Trisha Hittenmiller, ARNP

Arrogant, patronizing, doesn't listen and totally lacks compassion. She can't seem to wait to get you out of the office. Completely dismissive of anything you try to tell/ask her or in sharing what other providers may have told you. She says things like "You may as well get used to the fact that you're going to lose you hearing" (Yep! In those words). Something someone with new onset sudden hearing loss isn't expecting to hear, even as other providers have contradicted this to be a certainty. But then later, after your hearing improves, (with very little thanks to her) says "You may not lose your hearing". I have not met Dr. Carfrae but, given my experience with Trisha, I would not recommend the Iowa Ear Clinic. When I need services that my ENT is not able to provide, I will ask to be referred somewhere else, even if it means that I will have to pay more out of pocket.

She was totally cold and lacked any compassion. Was unwilling to listen and rushed out appointment. I’ve never left a medical office feeling less heard. Do yourself a favor. Do not waste your time, money, energy, or emotions be seeing her.

I've been a patient at Iowa Ear Center for many years, and I've referred many people. Since Tricia has become part of the team, all have left invalidated, in tears, or befuddled, which is a shared experience by me. She has countered her own diagnosis and suggestions, gone against Mayo Clinic specialists, insistently states I have vestibular migraines (several neurologists, including Mayo, have confirmed I don't), and berates and shoos me out of the office with I deny the treatments that have continued to fail me. I only continue seeking care here because they prescribe my medication. If you can avoid the Iowa Ear Center, I would. Tricia has brought a considerable disservice to this once welcoming environment. Dr. Carfrae needs to read these reviews and listen to his patients, as he was great when I saw him.

People who suffered sudden hearing loss are usually going through traumatic stress. Trisha is not right person for this job. She is neither helpful, compassionate or competent. She is like a teenager treating PTSD patients. She is unempathetic and lacks experience. If your symptoms do not appear in the textbook, she dismisses it. I complained about ear pain, she dismissed it as jaw pain and did not investigate further. She said that steroid ear shots have a 50% success rate when given 3 weeks of hearing loss. When asked "if more than 3 weeks?", her answer was still 50%. She said confidently that menieres patients do well with diuretics & low sodium diet. Not true. Most patients continue to suffer severe symptoms. She seemed to have more confidence in their treatments than the effectiveness of the treatments themselves. She assured the ear shots do not hurt, but I experienced multiple sharp pains. She again dismissed it as "a little discomfort". She seems disconnected from her patients.

Didn’t explain anything to me despite asking questions. She’s was short and way too general in her responses, talking to me like I didn’t know anything about my own hearing. It was clear that she couldn’t wait to get out of there. Such a disappointment and reflects terribly on Dr. Carfrae, who is terrific.

Worst healthcare professional I’ve ever seen. Very curt, patronizing, and lacked any compassion for me while I was struggling with a debilitating condition. I would never recommend her to anyone.