The Academy of Doctors of Audiology has granted its new Audiology Practice Accreditation to Coates Hearing Clinic, a four-location independent practice in North Carolina, marking the program’s first award since standards were adopted by ADA members in 2025.
The Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) has named Coates Hearing Clinic as the inaugural recipient of its Audiology Practice Accreditation, the organization announced Aug. 3. The privately owned practice operates four locations in Smithfield, Goldsboro, Lillington, and Clayton, NC.
The accreditation program recognizes audiology practices that meet ADA standards across five areas: rights and needs of the patient; delivery of clinical services; instrumentation, equipment, and facilities; practice administration; and quality assurance and performance improvement. Standards were developed through expert consensus and peer review, with evidence-based clinical and business practices serving as the foundation, and were adopted by ADA members in 2025.
“Accreditation means that a practice has done the hard work of examining how it delivers care, manages its operations, protects patients, and measures performance,” says Jill Davis, AuD, ADA president, in a release. “Coates Hearing Clinic has demonstrated Excellence in Practice and earned the distinction of becoming the inaugural ADA-accredited audiology practice. We congratulate the entire team on this important achievement!”
The program is designed to strengthen and streamline practice operations while promoting consistent, high-quality audiologic care.
What Accreditation Means
According to ADA, for patients, ADA accreditation provides assurance that a practice has voluntarily undergone external review, demonstrating commitment to patient-centered care, safety, transparency, evidence-based clinical protocols, qualified personnel, responsible business operations, and continuous improvement.
“From the start, we’ve been committed to bringing world-class, evidence-based hearing healthcare to our community,” says Kathleen Coates, AuD, co-owner and audiologist at Coates Hearing Clinic, in a release. “We’ve brought together an incredible team of providers and staff who are at the absolute top of their game. They all have a servant’s heart, and we couldn’t have accomplished this incredible honor without them,” adds Jordan Coates, CEO and co-owner, in the release.
ADA Audiology Practice Accreditation is awarded on a three-year cycle. Accredited practices may display the ADA accreditation seal as a visible indication of their achievement and commitment to Excellence in Practice.
About Coates Hearing Clinic
Coates Hearing Clinic opened its first location in Smithfield in 2019 and has since grown to a team of 17 providers and support staff. The practice offers a full range of audiological services, including hearing loss evaluations and treatment, hearing aids, tinnitus treatment, balance assessments and diagnostics, and cochlear implant services. Through its Coates Community Giving Pledge, the clinic commits to returning at least 5% of monthly profits to local churches and nonprofits. More information is available at coateshearing.com.
For more information about the ADA Audiology Practice Accreditation program, visit the ADA accreditation page.
