. “So it was important for us to bring in the best equipment that would help properly diagnose and treat any condition.”

The practice handles everything from balance services to hearing aid fittings, and is a supplier of Lyric, the first completely invisible extended wear hearing aid. Pediatrics and tinnitus care are also among of the pair’s specialties.

“There’s no special certification for pediatric audiology, but working with children is not like working with adults,” noted Shapiro. “You need a different approach and that’s our passion; we are equipped to see children from birth, and consider that a subspecialty in our practice.”

Given that tinnitus often goes unidentified and untreated, Fulman and Shapiro also take pride in their diagnosis of the condition.

“A lot of doctors say that nothing can be done for tinnitus [ringing in the ears]” Fulman said. “Almost every day I see a patient who has been told that they will just have to live with it, but there are many treatments for the condition we perform.” After earning her bachelors and masters degrees in Audiology from Brooklyn College and a Doctorate of Audiology from Salus University, Fulman worked as a research assistant on a $1 million FDA grant study. She then took a position at Hear USA, where she conducted hearing aid evaluation, diagnosing hearing loss and dispensing of amplification for children and adults

Shapiro also received her master’s degree from Brooklyn College before completing her Doctorate of Audiology at Florida University. Her graduate training took place in various hospitals in the tri-state area and she also did a residency at Ear Nose and Throat Associates of New York. Shapiro worked for 14 months at Hear USA, where she started a group aural rehabilitation program, providing support for those with hearing loss as well as their families, a group she continues today.

“The diagnosis of hearing loss or disorder is difficult, not only for the patient but for the family,” Shapiro said. “Even with the use of hearing aids, family members need to learn how to better communicate with their loved one, and these programs assist with that. We also help parents learn what steps need to be taken after their child is diagnosed.”

The doctors also engage in educational outreach, speaking at senior centers and health fairs and remaining active on the SIEDC’s Health and Wellness Committee to keep Islanders informed about proper hearing health.

“We want to urge patients not to neglect their hearing,” said Shapiro. “As we age, we tend to check our eyes, our blood pressure, but hearing is often forgotten. Anyone over the age of 45 should have a hearing test on file and hearing awareness is important at every age. With iPods and other devices, teens are consistently exposed to blasting music; we need to protect our ears and be aware of the cause and effects of hearing loss.”

“Hearing Aids have changed tremendously,” Fulman pointed out. “They’ve gone from this bulky box around the neck to completely invisible…all digital, with no dials or buttons. Most even have Bluetooth technology, so users can stream music or listen to the television, bypassing all background noise.” She added that others can sync directly with smartphones, permitting even greater range of use.

“The hearing aid world is changing and making things easier and easier for patients,” Fulman said. “But we are not under contract with just one or two manufacturers; we carry every brand and prescribe based on hearing loss and patient needs, not according to the latest trends or most expensive device.”

That approach is the foundation of the team’s practice.

“We have a strong family atmosphere in our clinic because we see our patients on a regular basis,” Fulman concluded. “We have a passion for what we do and I think that carries over in how much we care for each person who walks through the door.”

Audiology Island
148 New Dorp Lane / 718.980.0188 / audiologyisland.com