We’ve been delivering “Better Living through Better Hearing” for nearly 50 years!

That means you will get the best medical care available with an experienced and educated team using razor’s edge diagnostics combined with the best technology to ensure your hearing meets your needs everyday of the year!

ENGAGE Your hearing with our new packages that match big box store pricing but still give you the professional medical care you’ve come to expect from Columbia Basin Hearing Center.

We Can Help

  • Utilizing cutting-edge technology, we offer comprehensive assessments beyond basic hearing screenings, ensuring optimal performance from the brain to the ears.

  • Our expert team is committed to connecting you with the ideal technology to optimize your hearing capabilities. Collaborating with top-tier vendors and offering options across various budget ranges, we ensure every individual receives precisely tailored devices, meticulously programmed and maintained for peak performance.

  • We pride ourselves on being experts in aural rehabilitation. With a dedicated team of professionals equipped with extensive training and experience, we specialize in providing comprehensive support to individuals seeking to enhance their hearing regardless of their individual challenges. Through personalized assessments, innovative technologies, and compassionate care, we empower our clients to navigate the auditory world with confidence and clarity, ensuring they achieve optimal communication and quality of life.

  • Led by Dr. Shannon Marie, a nationally renowned authority in tinnitus treatment, our practice stands at the forefront of comprehensive care for this condition. Dr. Marie's expertise extends to hosting an exclusive video series dedicated to counseling individuals coping with tinnitus. Whether through cutting-edge technology, specialized counseling, or aural rehabilitation, we possess the expertise and resources to alleviate the distress of tinnitus and restore your auditory well-being.

  • Specializing in hearing protection, we excel in delivering tailored solutions infused with high-end technology to various sectors, including local law enforcement, hunters, and professionals exposed to loud occupational environments. Our expertise ensures top-notch custom-molded options, guaranteeing maximum protection regardless of your specific needs. Whether for work or recreation, our solutions offer unparalleled noise mitigation, making us the premier choice for safeguarding your hearing health.

  • From connectivity glitches to power concerns or requiring replacement parts, our adept team is equipped to address a myriad of device-related issues. Furthermore, we facilitate seamless communication with various manufacturers to swiftly restore your hearing to optimal levels. Additionally, we offer in-office device cleanings and humidity treatments, extending the longevity of your devices and ensuring they operate at peak performance for an extended period.

  • Seeking presurgical mapping, counseling, or post-surgical care for your Cochlear style devices? Whether it's Baja, Cochlear America, or Advanced Bionics, count on us to ensure your technology operates at its best.

  • From ages four to eighteen, we stand as the premier destination in the Columbia Basin for pediatric testing and care. Rely on us to ensure your children's hearing health is accurately assessed and treated, providing you with the essential information to guide their health journeys toward the success every parent dreams of.

  • Our certified CAOHC audiology assistants and technicians are dedicated to maintaining comprehensive records of your team members' hearing capabilities for your company's records. Unlike generic "travel vans," we provide personalized service that prioritizes the well-being of your valuable employees. Rest assured, each individual is treated with care, and their test results are readily available to meet your company's needs.

The effects of hearing loss can be minimized if:

  1. Your problem is CORRECTLY diagnosed.

  2. You receive the RIGHT kind of treatment.

  3. You are working together with the right team of EXPERIENCED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS who have the skill and resolve to solving the problem.

Meet our Providers and Assistants

  • Shannon Marie, Au.D.

    Owner and Tinnitus Specialist

    Dr. Shannon Marie is the owner and one of the Doctors of Audiology at Columbia Basin Hearing Center. Throughout her career, she has become a leading expert in the area of tinnitus and leadership in her field and has served on many boards professionally and personally in these areas.

    She is also the founder of the Abundant Health Alliance, which is an organization of health and wellness practitioners who all share common goals of public wellness and preventative care education, best practices, and holistic patient-centered care.

    She is also the owner and Nature Therapist behind Abundant Wanderings, where everyone can learn to find healing and balance in the nature that surrounds them everyday.

  • Melanie Muhlestein, Au.D.


    Clinical Audiologist and APD Specialist

    Melanie Muhlestein, AuD, has had a long journey to return to her Tri-Cities home as an Audiologist. After earning her Master’s degree in Audiology from Utah State University in 1996, she dedicated time to raising her two boys. Their challenges paved the way to her specialty interests later. As they got older, she worked her way back to Audiology, first in the schools, then in clinic work at Better Hearing and Audiology in Idaho, where she learned how to be methodical and patient in fitting hearing aids and solving communication problems.

