Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance Staff

Better hearing and a better quality of life can be yours for many years with the help of the right hearing professional.

At Southwest Florida Center For Hearing and Balance, we pride ourselves on developing long-term relationships with our clients. Relationships based on unsurpassed personal service that begins the first time you walk through our doors and continues long after your initial appointment.

Our Core Beliefs

Relationships are vital to life. Hearing loss interferes with healthy relationships. We believe relationships are central to the human experience and that the presence of untreated hearing loss slowly deteriorates our ability to create, develop and maintain healthy relationships. We believe treating hearing loss is an avenue to better living.

Meet the Team

Lynda M. Mercer, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA, ABA Certified Owner, Doctor of Audiology

Lynda M. Mercer, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA, ABA Certified

Owner, Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Lynda Mercer is a board certified audiologist, holds her certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.

In 1987 she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ball State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Deaf Education. After teaching high school English to deaf children for several years she received a scholarship from the University of Cincinnati to obtain her Master’s Degree. This degree was completed with honors in 1994. In August of 1994 she relocated her family to Cape Coral, Florida where she completed her Clinical Fellowship year under the direction of a highly talented audiologist, Joseph Holmes at the Hearing Care Center.

In 1998, Dr. Lynda was offered a leadership position on the staff at Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Florida where she developed their audiology program until 2007. After a breadth of experience working under medical doctors for 13 years, she began to practice independently when she opened Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance in 2007. The practice has steadily grown since that time and Dr. Lynda’s reputation continues to be one of excellence, honesty and integrity. Dr. Lynda earned her clinical Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) from the University of Florida in 2002. She is a licensed audiologist and has been practicing in the Lee County area for 30 years.

Karen M. Major, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

Karen M. Major, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Major received her Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Florida and her Master in Audiology from Brooklyn College. She has been a practicing audiologist for 21 years. 

A native New Yorker, she completed externships at such notable facilities as Bellevue Hospital, Queens Hospital and Long Island College Hospital. Dr. Major moved to Florida to pursue her career at the prestigious Silverstein Institute and has since gained experience at several other notable otolaryngology and audiology practices. Her extensive experience makes her an expert in audiological and vestibular evaluation and treatment. She is excited to find her home in private practice at the Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance. When Dr. Major isn’t in the office she can be found at home with her husband, who is also an audiologist, and their daughter Olivia who is a dedicated competitive all-star cheerleader.
Valerie Washington, Patient Care Coordinator

Valerie Washington

Patient Care Coordinator

Valerie Washington serves as the Patient Care Coordinator and Physician Liaison at Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance. Valerie, a native of Ft. Myers and graduate of Cypress Lake High, earned her Associates Degree in Medical Administration from Southwest Florida College in 1996.

While earning her degree she worked as a medical assistant in the infirmary at Gulf Coast Center for the Mentally Disabled where she served for 19 years. During her tenure she was promoted to Nursing/Medical Administrator. After leaving her work at Gulf Coast Center she worked for a large medical practice in Lee County for over four years. In this position she performed clerical duties including billing and coding as well as personnel management. After working with hearing impaired patients for 11 years, Valerie obtained her certification as an Audiology Assistant from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is trained and equipped to troubleshoot hearing aids to better serve our patients. Valerie has been an integral part of Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance since its inception in 2007.
Venia Joray Billing and Accounts Specialist

Venia Joray

Billing and Accounts Specialist

Venia Joray joined Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance in 2011 bringing patient care, communications and project management to the team. 

She primarily serves as the liaison to community groups, organizes marketing initiatives and social media. On occasion she can be found filling in at the office and looks forward to serving you then, even though she works remotely the majority of the time.
Sarah Somelofske, Audiology Assistant

Sarah Somelofske

Audiology Assistant

Sarah Somelofske earned her Audiologist Assistant Certificate from Nova Southeastern University in 2023.

She works under the supervision of Dr. Lynda Mercer where she assists existing patients with a multitude of hearing aid concerns. She has become an integral member of the team performing many tasks to allow our audiologists to focus on patient care.

Sarah was born and raised in Wisconsin. Go Packers! Post high school Sarah taught preschool for three years. Deciding she wanted to work in healthcare she gained experience in patient care while assisting at a Chiropractor’s office in Wisconsin. With an adventurer’s spirit she was drawn to Fort Myers after several vacations here. She has found here home here in Ft. Myers and in the healthcare arena at Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance!

Toni LoCasto Patient Care Coordinator

Toni LoCasto

Patient Care Coordinator
(Habla Español)

Toni LoCasto serves as a Patient Care Coordinator at Southwest Florida Center for Hearing and Balance.  She joined the practice in October 2023.

Toni was employed at Lee Health for over 25 years and worked in the pediatric and neonatal units. Her background includes inpatient billing and collections with an emphasis on insurance and authorization for physician services. Her last position at Lee Health was Administrative Assistant for the neonatologists and nurse practitioners of the NICU. Toni has lived in SWFL for 30 years and looks forward to serving the patients of our practice at this new phase in her career.