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Phone: 970-549-4660

Tinnitus Diagnosis & Treatment

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Beyond "Ringing In The Ears"

Tinnitus is rarely just a sound issue; it is a neurological reaction to auditory deprivation.

When the auditory system is damaged, the brain attempts to compensate for the missing input by "turning up the volume" on internal neural activity. This results in the perception of ringing, buzzing, or hissing when no external sound is present.

For many patients, this phantom sound triggers the limbic system (the emotional center of the brain), creating a cycle of stress, sleep disturbance, and anxiety. Effective treatment requires addressing both the auditory signal and the brain's emotional response to it.

The Breakthrough: Lenire®

Western Colorado Hearing Clinic is one of the few providers in the state certified to offer Lenire®, the first FDA-approved bimodal neuromodulation device.

Unlike traditional sound therapy, Lenire pairs audio stimulation (via headphones) with mild tongue stimulation (via a tonguetip device) to drive long-term changes in the brain, helping you disengage from the tinnitus signal.

Tinnitus Treatment Options

How Lenire® Retrains the Brain

As Seen On TV: Lenire in Western Colorado

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Bimodal Neuromodulation

Using the FDA-approved Lenire system, we provide "bimodal" stimulation—activating the auditory nerve and the trigeminal nerve simultaneously to retrain the brain.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

We utilize principles of CBT to help break the connection between the tinnitus sound and your body's stress response, lowering the distress it causes in daily life.

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Customized Acoustic Therapy

For patients with hearing loss, reintroducing lost frequencies or using fractal tone therapy (Zen tones) helps the brain naturally habituate to the noise.

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Comprehensive Tinnitus Evaluation

Our evaluation includes pitch matching, loudness matching, and residual inhibition testing to benchmark your tinnitus and track improvement objectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cure for tinnitus?

While there is currently no pill or surgery to “cure” tinnitus, clinical treatments like Lenire® and Bimodal Neuromodulation are FDA-approved to significantly reduce symptom severity. Our goal is habituation: reaching a point where the brain no longer perceives the sound as a threat.

How does the Lenire device work?

Lenire uses bimodal neuromodulation. It plays custom sounds through headphones while delivering mild pulses to the tongue via a specialized device. This dual stimulation helps retrain the brain to pay less attention to the tinnitus signal (neuroplasticity).

Does hearing loss cause tinnitus?

Yes, roughly 90% of tinnitus cases are associated with some degree of hearing loss. When the brain stops receiving sound from the ear, it creates its own internal noise to compensate. Treating the hearing loss often reduces the tinnitus perception.

What happens during a tinnitus evaluation?

Beyond a standard hearing test, we perform specific tinnitus assessments including pitch matching (finding the frequency of your sound), loudness matching, and minimum masking levels to determine the best clinical approach for your specific neurology.

Jennifer A. Bebee received her bachelor’s degree in hearing, speech and language sciences in 2007 from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She went on to earn her doctor’s degree in audiology in 2010 from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She completed her final clinical rotation for her audiology degree in Grand Junction when she moved in 2009. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (F-AAA), and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner.  She is state and nationally certified to practice audiology and dispense hearing aids in Colorado and Utah.

Dr. Bebee has a passion for providing exceptional care for all patients, whether it may be for diagnostic procedures or rehabilitation through hearing aids. She has a special passion for helping her patients to age better through the treatment of hearing loss, aimed at reducing the high risk associated for causality of dementia. She especially enjoys helping the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. She also works closely with healthcare providers in the Grand Valley to provide comprehensive and collaborative care for patients. She is thankful for those relationships she has developed and looks forward to serving the community for many years to come.

She was born and raised in Ohio, but fell in love with Colorado the moment she set foot here. Dr. Bebee is supported by her loving husband Aaron and their two children, Bennett and Kennedy. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her family, cooking, camping, traveling the US, and reading novels.

Jo-an Mealler, MS, CCC-A. F-AAA has been a practicing Audiologist for 4 decades, with 34 of those years in Grand Junction, providing audiological services for the State of Colorado, the VA Regional Medical Center and Colorado West Audiologists, plus nearly 20 years as owner of Bookcliff Family Hearing Center. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Audiology from Colorado State University and has completed extensive post graduate work at the University of Iowa. Jo-an is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, is board certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is state and nationally certified to practice audiology and dispense hearing aids.

