Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhee Nesson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From a young age, I’ve always connected well with people older than myself. My parents always joked that when we would go out with friends and family, I always ended up at the “grown-up table”. That desire to connect with others is something that I always cherished, so during high school, I volunteered my time at a local nursing home. I spent many hours listening to the residents and getting to know their stories. Even then I realized the importance of hearing and being heard. Everyone has a story to tell… and it’s important for people to hear it, too. Listening to others is what connects us all.
After high school, I attended the University of Michigan and then moved to New York City where I began working in a career that I found increasingly unfulfilling. I always admired my father because as a physician, he was always able to help his patients in a dramatic, concrete way. When a close family friend who was an ENT introduced me to the profession of audiology, I knew I had found the perfect career for me. Being able to blend my passion for helping others, while making a big change in their lives through better hearing, was the perfect fit.
With the support of both my mother and father, in the fall of 2001, I went back to Hunter College and then the Graduate Center of New York where I earned my Doctorate in Audiology. When I chose this profession, it never occurred to me that one day I would be helping my own family and friends navigate hearing loss. The day I fit my Grandma Esther with hearing aids was a truly magical one. It was like a light was turned back on and she could re-connect with her family again. While she developed dementia, it was so critical for her to be connected and engaged with the people around her. I was able to witness firsthand how hearing aids helped her to stay connected longer with those around her on a level that she would otherwise not have been able to maintain.
A few years later, my father and mother-in-law needed hearing aids, along with other close friends of ours. We would joke that now, when my kids (their grandchildren) are too loud, at least they can turn them off! I feel so fortunate that I get the opportunity to assist my family and help others reconnect with their loved ones and the world around them. The impact and confidence that better hearing brings is unmatched. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I am so fortunate to be in a position to help others create real, tangible improvement in other people’s lives.rom a young age, I’ve always connected well with people older than myself. My parents always joked that when we would go out with friends and family, I always ended up at the “grown-up table”. That desire to connect with others is something that I always cherished, so during high school, I volunteered my time at a local nursing home. I spent many hours listening to the residents and getting to know their stories. Even then I realized the importance of hearing and being heard. Everyone has a story to tell… and it’s important for people to hear it, too. Listening to others is what connects us all.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There’s rarely a straightforward path when you’re pursuing something meaningful. For more than 15 years, I worked in practices that weren’t fulfilling to me either professionally or personally. Still, I’ve always tried to stay optimistic and look for the lessons in difficult situations. Those experiences helped shape my vision for what I wanted my own practice, Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, to be. I wanted to focus on medically treating hearing loss as the progressive condition it is, rather than simply selling hearing aids, which unfortunately has become the focus in many places.
Another challenge along the way has been balancing my professional goals with raising a family and being present for my children. One moment that really stayed with me was when I had to work in New York City and missed my daughter’s Mother’s Day celebration at school, sending my babysitter in my place. That experience made me realize that time with my family is something I can never get back, and it reinforced my commitment to building a career that allows me to be present both as a parent and as a professional.
Looking back, those challenges helped define both my personal priorities and the kind of practice I wanted to build.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the founder of Hearing Doctors of New Jersey and Tinnitus Doctors of New Jersey, where I focus on the medical treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus. My work is centered around helping people reconnect with their families and their lives through better hearing. I see hearing loss as a progressive medical condition that deserves thoughtful, individualized care, not just a quick device sale and that belief is what shaped my practice.
After spending many years working in traditional practices, I realized I wanted to do things differently. Too often the focus was on selling hearing aids rather than truly treating hearing loss or helping patients understand what was happening to them. When I started my own practice, my goal was to create a place where patients would feel heard, where testing would be thorough, and where treatment would be structured and evidence based.
That philosophy led me to develop our proprietary H.E.A.R. Method™, which is the framework we use to guide patient care. It’s a comprehensive, step-by-step approach that focuses on identifying the root causes of hearing and tinnitus problems, educating patients about their condition, applying the right treatment strategies, and supporting them with ongoing care. The goal is not just to improve hearing, but to prevent decline.
One thing I feel very strongly about is that treatment decisions should never be driven by finances. Hearing loss is a medical condition, and patients deserve access to the care they need without feeling pressured by large upfront costs. That’s why I’m especially proud to have developed a unique monthly treatment program that includes the ongoing care, support, and treatment technology patients need. It allows us to focus on long-term outcomes and removes a lot of the financial stress that often prevents people from seeking treatment.
We take the time to look at the whole picture, not just hearing tests in a quiet room, but how people function in real-world situations, how tinnitus affects their daily lives, and how hearing loss impacts communication and brain health. We spend a lot of time educating patients, so they understand their condition and feel empowered in their treatment.
I’m especially proud of the work we do with tinnitus patients, many of whom come to us after being told that nothing can be done. Helping someone go from feeling frustrated or hopeless to feeling in control again is incredibly rewarding.
What sets us apart is that we treat hearing loss and tinnitus as medical conditions. We take a comprehensive and personalized approach, and we stay involved with our patients over the long term. My goal has always been to build a practice that I would want my own family members to go to, a place where patients are cared for as people, not just as customers.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can work with me in a few different ways. First and foremost, we help patients directly through Hearing Doctors of New Jersey and Tinnitus Doctors of New Jersey, where we provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for hearing loss and tinnitus. Many of our patients come to us because they’re looking for a more thorough, medical approach or because they haven’t found answers elsewhere.
We also collaborate closely with physicians and other healthcare providers who want a trusted partner for their patients with hearing and tinnitus concerns. Hearing health is closely connected to overall health, and those partnerships allow us to deliver better care and better outcomes.
I’ve also been fortunate to receive strong support from the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter, whose mission aligns closely with our work. They’ve been focusing on educating the public about modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline, including the importance of treating hearing loss. That shared focus on education and prevention has created meaningful opportunities for collaboration and community outreach.
Another important way people can support our work is simply by helping raise awareness about hearing health and tinnitus treatment. Too many people live with hearing loss or tinnitus for years without realizing that effective treatment is available. When patients share their experiences or refer friends and family members, it helps more people find the care they need.
Ultimately, my goal is to build a community around better hearing — whether that’s through patient care, professional collaboration, or education — so more people can stay connected and maintain their quality of life as they age.
Pricing:
- H.E.A.R. Method™ Treatment Program is $221/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hearingdoctorsofnj.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheenesson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjSwcSuWbFSNYBRCNN96CQg
