Meet Our Providers

Dr. Jessica Rhodes Dimmick is the president and founder of Hearing Doctors of Iowa, Hearing Doctors of Illinois, and Hearing Doctors of Missouri, collectively known as Hearing Doctors of the Heartland. In private practice since 2012, Dr. Dimmick has turned compassionate patient care into advocacy efforts for those experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus. She has accumulated a specific depth of knowledge in the clinical assessment of hearing disorders, including hearing loss and tinnitus, with an emphasis on scenarios contributing to causation and tracking the progression of injury over time. Her specific experience is in the realm of injuries experienced by Veterans. Dr. Dimmick is an experienced and trusted evaluator of hearing loss and tinnitus cases with an emphasis in evaluation of military noise related hearing loss and tinnitus cases. In the pursuit of improved access to care for Veterans, Dr. Dimmick applied for Federal contracts to administer compensation and pension exams in 2016. Nearly 6,000 Veterans have been served by the Hearing Doctors of the Heartland network of practices since 2016.

Dr. Lexi Kirner was born and raised in Quincy, IL. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Truman State University, she went on to obtain her Doctorate in Audiology from the University of South Alabama. She has clinical experience in a variety of settings including private practice, ENT clinics, children’s rehabilitation centers, and multi-specialty clinics. She holds her certificate of clinical competence in audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Dr. Kirner is licensed in the states of Illinois and Missouri.

Dr. Kirner’s clinical interests include evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss in the adult population. She is passionate about the overall well-being of each patient and strives to meet their individual needs. Her goal is to help her patients stay active and engaged in their daily activities. She is happy to be back in her hometown and enjoys making an impact in her local community. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her husband’s sporting events, and riding horses.

Dr. Tyler Duraes received his Bachelor’s Degree in Speech & Hearing Science, followed by his Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Utah. He completed his clinical externship in St. Louis, MO in an ENT clinic where he provided care for patients of all ages with hearing, balance and amplification services. Upon completing his externship, Dr. Duraes moved to Des Moines where he enjoys serving rural and metro communities in Iowa, as well as United States Veterans. Dr. Duraes specializes in the prescription, fitting and follow-up care of hearing aid devices, hearing evaluation, balance disorders, and tinnitus.

Dr. Megan Dorfler is an Iowa native from Cedar Rapids. She completed her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2019 and went on to obtain her Masters and Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Iowa. She most recently completed her comprehensive clinical externship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota.

Throughout her education, she has had diverse experiences including diagnostic evaluations for patients of all ages with varying levels of complexity and co-morbid conditions. Megan also has spent time fostering skills in various areas of audiology including hearing aid and cochlear implant services, in-patient audiology care including newborn hearing screening, and vestibular evaluation and rehabilitation. Megan additionally contributed to multiple research projects and publications ranging from factors that determine hearing aid satisfaction to profiling ototoxicity in pediatric populations.

As an audiologist, Megan is passionate about providing competent, compassionate care for her patients guided by evidence based best practice procedures. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and dog, Briggs, reading, as well as exploring the Ankeny area. Megan is looking forward to providing dedicated patient care and meeting those in the community.

Russ Sweet was born and raised in Spencer, Iowa. He has been a practicing Hearing Instrument Specialist since 1996. He was also an owner of his own hearing aid practice for over 20 years located in Storm Lake, Spirit Lake, and Fort Dodge. Russ is licensed to service your hearing needs through the State of Iowa and has been a member of the Iowa Hearing Association for many years. In his 25 years of experience, Russ has an understanding of all the aspects of hearing loss, hearing technology, and patients satisfaction. The desire to improve quality of life for hard of hearing patients motivated Russ to join the Hearing Doctors of Iowa team and return to his patients in Storm Lake. When he is not in the office he enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending time with his wife and two children.

Jessica LaFountain grew up on a small dairy farm outside of Kewanee, IL. She got an Associates of Liberal Arts degree from Lincoln College at Normal. Jessica continued studies at Buffalo State College but that was pleasantly interrupted by a move back to Central Illinois with her husband and children. She received her education from the International Hearing Society, and continued that foundation with a mentorship here at Hearing Doctors of Illinois. Jessica is licensed in Illinois to help you with your hearing health needs. She is engaged in educating those who walk through the doors of Hearing Doctors so they can get the most out of their hearing aids. She is passionate about serving in rural communities like her own; seeing patients in Galesburg, Kewanee and Quincy.