Jo-an specializes in Hearing Rehabilitation, including fitting advanced digital hearing technology, implantable nontraditional amplification, and assistive listening devices and has an extensive background in Hearing Conservation and counseling patients regarding noise exposure and the use of hearing protection devices. She also has expertise in infant, child and adult diagnostic testing, as-well-as providing in-depth evaluation and management of disorders of hearing and tinnitus.

Ashley Ernest received her bachelor’s degree in speech, language and hearing sciences from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 2020. She then earned her doctorate in audiology in 2023 from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ashley holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is state and nationally certified to practice audiology and dispense hearing aids. She has a passion for fitting hearing aids and working with cochlear implants.

Ashley was born in northern Indiana but fell in love with the beautiful weather and scenery of Colorado. Ashley lives with her husband Ben and their sassy cat Piper. In her free time, she loves baking, reading, doing yoga and hiking or camping in the Grand Mesa.

Rachel is a dedicated audiologist committed to helping patients improve their hearing and overall quality of life.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing from Elmira College in 2021 and her Doctorate of Audiology from Syracuse University in 2025. Rachel is state and nationally certified to practice audiology and dispense hearing aids. She also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. With a strong passion for fitting hearing aids and caring for patients affected by tinnitus, Rachel takes pride in enhancing the lives of those with hearing challenges.

Originally from Upstate New York, Rachel now calls Western Colorado home, where she enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her dog, Lonnie. When she’s not caring for patients, you can find her hiking, reading, or simply soaking up the beautiful scenery. Rachel is excited to use her expertise to help you achieve optimal hearing health.

With a deep understanding of how hearing affects quality of life, Andi strives to make a meaningful difference in every patient’s journey. She attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA to complete her undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders and holds a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA. Andi is state and nationally certified to practice audiology and dispense hearing aids. Her clinical interests include diagnostic evaluations, hearing aid fittings, and individualized patient care. Helping people reconnect with the world through better hearing is at the heart of her work as an audiologist.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Andi enjoys the vast contrast Colorado has to offer and considers it home. She enjoys spending time with her cat, Milo, family, and friends. Off the clock, she enjoys cooking Cajun cuisine, hiking, listening to music, and going on road trips. Andi is delighted to have the opportunity to blend science and compassion to help patients navigate hearing loss and rediscover the sounds they love.

Reading adventurous novels has always been a huge part of Heidi’s life. She made a goal to become a book editor and possibly write a book of her own one day. With this goal in mind, Heidi received her Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in English and Communications from Brigham Young University – Idaho. She loves to read novels of all types and could never pick just one favorite author because there are too many to choose from. Born and raised in Colorado, she also loves to go camping, hiking, and mountain biking with her husband and two children. With a love for blasting music in her car (and singing along, of course), Heidi knows the importance of hearing health. She shares a passion to help support the needs of this community to further help patients with their hearing health care.

Kelley was born and raised here in the Western Slope. She grew up in Montrose playing soccer and basketball, riding horses, helping at family ranches, and camping around Gunnison. Her and her husband currently raise their children here in the Grand Valley. They stay busy with extra-curricular events, family events, and plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, camping, fishing and walking their 2 dogs. Kelley enjoys helping others and is passionate about helping them add quality back into their lives. She loves getting to know our patients and helping them with their hearing needs.

Melisa Boyles moved to Grand Junction in 2005 from Mesa, Arizona and quickly fell in love with all the beauty and adventures the Western Slope has to offer. She completed her college education at Colorado Mesa University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in graphic design, with a knack for marketing.

After developing hearing loss at a young age and becoming a double cochlear implant recipient, she has discovered a hidden passion for helping others achieve a better quality of life with hearing treatment and care. She has been a long-time patient with Western Colorado Hearing Clinic and is now a Patient Care Coordinator.

Melisa enjoys camping and riding side-by-sides, gardening, and traveling with her family in the warmer months and in the cooler months, reading a good book or working in her “creative den” helps fill her time.

*Yes, she is the one from our commercials

Born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado, Aaron is very familiar with our community. He attended Colorado Mesa University and graduated in 2005 with his Bachelor of Business and holds a degree in Business Management. He worked in the Audio-Visual industry until 2018 and transitioned to other business ventures, like supporting Western Colorado Hearing Clinic.

When Aaron is not at the office, he enjoys spending time outdoors in this beautiful area. He loves riding his bikes all over Colorado and participates in Cyclocross and Mountain bike racing. He also loves camping with his family and spending time with his wife Jennifer, and 2 children, Bennett and Kennedy.