From Austin to East Texas: Dr. Leah Guempel's Commitment to Better Hearing

For many people, hearing loss is something that creeps up slowly — so gradually that it often goes unnoticed until a loved one points it out, or until the world starts to feel a little more distant than it used to. Dr. Leah Guempel knows this story well. She has spent her career making sure that people across East Texas don't have to wait years before getting the help they need.

A Career Built on Passion for Hearing Healthcare

Dr. Guempel's path into audiology was shaped early by a genuine interest in communication and the human impact of hearing loss. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders in 2007, followed by her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Texas in 2010. Her talent didn't go unnoticed during those years — she was named Outstanding First Year Graduate Student in Audiology and received the Sertoma Outstanding Graduate Student in Audiology award.

Her clinical training took her through several rotations across Austin, including Dell Children's Hospital and an ENT practice, giving her a well-rounded foundation across a range of patient needs and age groups. It was during a student rotation at Cook Hearing & Balance that she found her professional home — working her way from student clinician to Doctor of Audiology across the Austin and Cedar Park locations.

Taking Ownership of Patient Care

In September 2011, Dr. Guempel stepped into a new role when she became the audiologist at the Cook Hearing & Balance office in San Marcos upon its opening. Just over a year later, in December 2012, she purchased the practice and renamed it Central Texas Hearing Center — a move that reflected not just professional ambition, but a deeper commitment to building something meaningful for the communities she served. She went on to open a second Central Texas Hearing Center location in Lakeway, Texas.

Her most recent chapter brought her to Lufkin, where she purchased Audiological Services — a practice that has been trusted by thousands of local families for over 27 years.

Why East Texas Matters to Her

East Texas is not just a place Dr. Guempel works — it is a community she is invested in. Hearing loss affects 1 in 8 people, yet the average person waits 7 to 10 years after noticing the first signs before seeking help. That gap has real consequences, from strained relationships to increased risk of cognitive decline and social isolation. Dr. Guempel's goal is to close that gap for people across the region.

Under her leadership, our practice serves patients not only in Lufkin, but across surrounding communities including Nacogdoches, Diboll, Crockett, Livingston, and Jasper. We have also partnered with the Texas Hearing Institute to offer Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing to newborns who have failed their hearing screenings — eliminating the need for families to travel over two hours to Houston to access this care.

For veterans in our community, Dr. Guempel's commitment runs particularly deep. As the wife of a veteran, she understands firsthand the unique hearing challenges that come with military service. Our practice works closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Community Care to connect veterans with the hearing care they have earned.

A Commitment to Doing Things the Right Way

One of the things that distinguishes the way Dr. Guempel approaches audiology is her insistence on best practices. Our practice doesn't follow the minimum standard — we aim to define it. We invest continuously in the latest hearing testing equipment, stay current with industry training, and partner with all major hearing aid manufacturers so that each patient receives a recommendation based on their specific needs and circumstances, not what happens to be on the shelf.

That philosophy extends to every member of our team. From our doctors of audiology to our patient care coordinators and insurance specialists, everyone at Audiological Services is aligned around one goal — improving the quality of life for the people we see.

The Person Behind the Doctor

Ask Dr. Guempel who she would want to sit down to dinner with and she will tell you — Dolly Parton. Her favorite TV show is Friends. She roots for the LSU Tigers and her ideal meal involves crawfish. Given the chance to travel anywhere, she would head straight to Greece.

These details matter, because they speak to who she is beyond her credentials. Warm, approachable, and genuinely invested in the people around her — that is the kind of doctor she is in the clinic, too.

Schedule a Hearing Evaluation in Lufkin

If you or someone you love has been putting off a hearing evaluation, there is no better time to take that first step. Dr. Guempel and our full team at Audiological Services are here to provide an honest, thorough assessment and walk alongside you toward better hearing. Call us at (936) 632-2252 or visit us at 601 Ellis Avenue in Lufkin to schedule your appointment. We see patients Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.