Fifth Avenue Hearing
Hearing Care That Starts by Listening

A hearing problem rarely arrives as a single moment. For many people, it begins quietly. A conversation in a crowded restaurant becomes harder to follow, the television volume gradually increases or family gatherings require more concentration than before. Small adjustments become part of daily life until hearing clearly starts taking more effort than it once did.

For others, the first sign is more subtle. It may be a sound only they can hear, such as ringing, buzzing or hissing that appears during quiet moments. Although hearing loss and tinnitus present differently, both can gradually affect how people participate in conversations, work and relationships.

At Fifth Avenue Hearing in New York City, these changes are treated as meaningful clinical signals. Yet the experience patients encounter begins before any assessment takes place. From the moment they walk into the practice, the setting and the level of attention set it apart from a typical audiology office, creating an atmosphere of professionalism and personal care that continues throughout the visit.

That difference becomes especially apparent when patients meet Rufina Yakubov, Founder and Doctor of Audiology. Before a single test is performed, she begins by getting to know the person sitting across from her. The conversation centers on their life, what they spend their time doing, what has become difficult and what they most want to hear clearly again.

“We start every relationship the same way. We listen,” says Rufina.

She has spent 15 years caring for patients in New York City. The experience has shaped an approach built around listening first, followed by detailed assessment, individualized recommendations and continued support.

Rufina says many patients spend years adapting to gradual changes before recognizing the extent to which hearing difficulties are affecting everyday life. In her experience, this realization can take years to develop.

Many patients spend years compensating for hearing changes without realizing how much effort they are putting into everyday interactions. They may avoid noisy restaurants, withdraw from conversations or accept listening fatigue as a normal part of aging.

Fifth Avenue Hearing focuses on understanding those changes before recommending a solution. Better test results matter, but the larger goal is helping patients return to the experiences and connections they value most.

The Person behind the Audiogram

Before an audiogram is performed, the practice focuses on understanding the patient’s routines, priorities and challenges. Someone who spends much of the week in meetings may have different hearing needs from someone who travels frequently, attends concerts or wants to follow conversations at family dinners.

The discussion considers what patients have stopped doing, what situations have become difficult and what they most want to hear clearly.

An audiogram provides important clinical information, but it cannot measure the frustration of missing a joke at dinner or the isolation that comes from avoiding social situations.

“The audiogram tells us what is happening clinically, but it is the patient’s life that tells us what to do about it,” Rufina says.

A hearing evaluation provides the foundation for understanding the type and degree of hearing loss and how it affects everyday life.

For physician-referred patients, Fifth Avenue Hearing also provides a detailed clinical report to the referring provider the same day, helping ensure that assessment findings can be incorporated into the broader care relationship.

The findings then guide the next step, whether that involves monitoring, hearing technology or tinnitus management.

When Technology Has to Fit the Patient

Fifth Avenue Hearing works with several major manufacturers, including Phonak, Oticon, ReSound, Starkey, Signia and Widex. Its independent approach allows the practice to evaluate available technologies and determine which option best fits a patient’s hearing profile, lifestyle and expectations.

A patient may want to hear a grandchild’s voice more clearly. Another may need to follow discussions in a boardroom. Someone else may simply want to return to a favorite restaurant without feeling exhausted by the effort required to listen.

AI-powered hearing devices have expanded what is possible. Modern devices can analyze changing sound environments and help separate speech from background noise, allowing patients to manage different listening situations more comfortably.

However, technology is only part of the decision.

Rather than approaching one device as universally better than another, Fifth Avenue Hearing focuses on matching technology to the individual using it. The practice considers hearing prescription, ear anatomy, lifestyle and personal priorities when selecting a device. Patients can also experience devices in real-world settings through loaner options before making a commitment.

Fitting Is Where the Numbers Meet Reality

Selecting a hearing aid is the beginning of another stage of care.

