Meet your Audiologist - Dr. Kelsey Beck

Sometimes the most meaningful career paths emerge from unexpected places. For Dr. Kelsey Beck, an audiologist at Applied Hearing Solutions, her journey to helping patients hear their best began with a late-night aptitude test and a complete change of direction that would ultimately lead her to discover her true calling.

An Unconventional Path to Audiology

Dr. Beck is an Arizona native whose parents moved to the state in the early 1990s. She currently lives in Scottsdale, just five minutes from her mother, who appreciates having her daughter nearby. Her route to audiology was anything but traditional—she initially began her undergraduate studies in theater and costume design.

After realizing that theater wasn't the right fit, Dr. Beck made the difficult decision to leave school during her junior year. She spent time taking community college classes while trying to determine her future direction. The turning point came during a dinner at her mother's friend's house when she was asked about her plans. Unable to provide an answer, Dr. Beck had what she describes as "an absolute meltdown."

That evening, she and her mother stayed up until 2:00 in the morning taking a comprehensive aptitude test. While the first result was performance—which she knew wasn't her path—the second option was audiology. Despite never having heard of the profession before, Dr. Beck decided to explore it further. She took a few classes, fell in love with the field, and never looked back.

Building Meaningful Patient Relationships

What Dr. Beck appreciates most about working at Applied Hearing Solutions is the opportunity to build genuine relationships with her patients. The practice's approach allows her to spend quality time with each person, becoming part of their hearing journey rather than rushing through appointments. She finds it deeply rewarding to watch patients grow back into their lives throughout the fitting and follow-up process, reconnecting with the sounds and experiences that matter most to them.

A Moment That Defines Her Purpose

Dr. Beck's first hearing aid fitting as a student remains one of her most memorable experiences. She simply put hearing aids in a patient's ears and turned them on—nothing elaborate in terms of programming. The woman began weeping and looked at her in awe, saying, "I'm actually going to get to hear my grandchildren." This moment crystallized why she chose audiology as her profession.

These transformative experiences continue to motivate her work. Every patient she sees becomes personally meaningful to her on some level, driving her commitment to ensuring they can participate fully in their lives.

Addressing Previous Treatment Failures

One of Dr. Beck's greatest challenges involves patients who come to the practice after years of unsuccessful hearing aid use. Often, these individuals wonder if they need cochlear implants or other advanced interventions. After reviewing their hearing tests and previous programming, she frequently discovers they could have experienced excellent results all along if someone had properly followed comprehensive fitting procedures.

While delivering this message can be difficult, Dr. Beck channels her frustration into determination. She knows she can make a significant difference for these patients by implementing proper verification and customization procedures.

The Power of Real Ear Measurement

Dr. Beck's approach to patient care centers on Real Ear Measurement (REM), which she describes as "the only way to know what I'm putting inside somebody's ears." This verification process measures exactly what the hearing aid delivers inside a patient's ear canal and matches it to their specific prescription for average, loud, and soft speech levels.

Without Real Ear Measurement, patients often report that while their hearing aids help in quiet environments, they struggle in noisy restaurants or may even hear better without their devices in challenging situations. The difference between generic fitting and highly customized programming using REM is "night and day," resulting in dramatically improved success stories.

Commitment to Best Practice Standards

Dr. Beck is passionate about following Best Practice protocols, which she notes are underutilized across the hearing care industry. She finds this troubling because these evidence-based procedures represent the only reliable way to optimize and verify hearing aid performance for individual patients.

"I didn't get into this profession to sell hearing aids. The reason I got into this is so that I could help somebody reintegrate into their life."

Best Practices provide the framework to achieve this goal effectively, ensuring nothing is overlooked that could impact a patient's success.

Personal Background and Interests

Dr. Beck's commitment to excellence stems from her upbringing. Her father, who played professional baseball, taught her that anything worth doing should be done right the first time. This principle guides her meticulous approach to patient care.

When not working with patients, Dr. Beck enjoys what she laughingly calls "grandma hobbies"—jigsaw puzzles, reading, and Pilates. She's also a Disney enthusiast who would prefer to be at Disneyland whenever possible. Her appreciation for theater continues from her college days, and she enjoys golfing as well.

Experience Personalized Hearing Care

Dr. Beck represents the dedication to excellence and patient-centered care that defines Applied Hearing Solutions in Phoenix. Her commitment to comprehensive verification procedures and her genuine investment in each patient's success ensure that everyone receives the thorough evaluation and customized treatment they deserve.

If you're ready to experience the transformative difference that expert audiological care can make, contact Applied Hearing Solutions today at (602) 877-0000 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Beck or one of our other experienced audiologists.