Denton Hearing Health Care: Dr. Katie Bessent Audiologist Knows How To Listen

DR. KATIE BESSENT AUDIOLOGIST KNOWS HOW TO LISTEN

by Diane Ciarloni | photo of doctors courtesy of Denton Hearing Health Care

Did you know there’s been an from Texas Tech University Health Sciences increase in the awareness of Center. She joined the Denton Hearing hearing loss since the outset of Health Care medical team in 2013, which COVID-19 and the mandatory use of face was her first year of practice. Dr. Bessent masks? Dr. Katie Bessent knows it, and she became the sole owner in February 2020. also knows why. “Everything went very smoothly,” said “People often rely on visual cues to Dr. Bessent. “Our patients stayed with help fill in the blanks of what they us during the transition and we are not hearing. With face made certain they knew masks covering mouths, we continue to have people do not have the same values and those cues and are quality service that not able to fully the practice was understand what founded on.” is being said.” The 940.387.0550 Dr. Lori A. Roby, also pandemic has www.DentonHearing.com with a Doctorate brought that to light and people are 2540 Lillian Miller Pkwy., STE. 100 Denton, TX 76210 in audiology as well as a degree realizing how much in Communication they have relied on visual Sciences and Disorders, cues and that they are having joined the practice in 2019. difficulties hearing. The practice offers a broad range of Denton Hearing Health Care has been services, including hearing assessments in place since the 1980s. It’s where Dr. and rehabilitation, vestibular testing,

Bessent fulfilled her externship for her hearing aid evaluations and fittings, Doctorate of Audiology which she earned auditory processing screening and Veteran’s evaluations. There is an especially broad list of pediatric services, beginning with newborns and tracking their hearing development throughout the different stages of that critical first year.

“I’m truly passionate about what I do,” says Dr. Bessent. “I love the variety of patients, the different ages, and the challenges they present. It’s impossible for me to think of anything I’d rather be doing.”

LOW-COST, COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS For Animal Welfare

by Steve Gamel | photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com)

It’s no secret we live in a pet-loving culture. Everywhere you turn, that bond between humans and animals is unmistakable, whether it’s the little girl parading her new puppy through the neighborhood, a businessman taking time from his crowded schedule to play fetch in the park with his golden retriever, or the elderly lady at the bus stop with two kittens curled up patiently inside her oversized purse.

Even when we take that long-awaited family portrait, the pets are always included – because they’re family, too. same time filling a void for animals who deserve quality care at a price their owners can afford.

We love our pets; they are an extension Stacey said that in 2020 alone, TCAP of us. But all too often, good and well- spayed and neutered more than 62,000 intentioned pet owners simply cannot animals. Since being founded, TCAP has afford the most basic veterinary sterilized more than 550,000 North care such as spay and neuter Texas animals and vaccinated services, vaccinations, “It’s not our goal to take more than 1 million against and even dental care. business from veterinary the deadly rabies virus. clinics,” Stacey said. “We see it It’s a scenario Stacey as a partnership because we’re “We started as one night Schumacher has coming alongside them and a week in one location seen play out once offering the basic stuff everyone in 2002 and have grown too many times over needs. And if need be, we refer so much since then,” said the years, which has out for specialized care.” Stacey, who as TCAP’s led to euthanasia and founder and Executive Director overpopulation at animal has proudly watched her nonprofit shelters. So she created a non-profit grow to include eight locations. “What we called the Texas Coalition for Animal do in terms of services is very limited, but Protection. TCAP is a low-cost alternative we do a lot of it, and the vets we employ that partners with full-service veterinary are subject matter experts. clinics and animal shelters while at the “What overwhelms most pet owners is the cost factor. They love their animals, but the cost is sometimes unattainable.”

940.566.5551 | TexasForThem.org 713 Sunset St. • Denton, TX 76201

TCAP, which is heading into its 19th year, is upfront that they aren’t trying to replace full-service clinics. They specialize only in spay and neuter services, vaccinations, heartworm testing and prevention, microchipping services, and dental work such as routine cleanings, tooth extraction, and antibiotics. The level of care is equal to what you can find at vet centers but at a fraction of the price. For example, a full set of vaccines could cost a pet owner as little as $25. Spay and neuter services can range between $35-$65, which is roughly 70-80 percent cheaper than a full-service vet clinic.

They offer wellness kits for puppies where customers can have all shots, microchipping, and spay and neuter services for as little as $150. For a kitten, the same wellness kit can run as low as $130. Both kits essentially cover everything a puppy or kitten would need in its first year of life. TCAP also works with several animal shelters in the area to provide spay and neuter services onsite to help service pets owned by customers who are unable to transport their pets to a TCAP location.

Beyond that, if TCAP veterinarians notice anything that concerns them about a pet – old or young – from a health standpoint, they will always refer a customer to a local veterinarian’s office for a more detailed evaluation.

“It’s not our goal to take business from veterinary clinics,” Stacey said. “We see it as a partnership because we’re coming alongside them and offering the basic stuff everyone needs. And if need be, we refer out for specialized care.”

A visit to TCAP makes it clear that the entire team goes to great lengths to make sure everyone who walks through their doors – on two legs or four – has a great experience.

“Our focus is to provide services at the lowest cost and with the best care. We focus on customer service from a very compassionate, caring veterinary team,” Stacey said.