Fifth Avenue Hearing uses verification, programming and real-ear measurements to determine whether a device is providing the intended amplification for an individual’s hearing profile and ear anatomy.

Speech understanding is assessed in different environments, including quiet and noise, both with and without hearing aids. These measurements help audiologists evaluate performance rather than relying only on a patient’s first impression after fitting.

Rufina also prepares patients for the adjustment process. She explains that adapting to new hearing technology can take time, comparing the experience to physical therapy or exercise and emphasizing the importance of consistent use and continued follow-up.

Follow-up remains an important part of care. Adjustments, annual hearing examinations and repairs are included through the practice’s bundled care option, while an unbundled model is available for patients who prefer flexibility.

The emphasis is on continuing to evaluate and adjust instead of assuming that an initial fitting represents the end of the care process.

Tinnitus Management Starts with Characterization

While hearing loss often develops gradually, tinnitus can create a different experience. A ringing, buzzing or hissing sound may become a constant reminder that something has changed, especially during quiet moments when there are fewer distractions.

Fifth Avenue Hearing evaluates and manages tinnitus as a distinct clinical concern, beginning with an effort to understand the specific characteristics of what a patient is experiencing. The evaluation process can include examination of the ear canal, hearing assessment, pitch matching and loudness matching. These steps help characterize the sound a patient experiences and provide information for creating an individualized management approach.

For patients with hearing loss and tinnitus, management often focuses on practical improvement. Certain AI-powered hearing devices also include integrated tinnitus sound therapy that can be programmed around an individual’s tinnitus profile.

One patient arrived after tinnitus had disrupted her sleep and affected her ability to function at work. Testing revealed high-frequency hearing loss that had been masked by the tinnitus. A hearing solution incorporating tinnitus therapy was programmed around both her hearing needs and tinnitus profile.

The patient later reported that she was sleeping through the night again and felt like herself for the first time in years.

Another patient arrived after years of quietly withdrawing from social situations. Noisy restaurants had become difficult and family gatherings required so much concentration that conversations became exhausting.

The evaluation identified manageable hearing loss. A device was selected based on his prescription, ear anatomy and social lifestyle. Three weeks later, he called after returning to a restaurant with his wife, including one of their favorite places they had avoided for two years.

According to his wife, he had heard every word of the conversation.

These experiences reflect why Fifth Avenue Hearing connects clinical measurements with everyday outcomes. The impact is not only improved hearing performance. It is helping patients return to conversations, relationships and activities that had gradually become more difficult.

Care That Continues Beyond the Office

The practice also provides concierge services and works with patients in assisted living facilities. Its location near Fifth Avenue and 62nd Street also makes it accessible for travelers who need hearing care while visiting New York.

Remote connectivity has added another layer of flexibility. Most modern hearing aids can connect to smartphones, allowing certain adjustments to be handled remotely. Patients who travel or spend time away from New York can remain connected without returning for every adjustment.

Long-term relationships remain central to Fifth Avenue Hearing’s model. Follow-up care allows the practice to continue assessing patient needs as hearing requirements, lifestyles and listening environments change over time.

Rufina also points to research connecting hearing loss with cognitive health as another reason she encourages patients not to ignore changes in hearing. Instead of allowing difficulties to become something patients simply adapt around, the practice emphasizes evaluation and informed clinical decision-making.

Technology will continue to evolve, but the foundation of Fifth Avenue Hearing remains centered on understanding the patient, assessing hearing needs, selecting appropriate solutions, verifying results and maintaining long-term support.

This combination of comprehensive hearing assessment, individualized device selection, tinnitus management and sustained patient care provides the foundation for Fifth Avenue Hearing’s recognition as Best Hearing Assessment and Tinnitus Management Practice in New York 2026.

Recognition for this model of care ultimately comes down to its impact on the people it serves. For Fifth Avenue Hearing, hearing care begins with listening and assessment, but its true value is measured by what happens after the test. The goal is to help patients reconnect with the parts of life they had gradually learned to live without.