hearing

Audiologists

Our Audiologists

  • Receive either a Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) or a Master’s degree from an accredited university graduate program and pass a national competency examination.
  • They are licensed to practice Audiology and dispense hearing aids.
  • Have extensive training and experience in identifying, assessing, and managing hearing loss in adults, infants, and children of all ages.
  • Conduct and supervise newborn hearing screening programs.
  • Use specialized equipment to accurately determine the nature of hearing problems.
  • Refer patients to physicians when their hearing problems need medical or surgical evaluation.
  • Select, evaluate, and fit hearing aids to meet the specific needs of each patient. They are knowledgeable about the latest advances in hearing aid technology.
  • Present a variety of a treatment options to patients with hearing impairments including assistive listening devices and alerting devices.
  • Provide hearing rehabilitation training through special classes and counseling to assist patients and their families/caregivers with the psychosocial adjustment to hearing loss.
  • Administer and interpret tests of balance to evaluate dizziness.
  • Help prevent hearing loss by providing and fitting special hearing protection devices.
  • Educate consumers and professionals on the causes, prevention and rehabilitation of hearing loss.

 

Read more about audiologists here

Melissa Albright, Au.D.


Melissa Albright received her Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree from the University of Florida in 2000, and she received her Master’s Degree from Louisiana State University in 1982. She is board certified by the American Board of Audiology. Melissa also holds the certificate of clinical competence and the Award for Continuing Education from the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association. She is a Fellow and a Scholar of the American Academy of Audiology and is licensed to practice audiology by the state of Virginia. Melissa has worked with Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates since 2001.

Michelle Connatser, M.S., CCC-A


Michelle Connatser received her Master of Science from Florida State University. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with an undergraduate degree in Communications Disorders. Michelle holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, is licensed to practice Audiology by the state of Virginia, and is a licensed hearing aid specialist by the state of Virginia. Michelle has been a staff audiologist at Virginia Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates since 1995 and has worked in the Richmond area since 1989.

Anna Durtschi, Au.D.


Anna received her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium in 2006, following a one-year clinical fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences from Ohio University in 2002.  She is board certified by the American Board of Audiology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.  Anna has obtained both her Audiology license and her Hearing Aid Specialist license through the state of Virginia.  Anna joined Virginia Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates in 2006.

Mary Anne Fighera, M.Ed., F-AAA


Mary Anne received her Master of Audiology degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1968 following an internship at Temple University and the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. She graduated from Douglass College of Rutgers University in 1967 with an undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Mary Anne is licensed to practice Audiology by the state of Virginia and is a licensed hearing aid specialist by the state of Virginia. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. She began her professional career at a multidisciplinary rehabilitation hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. She has worked with Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates since 1975.

Valerie S. Moore, Au.D.


Valerie received her Master of Science degree in Audiology and Bachelor of Science degree in Speech/Language Pathology from the University of South Alabama. She  completed her internship at the Civitan International Research Center-Sparks Clinics in Birmingham, AL.  She received a clinical doctorate degree in Audiology through PCO School of Audiology. Valerie has extensive training in assessing children with developmental disability, mental retardation, and those at risk. Prior to working with Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates, she served as the primary audiologist for hearing aid evaluation, fitting, follow-up and verification procedures at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. Valerie holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a hearing aid specialist license for the state of Virginia, an audiology license through the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.  Valerie has worked with Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates since 2005.

Katie Raciboski, Au.D., CCC-A


Katie received her Doctor of Audiology degree from the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium (Kent State University) in 2011, following a one-year clinical internship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Western Michigan University in 2007. Katie holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. She has obtained her Audiology license and Hearing Aid Specialist license through the state of Virginia. Katie joined Virginia Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates in 2011.

Tara C. Ruth, Ph.D.


Tara earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Audiology from James Madison University, after receiving her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from West Virginia University.  She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.  Tara has worked with Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates since 2005.

Mandy Sanders, Au.D.


Mandy received her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from the University of Florida in 2005, and her Master’s degree from the University of Virginia in 2001. Prior to completing her Master’s degree, she completed an internship at the James H. Quillen Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Northeast Tennessee. She received her under-graduate degree from Radford University in 1999. Mandy holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, is licensed to practice Audiology by the state of Virginia, and is a licensed hearing aid specialist by the state of Virginia. Mandy is the director of the audiology department and has worked with Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates since 2001.

Terri Schenkein, Ph.D., CCC-A


Terri received her Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Audiology and her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She completed her internship at Professional Hearing Services in Falls Church, VA. Terri has extensive experience in the assessment of dizziness and balance disorders. She is also skilled in hearing assessment and the evaluation for and fitting of hearing aids. Terri holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. She is licenced by the Commonwealth of Virginia as an audiologist and hearing aid specialist. Terri re-joined Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates in 2011.

Sarah Severs, Au.D., CCC-A


Sarah received her Doctorate of Audiology from James Madison University after completing her fellowship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from West Virginia University. Sarah holds her certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology through the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. She is licensed to practice Audiology and is a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist by the state of Virginia. Sarah joined Virginia Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates in 2011.

Chris Garrett, H.A.S.


Chris is a licensed hearing instrument specialist licensed by the State of Virginia. Chris completed his apprenticeship at Virginia Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates. He completed the Audiology Assistant program through NOVA Southeastern University. He provides hearing aid services at our Mechanicsville, VA location and is an assistant to the Audiology Staff. Chris has worked with Virginia Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates since 2009.