About Mt. Hood Hearing
See Why Patients Choose Mt Hood Hearing
If you or a loved one is searching for hearing loss solutions from a team of specialists who strive to be the best in their area, then you are in the right place!
Choosing new hearing healthcare specialists can be a challenge, especially when looking for one that provides high-quality, cutting-edge treatment technology with extensive experience.
At Mt Hood Hearing, our team knows what it takes to provide this and more. Our personalized care provides our patients with lasting results and quality that you won’t find anywhere else. Plus, all our plans are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee!
We are proud to be part of Excellence In Audiology, a group of like-minded hearing healthcare professionals whose mission is to remove the uncertainty for you when it’s time to choose a specialist for quality hearing solutions. We seek to provide you with the tools and the education to be able to answer two key questions with full confidence…
- What are the most important questions to ask a potential hearing specialist to correct your hearing loss?
- How can you be sure that a particular hearing specialist is the best choice to treat your or your loved one’s unique case?
Neuroscientist Approved
Dr. Keith Darrow, Ph.D., CCC-A is a Neuroscientist, Clinical Audiologist, Certified Dementia Practitioner, medical researcher and author. He holds a Ph.D. from a joint Harvard Medical and M.I.T. program focused on Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology. As a research associate at the Eaton Peabody Lab at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Dr. Darrow contributed to the development of next-generation auditory prostheses. His most recent contribution to patient access and affordability was advocating nationwide for a low monthly subscription option for the medical treatment of hearing loss and Tinnitus.
During his 20+ year career in research and in the clinic, he has treated or directly influenced the treatment of hundreds of thousands of patients at an increased risk of memory loss and dementia due to hearing loss and tinnitus. He has developed the most comprehensive programs for ensuring patient outcomes and his research has been cited over 1000 times.
Since founding the group Excellence In Audiology, over 1,296 hearing and tinnitus treatment specialists from eight countries have subscribed to Dr. Keith Darrow’s vision to improve lives, reduce the risk of Dementia, and advance the profession of hearing health care, while supporting our communities.
Mt Hood Hearing has been selected by Excellence In Audiology to offer the highest levels of hearing healthcare to the Portland area. We regularly train with Dr. Darrow on the latest hearing loss treatment techniques and share his vision for delivering long-term medical treatment of hearing loss with optimal brain stimulation. This approach is proven to help our patients hear better in all situations while slowing down the progression of hearing loss, improve their mental acuity, reduce their risk of cognitive decline and dementia, reduce their risk of falls, reduce ringing in the ears, and help them stay independent.
Our Team
Vladimir Gutierrez, BC-HIS
Vladimir grew up in Venezuela where his love and passion for music and sound production began to flourish while studying audio engineering in Caracas. After completing a sound technology curriculum in Barcelona, Spain he worked for a local hearing aid manufacturing company where he learned the ins and outs of hearing technology production and service. When the opportunity arrived, he and his wife moved to the United States to be near her family.
They quickly established in Portland, Oregon and Vladimir immediately began to work and train at a small hearing clinic. Soon thereafter he became licensed in Oregon as a Hearing Instrument Specialist. Two years later he and his wife co-founded Mt. Hood Hearing in 2004. Vladimir’s education and training continued as he became Nationally Board Certified through the International Hearing Society, Tinnitus Care Provider Certified by the International Hearing Society and a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Vladimir is also the current president of the Oregon Hearing Society, a board member in Oregon's Advisory Council on Hearing Aids and has trained closely with Dr. Darrow on the neuroscience behind the connection between our ears and our brain.
Vladimir’s extensive experience and unique set of skills allows him to successfully employ the latest tools and techniques for hearing loss correction and management. This is one of the main reasons for the high satisfaction rates of Mt Hood Hearing’s patients.
