About American Hearing & Balance
Better hearing and a better quality of life can be yours for many years with the help of the right hearing professional.
At American Hearing & Balance, we pride ourselves on developing long-term relationships with our patients. Relationships based on unsurpassed personal service that begins the first time you walk through our doors and continues long after your initial appointment. We’re one of Southern California’s established family-owned hearing and balance practices, with decades of clinical and technology expertise and a team that knows our patients for the long term.
Meet the Team
Keith Michaels, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Instrument Specialist
Westchester and Manhattan Beach Offices
Keith Michaels, Au.D. is from a family of hearing care professionals. The Michaels family has six family members working in their eight different locations across the California area.
Matt Michaels, M.S., CCC-A
Audiologist, Hearing Instrument Specialist
Torrance and Los Angeles Offices
Matt Michaels, M.S., CCC-A, is an Audiologist and Hearing Instrument Specialist. Mr. Michaels graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1995 with a master’s degree in Communication Disorders/Audiology.
He has trained at the House Ear Clinic, CARE Center for Children and at the VA Hospital. He has been an advanced technology consultant for a leading manufacturer and has trained other professionals. He is known as a warm and caring hearing healthcare provider as well as a knowledgeable and skilled professional.
Eric de Leon, C-AA, HIS
Hearing Instrument Specialist
Manhattan Beach and Torrance Offices
Eric de Leon is an ASHA board-certified Audiology Assistant and California state-licensed-Hearing Aid Dispenser Trainee. He will gain full licensure in 2024.
After studying fashion design at Santa Monica College, his early love for computers and audiophile gear drew him to the world of audiology. He now helps treat patients not only with hearing loss but also with balance and vertigo disorders. Eric is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish, using it daily with his patients.
Elizabeth Hernandez, B.A., HIS
Hearing Instrument Specialist
Los Angeles and Westchester Offices
Elizabeth Hernandez, B.A., HIS is a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist. Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders from California State University, Los Angeles.
Elizabeth strives to provide an exceptional, tailored service to each and every one of her patients, from every cultural background to every hearing profile. Through her apprenticeships under several doctors she has developed a passion for guiding patients through the sometimes difficult but necessary hearing care journey.
Hermes Pineda, HIS
Hearing Instrument Specialist
Westchester and Marina del Rey Offices
Hermes Pineda is a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist. A longtime family employee, Hermes initially worked with the company while in college and quickly realized he wanted to pursue a career in the field of audiology after helping patients with their hearing aids.
The skills and knowledge he has developed over the years has made him a natural when it comes to helping those with special hearing needs. Hermes is happy to help in both English and Spanish.
Marie Hepola, M.S., CCC-A
Dispensing Audiologist
Long Beach and Torrance Offices
Marie Hepola has been a licensed Dispensing Audiologist in the state of California for 35 years. She brings a vast amount of industry experience to American Hearing and Balance from clinical diagnostics to hearing aid fittings.
Marie also worked in the hearing aid manufacturing industry for many years. She is highly experienced in hearing aid technologies having clinically dispensed hearing aids and held leadership positions with major global hearing aid manufacturers. Marie would enjoy meeting you to discuss your personal hearing needs and how technology can best improve your quality of life.
Ivan Villatora
Hearing Instrument Specialist trainee
Westchester Office
Ivan Villatoro is working to become a California licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS). He is currently a Hearing Instrument Specialist trainee for American Hearing and Balance. He is on schedule to gain his full professional licensure in 2025.