    In searching for answers for her boys’ Auditory Processing Disorder, she completed Master Classes in APD evaluation and treatment, and went back to graduate school to earn her Doctor of Audiology degree from AT Still University, where her boys were by her side at graduation. She recently returned to her home community and joined the team at Columbia Basin Hearing Center. She knew it was a good fit for her because of their dedication to full diagnostic evaluations, best practices, and best fit technology, as well as a whole person approach.

  • Cassidy White, Au.D.

    Clinical Audiologist Tele-Health

    Dr. Cassidy White is a licensed Audiologist working for us remotely from beautiful Livingston, Tennessee. She received her Doctorate of Audiology from Idaho State University in 2020. Dr. White has experience treating diverse populations, from infants to geriatrics, and all stages in between. She has worked in a variety of clinics, including private practice and Veteran’s Affairs. Dr. White’s greatest interests include hearing aid dispensing, counseling and education, and tinnitus management. She is passionate about improving communication and quality of life through better hearing.

  • Sarah Vair, Au.D.

    Clinical Audiologist Tele-Health

    Sarah Vair is a triple-licensed audiologist (WA, SC, NC) who collaborates with us remotely from vibrant South Carolina. Originally hailing from a quaint farming community in Northeastern Ohio, Dr. Vair earned her Doctorate in Audiology from Kent State University in 2007 before relocating to the South. With an initial eight-year tenure in a bustling ENT clinic, she gained extensive experience working with diverse medical and hearing-impaired patients. Transitioning to a local private practice in 2015, Dr. Vair discovered her passion for the private sector, cherishing the autonomy it provides in guiding patients towards optimal hearing health solutions.

    Dr. Vair champions individualized care, recognizing the unique needs of each patient and tailoring bespoke treatment plans to align with their hearing goals. Her unwavering dedication to quality patient care and a penchant for innovation led her to embrace the opportunity to join Columbia Basin Hearing Center.

  • Corrin Stevens

    Hearing Instrument Specialist Student and CAOHC Certified Industrial Screener

    Corrin was born and raised in the Seattle area. Corrin received her bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington. After graduating, she worked at Seattle Children’s Hospital for 13 years. Her family moved to the Tri-Cities in 2016 and she had absolutely no idea what to expect when she moved here. She enjoyed the seasons and atmosphere and how everything is 15 minutes away. She was fortunate to make my way back into Audiology through Columbia Basin Hearing Center and loves what she does and the people she gets to work with. There is so much changing in the world of technology and she can’t wait to see what comes next.

  • Ellija Snapp

    Audiolog Assistant - IT Specialist and CAOHC Certified Industrial Screener

    Born and raised in the Tri-Cities, Ellija is a CAOHC Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist, an Audiology Assistant, and our in-house IT Specialist. With a long history in the medical field and a lifelong passion for electronics, hearing aid care is a perfect fit for his special set of skills.

    When he isn't juggling his many hats at work he enjoys reading, coding, and playing with his cat.

  • Kimberly Andrade

    Audiology Assistant

    Kimberly grew up in sunny California and has made her way to Washington to start a new and exciting chapter in her life. Since her big move she has been in health care as a phlebotomist for two years and has enjoyed the one-on-one relationships she has made with her patients. Wanting to grow in the healthcare world, she has found her way over to us as an audiology assistant. Kimberly is always looking for ways to better help her patients and making sure they are getting the best service possible. Outside of work she enjoys being out in nature and spending time with her loved ones.

  • Bianca Nicacio

    Audiology Assistant

    Bianca was born and raised here in the Tri-Cities. She is a big advocate for hearing health and believes that a meaningful life is driven by human connection. She loves getting to know her patients and strives to create an environment of compassion and respect for them so they may always feel heard and valued. Outside of the office, Bianca enjoys getting outside, exercising, discovering new restaurants and spending quality time with her friends and family.

We Help Heroes Everyday

“My boss would say something and now I could hear him. It’s blessing to finally hear my kids and grandkids”

Dempsey B.

“Frankly I thought about ending my life (due to tinnitus). What I found at Columbia Basin Hearing Center was a Miracle.”

Lorrie R.

“I had to do something as I could not hear my students. I was surprised at how bad my hearing had gotten. After treatment I stopped asking ‘what?’ all the time!”

Lynn S