Dr. Sparks is Board Certified in Audiology. He was the first Private Practice Audiologist in Gainesville, Florida. He has been practicing in Gainesville since 1980. Dr. Sparks graduated from the University of Florida with Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees. While at the University of Florida, he trained at specialty clinics including Shands Teaching Hospital's Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, the Department of Communicative Disorders' Audiology Clinic, the Oral Facial Clinic, Children's Medical Services, the Gainesville Veterans Administration Hospital's Audiology Clinic and the Multi-County Hearing Impaired Program.Dr. Sparks completed his Clinical Fellowship Year at the Communicative Disorders Center and at Jacksonville Hearing and Noise Control in 1979. He has dedicated his career to providing care for those with hearing problems, with a special interest in hearing aids.Untreated hearing loss is a serious problem because it contributes to anger, frustration, anxiety, depression, social isolation and withdrawal. Hearing loss impacts not only the individual, but their family and friends.-Joseph D. Sparks, Au.D.