Audiology services for VIP Hearing are provided by Ascent Audiology & Hearing with 6 locations in the Washington, DC Metro Area.
Our Practice
At Ascent Audiology & Hearing our education, personal care and years of experience help define us as a premier audiology practice. Our Audiologists hold doctorate or master’s degrees, and we use a patient-centered approach in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of our patients’ hearing.
Our Services
Patient Satisfaction
We are proud of our personalized patient care, where we work with each patient until they are completely satisfied with their hearing. Our efforts are recognized by over 500 five-star patient reviews on reputable websites such as Angie’s List, Customer Lobby, ZocDoc, Wellness.com, HealthGrades and many more. Please visit our website at HearingAidDoctors.com to view our patient testimonials.
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Locations
We provide exceptional service at 6 locations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, with easy access to The Beltway in McLean, Arlington, Leesburg, Lansdowne and Sterling, VA and Rockville, MD.
Our Team
Dr. Ana Anzola, CCC-A, FAAA, ABA
Dr. Anzola has been practicing audiology for more than 20 years, and is the Principal of Ascent Audiology & Hearing in Washington, DC Metro. What sets Dr. Anzola apart is the personal attention she gives to each patient to find the absolute best solution, and ensure the technology is working at optimal capacity. She truly believes that her job isn’t finished until the patient is completely satisfied with their results. Dr. Anzola insists that such high quality standards are met by each audiologist and staff member in her practice.
Dr. Anzola is certified by the American Board of Audiology (ABA), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Audiology (FAAA).
Dr. Julie Boiano, CCC-A
Dr. Julie Boiano enjoys working with patients across all age groups, including pediatrics and adults. As a hearing health care specialist, she makes an active effort to understand each person’s listening needs and works with each patient to develop a tailored solution. Dr. Boiano believes that knowledge is the key to success, and strives to educate and counsel her patients about hearing loss, amplification options, and overall realistic goals/expectations. Her favorite part of being an audiologist is developing ongoing professional relationships with patients and seeing the quality of life changes that result from successful hearing aid fittings.
Dr. Boiano earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University, and her Doctorate of Audiology from Towson University. She is a Virginia state licensed audiologist and is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Dr. Linda Himler, CCC-A, FAAA, ABA
Dr. Linda Himler has practiced audiology and hearing aid dispensing since 1986. She has a broad background of experience and truly enjoys working with all age groups. Bringing people back into the conversations that are important in their lives, and in connection with friends and family is what gives her joy and meaning in her career. She enjoys working in her home community in Loudoun County and looks forward to improving the quality of life of her patients and their families through better hearing.
Dr. Himler is certified by the American Board of Audiology (ABA) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and is Board Certified as a Fellow in Audiology through the American Academy of Audiology (FAAA). A graduate of Boston University in 1984, she received her Master’s degree in Audiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, ultimately receiving her Doctor of Audiology from Salus University in Philadelphia in 2009. Dr. Himler has had the fortune to work in a variety of work environments including hospital audiology, private practice, a non-profit allied health center and in ENT audiology for 20 years.
Dr. Wendy Thorne, CCC-A, FAAA
Dr. Thorne first became interested in audiology at a young age when her aunt suffered a sudden hearing loss overnight. After listening to her aunt talk about the experience and how her audiologist gave her back the gift of communication and hearing, Dr. Thorne knew it was what she wanted to do for others. She loves working with individuals of all ages from pediatrics to adults, and enjoys meeting new patients and working with them through the process of hearing treatment toward a life of best hearing. Dr. Thorne will do whatever she can to make each one of her patients happy with their hearing health care.
Dr. Thorne is a Virginia state licensed audiologist and is certified by the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL) and her doctorate degree from West Virginia University. While at West Virginia University, Dr. Thorne wrote her thesis examining the effects of Multiple Sclerosis on hearing health.
Hearing Facts
Prevalence
- 48 million Americans have a hearing loss
- Approximately 1/3 of Americans aged 65 to 74 have hearing loss
- Nearly 1/2 of those age 75 or older have hearing loss
- Hearing loss is the 3rd most prevalent chronic health condition facing older Americans (after hypertension and arthritis)
Most Don’t Seek Help
- Only 20% of those who could benefit from treatment actually seek help
- On average, hearing aid users wait over 10 years after their initial diagnosis to be fit with hearing aids
- Most tend to delay treatment until they cannot communicate even in the best of listening situations
Consequences
- Untreated hearing loss has been linked to depression, anxiety, frustration, social isolation and fatigue
- It is also associated with decreases in cognitive function, communication and social/emotional functioning
Dementia
- Johns Hopkins University found a strong link between degree of hearing loss and risk of developing dementia
- Individuals with untreated mild hearing loss were 2x as likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal hearing
- Those with untreated moderate hearing loss were 3x more likely to develop dementia
- Those with untreated severe hearing loss had 5x the risk
Other Conditions
Research has found links between hearing loss and:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Kidney disease
- Obesity
- Sleep apnea
- Tinnitus
- Meniere’s Disease
- Migraines
- Brain injury
- Cancer
- Natural aging
Impact of Treatment
- Research has shown that hearing aid use positively affected quality of life for both the hearing aid wearer and his or her significant other
- Hearing aid use has been shown to significantly decrease cognitive decline, dementia, depression, anxiety and social isolation
- Early and careful evaluation and treatment show great promise in mitigating the consequences of hearing loss on long-term health and quality of life
If your patients have any of these conditions they may also be suffering from hearing loss or deterioration of their hearing. A baseline assessment and annual monitoring is recommended.
VIP Member Benefits
The VIP Hearing Program offers your patients the expertise of highly experienced Doctors of Audiology and a host of member-only benefits and discounts.
There is no cost to you or your patients to join the program.
Program Participation
Patients can access the program only through a participating physician.
Physician participation is by invitation only.
Access is based solely on volume of referrals and is reserved exclusively for referring physicians. Program access is reviewed annually.
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Application for Physicians
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