JT has to be one of the most pivotal members of our team, ever. From migrating operating systems, to handling the cranky pants. From traveling across town at a moments notice, to helping us put the finishing touches on all of our new locations. You are down for it all.
You train every new hire to be the most elite team member that they can be. You are the standard, both professionally and personally.
There aren’t enough words to be able to fully express our appreciation for you. This practice truly would not be what it is today without you. Thank you, JT. Happy workiversary! 🧡
04/09/2026
Hearing devices do more than turn up the volume 🔊. Today’s prescription devices are advanced technology designed to improve your hearing, not just amplify sounds. The goal isn’t to get sounds louder. The goal is to make things clearer and provide more meaningful connection to the world around you. If you have been putting off hearing help, you aren’t alone. Today’s Technology has come a long way!
04/08/2026
Whenever someone new joins our team, we like to give them a proper “initiation” on the team call. 😄
Shoutout to Kevin for somehow keeping a straight face through the most ridiculous compliments, we were all impressed. And Dr. Winegar… welcome to the wild bunch. You handled it like a pro. 😂
Safe to say, if you can survive that, you’re officially one of us.
03/31/2026
If you’re experiencing tinnitus, here’s what we want you to know:
You’re not imagining it. It’s not “just in your head” in the way people might dismiss it—tinnitus is a real signal from your auditory system, and it deserves real attention.
Everyone’s experience with tinnitus is different, which is why personalized care matters. What brings relief for one person might not work for another, so we take the time to understand your specific situation and create a plan tailored to you.
We also know how exhausting it can be—the constant noise can affect your sleep, your concentration, and your overall quality of life. That’s why we take it seriously and work with you to explore the options that will help you find relief.
If tinnitus has been affecting your daily life, let’s talk. Our audiologists are here to listen, assess, and create a plan that works for you.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. 🧡
03/30/2026
03/23/2026
Happy Birthday Hannah! 🎊
Today we’re celebrating our amazing Vestibular and Cochlear Mapping Audiologist! Dr. Miller brings incredible skill and expertise to our team, and her dedication to helping patients navigate complex hearing and balance challenges is truly remarkable.
We’re so grateful for everything you do and the care you bring to every appointment. Thank you for being such an important part of our Happy Ears family!
Wishing you the happiest birthday and a wonderful year ahead! 🧡
03/04/2026
Happy birthday, Michelle! 🎊
Michelle brings years of expertise and experience to our team, but what makes her truly special is the genuine care and compassion she shows to our patients.
Her dedication to helping people hear better and live fuller lives makes such a difference, and we’re so grateful to have her on our team.
Wishing you the happiest birthday, Michelle! Thank you for everything you do! 🧡
02/25/2026
When he says we he just means me 😆 Shout out to our Chief Operating Officer, IT guy, janitorial custodian, and all-around handyman 😅😂
02/18/2026
When life gives you lemons, it’s good to have a friend around to pick you up and spin you around until you forget what you were even upset about. 🍋😵💫
“Sometimes the best therapy is mild dizziness.”
- Michael Scott (probably)
02/17/2026
Happy Ears is excited to announce Breaking the Barriers - an educational seminar designed for individuals and families ready to explore life beyond hearing aids! 👂✨
Join us on March 6th as we invite surgeon, Sam Barber from and Nicolle Girardin from as we discuss cochlear implants, candidacy, the surgical process, and the latest technology - including the new Nucleus Nexa System from Cochlear.
If you or a loved one are still struggling to hear, this could be the next step toward clearer, more confident communication. Seats are limited - visit the link in our bio to register!
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To many parents, their children inspire them in some way. It may be a social media post or a work of art. But, to Shanna M. Mortensen-Dewsnup, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA, her son inspired her to go into the field of audiology to help better understand his diagnosis.
Her eldest son, Brenden, now 18, was born with moderate to severe hearing loss. During her studies, she realized that he had Usher syndrome, which is characterized by both hearing and vision loss (he was diagnosed as blind at age 12, and diagnosed with Usher syndrome at that age as well).
“While I was in school, I took a difficult genetics class and we studied all of the syndromes associated with hearing loss. It was one of the hardest classes in my doctoral program,” Mortensen-Dewsnup recalls. “...Well, about three years later, I started noticing symptoms of vision problems. I knew something wasn't right… At this time, he was showing all of the symptoms of Usher syndrome and I took him in again to have his eyes thoroughly checked… About a week later, she called me and confirmed that I was correct and said that he was already in the worst stages of the retinal disease ‘retinitis pigmentosa’ and would need to start learning Braille immediately and using a white cane immediately. Talk about a whirlwind of emotions!”
To be closer to family support, Mortensen-Dewsnup moved to Arizona. She says that she is thrilled to share that Brenden is doing amazing now.
“He is in all of the honors AP classes and in his senior year of high school,” she says. “He plays concert piano and plays the bells in the marching band… Despite being able to see only 5 degrees of central vision in each eye, he navigates around with his cane and hearing aids and is the most positive young man you will ever meet. He is such an inspiration to everyone who meets him.”
In addition to her son Brenden, Mortensen-Dewsnup also has a son named Ian, 16.
“As a single mom, my major motivation was my kids and not giving up. I knew that I wanted to provide a better life for my boys,” Mortensen-Dewsnup says. “My oldest had hearing loss, speech delay, and was getting therapy for high functioning Asperger’s. My life was studying, therapy sessions with my oldest, and activities with my youngest so he didn't feel left out. It was hard to juggle everything as well as the intense coursework for my doctoral degree.”
“I had to prove to them that we could do it, even if it was hard,” she continues. “I didn't want them to know how poor we really were so I found ways to do fun things outdoors that were cheap and or free to still give them as good as a life as possible.”
Once home in Arizona, Mortensen-Dewsnup met her husband Kevin.
“We talked a lot about why I went into audiology and what I really wanted to do. I didn't feel like I was following my passion for audiology where I was working. That is when we decided to start our own practice,” she says. “He came up with the name Happy Ears Hearing Center because he said ‘you make people happy again and give them hope.’”
“We have grown our office to two locations and employ audiologists and staff who share the same passion that we do and plan to continue to grow to offer services to other parts of the Valley,” she adds.
Mortensen-Dewsnup notes that, at her successful practice, her team prides themselves on helping people hear better. “Everyone in the office has some sort of relationship with hearing loss,” she notes.
“There is nothing better than seeing the smile on an individual’s face when they experience hearing for the first time or hearing again after years of missing out on hearing their spouses’ or family’s voices,” she says. “I love what I do. It is very rewarding to see how much it changes lives.”