When he is not at the office improving his patients’ lives, he has many hobbies. He has co-written and self-produced several electronic music albums that can be heard on many steaming platforms and TV shows. Vladimir is fluent in his native language, Spanish and is currently learning Japanese. He also enjoys watching Sumo, loves to travel abroad and learn about new cultures. He spends his weekends camping and hiking with his wife and family along with helping to run a family-owned restaurant called “La Arepa”, which sells traditional Venezuelan food.
Darien - Patient Experience Manager
Darien was born and raised in the Portland, Oregon metro area. She was a competitive gymnast, soccer player and did track and field through her teen years along with beginning her professional life in customer service. She grew to love working with the public and building connections with her customers. In her early 20’s, she decided to expand her skill set by moving abroad to learn Spanish and to immerse herself in foreign cultures and societies.
She met her husband while living on Isla de Margarita in Venezuela. Soon thereafter, they both enrolled in programs and together they moved to Barcelona, Spain to continue studying. Having been a competitive athlete for many years she was drawn to becoming a massage therapist. She specialized in “Chiromassage” and finalized her studies while in Barcelona. After a few years living in Europe, they decided it was time to relocate to Portland, Oregon to be closer her family.
Upon returning to Oregon, Darien completed her Bachelor of Arts, with a focus in social and behavioral studies, and graduated from George Fox University. She has been with Mt. Hood Hearing since 2005 and her extensive hearing healthcare knowledge, her years of customer service experience coupled with her international studies, makes her the ideal individual to coordinate our patient’s experience. She dedicates her days to high quality patient care and helping find the best individualized treatment options for our patients.
When she is not in the office, Darien loves to travel locally and abroad, especially to Spanish speaking countries where she can speak to locals in their native language. She enjoys spending time with her family, likes to camp, hike, and be outdoors.
Cindy - Patient Experience Coordinator
Cindy was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She is the third generation in her family to be raised from elementary school through high school in Portland Proper. She began her working career for an organization processing medical insurance claims, while attending Cleveland High School during the day. This job is where she first fell in love with helping people in a medical environment. She continued her medical work career with several long-term, challenging and rewarding positions. Her extensive background consists of managing the front office of a Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Customer Service Representative in Rheumatology, and Oculoplastic Surgery Coordinating. Cindy has now found her new passion, being a valuable part of the team at Mt. Hood Hearing. She plays a vital role in the treatment of hearing loss as our Patient Experience Coordinator.
Cindy’s enthusiasm for helping people is one of the things that makes her so valuable to our patients. She works hard to make sure everyone has their questions answered and appointments scheduled. She always ensures that our patients receive a friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful experience. Her expertise, personality, and caring nature makes her a perfect fit to our team.
While she is not at work, Cindy loves spending time with her newly acquired kittens, “Tori” and “Teri”, a tribute to her dearly departed Old English Bulldog Victoria and Tabby Cat Terrance. To say Cindy has a love for animals might be an understatement and has had more pets at one time than most have had in a lifetime. She also highly values spending time with family and friends, paddle boarding, and doing yoga.
Yean - Lab Technician
Yean was born and raised in Venezuela. While growing up he had a passion for martial arts, roller blading, and long board skating. After graduating from high school, he studied tourism. Being a Spanish citizen, during his early twenties he relocated to the Canary Islands, Andorra, and finally landed in Barcelona, where he worked for a printing company as a lead technician.
In 2015, after having lived in Europe for 11 years, he moved to Portland Oregon with his wife where they both had the opportunity to study English in an immersion program. This gave him the ability to settle in and learn a new language and culture.
Yean has been with Mt. Hood Hearing since 2021 as our lab technician. He has been trained by and works closely under our senior hearing care provider. Yean is instrumental in making sure that the office runs smoothly by verifying that all hearing devices are working properly, pre and post fitting, to guarantee ongoing high levels of patient benefit and satisfaction. His hard work and dedication ensure that our patients have service, support, supplies and accessories available whenever needed.
Out of the office, Yean loves to go to the beach and river, travel, ride his long board, practicing MMA, and take his dog on hikes. He also enjoys spending time with his family and camping.