Colton T. Clayton, Au.D., Ph.D.

Colton T. Clayton, Au.D., Ph.D., is a clinical and research audiologist in the Division of Audiology within the Department of Otolaryngology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He specializes in dizziness and balance disorders, with a particular interest in conditions involving the central nervous system. His clinical and research work explores how the brain uses information from the visual, vestibular and auditory systems to maintain balance and navigate the environment.

Areas of expertise

Dr. Clayton evaluates and treats adults with hearing and balance concerns. His areas of expertise include:

• Dizziness and balance disorders
• Central dizziness evaluation and rehabilitation
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
• Fall risk related to balance difficulties
• Visual, vestibular and auditory sensory integration
• Hearing loss and age-related hearing loss

Dr. Clayton's interest in central dizziness reflects his broader focus on how the senses work together to maintain balance. By considering how hearing, vision and the vestibular system interact, he works to better understand the factors contributing to a patient's symptoms and guide evaluation and rehabilitation.

"My goal is to understand how dizziness or balance problems are affecting each patient's daily life and then use the best available clinical information to develop a thoughtful plan for evaluation and rehabilitation," says Dr. Clayton. "By listening carefully and looking at how the different senses work together, I hope to help patients feel more confident, independent and engaged in the activities that matter to them."

Research and education

Dr. Clayton's research focuses on sensory integration, particularly how the brain combines visual, vestibular and auditory information and how hearing or other sensory losses may affect that process. His research complements his clinical work in dizziness and balance care and may help inform approaches to evaluation and rehabilitation.

He is also involved in educating clinical residents and graduate students, bringing his experience as both a practicing audiologist and researcher to the training of future hearing and balance professionals.

Dr. Clayton earned his Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) and Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science from Arizona State University.

He is certified in audiology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Association for Research in Otolaryngology.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Clayton enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach and indoor rock climbing.