Mission & History
History
In 1998 Dr. Linn opened Potomac Audiology in Rockville. She moved to this area from Iowa where she had a private practice and was starting all over again. It was slow going at first, with only one fitting room and Dr. Linn was the only audiologist. Today, we occupy 3000 square feet in our Rockville office with seven fitting rooms and five audiologists and students that we train from the Universities of Maryland and Gallaudet. We’ve also opened a second location in Frederick, MD!
During these last almost 25 years, we have added Pediatric Audiology when Dr. Linn’s daughter, Dr. Tricia Terlep, joined the practice. She had previously worked at the Georgetown University Audiology Clinic and brought with her skills she had learned there. We have hired some talented young audiologists that we have trained though the mentoring and training that we do for many local universities. And of course, we can’t leave out something that is near and dear to our hearts and that is something called “Real Ear” or “Probe Microphone” Measures. This is a procedure that allows us to put a tiny tube that is attached to a microphone in a patient’s ear at the time of a hearing aid fitting. We can then measure exactly what the hearing aid is delivering to the ear. This procedure is not widely done, but the most important component of a good hearing aid fitting.
We enjoy a good relationship with many medical professionals in the area and our patients. For which we are very thankful. We look forward to many more years!
Mission
Doctorate Level Hearing Care You Can Trust
Our mission at Potomac Audiology is to provide the best quality hearing care with optimal outcomes for our patients. We stress “Real Ear” measures as the only way to properly fit hearing aids. Our Real Ear fitting devices allow you to not only hear the difference but SEE exactly how the hearing aid is matching your prescription.
Proper hearing health care does not always mean fitting hearing aids. Our doctorate level audiologists will evaluate and discuss treatment options and plans with each patient to determine the best course of action for their unique situation.
What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders in newborns, children, and adults of all ages. They treat patients across the lifespan and help navigate the increasing levels of technology that help treat hearing loss.
Most audiologists earn a doctor of audiology (AuD) degree from accredited universities with special training in the prevention, identification, assessment, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders.
Audiologists are licensed to practice by the state in which they practice, and some hold varying levels of general and specialty certifications, although certification is not required to practice.
In addition to diagnostic hearing testing Audiologists also:
- Prescribe and fit hearing aids
- Recommend and program implantable hearing devices, including cochlear, bone-anchored, middle ear, and auditory brainstem implants
- Perform ear- or hearing-related surgical monitoring
- Design and implement hearing conservation programs and newborn hearing screening programs
- Provide hearing rehabilitation training such as: auditory training, speech reading, and listening skills improvement
- Provide dizziness and vertigo assessments and
- Diagnose evaluate and treat patients with tinnitus (ear noises);
- Perform clinical and scientific research
Although the vast majority of hearing problems do not require medical or surgical intervention, audiologists are clinically and academically trained to determine those that do need medical referral. Audiologists will appropriately refer patients to physicians when the patient’s history, the physical presentation, or the results of the audiological evaluation indicate the possibility of a medical or surgical problem.
What to Expect at an Audiology Appointment
A diagnostic hearing evaluation will include:
- A complete audiological evaluation which is required to determine if a hearing loss exists, and if that loss needs medical attention.
- Discussing options We will discuss your options if a hearing loss is diagnosed. Hearing aids are not always the best solution.
- Needs assessments to help determine features that a hearing aid should have if one has been recommended. Your personal preferences will be addressed.
- Real-Ear Measurement; a technique that allows our audiologists to measure what the hearing aid is actually delivering to the eardrum. Without performing this measurement, there is no way to know whether a hearing aid is providing the amplification across the frequencies to correct your unique hearing loss. Why risk spending thousands of dollars on hearing aids that may not be programmed to the best of its ability?
Follow up visits will be important to fine tune the hearing aid fit for optimal sound balance. Regular quarterly or bi-annual visits will ensure the hearing aid fit remains correct and will monitor changes in your hearing loss.
