Dr. Teresa Stepp

Credentials:

I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders in December of 1992 from East Tennessee State University and my Master of Science Degree in Audiology in December of 1994.  I later obtained my Doctorate Degree in Audiology in August of 2002 from the University of Florida.  I hold a Tennessee State License in Audiology, a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and am a Fellow with the American Academy of Audiology.

Experience:

I was the Educational Audiologist for Hamblen County Schools for 6 years.  During this time, I also served as a Parent Advisor for Tennessee Infant Parent Services, which provided in-home services to parents of children with disabilities.  In 2000, I became the managing Audiologist at a private practice Audiology clinic, Greeneville Hearing Center, in Greeneville, TN.  I then started my own private practice, Patriot Center for Hearing Loss, in Jefferson City, TN, in September of 2004.

Background:

I have lived in this area all my life and I don’t believe I would choose to live anywhere else.  My husband, Tony, and I have traveled all over the United States but always enjoy coming home to East Tennessee.  We share a love for animals and have adopted 4 cats and 2 dogs and occasionally foster others until we are able to find them homes of their own.  (If you have room in your hearts and in your life for a pet, just give me a call and I’ll certainly help find one that is just right for you!) 

I have one sister, Denise, who works with me.  My mother also helps out and still lives nearby in the home I grew up in.  My father passed away a few years ago.  He is the reason I chose this particular field, though he strongly suggested I go into Pharmacy!  Like most people, he really didn’t know what Audiology was.  I didn’t even know myself at the time.  I only knew I wanted to help people.  Specifically, I wanted to help people to hear better.  My dad had hearing loss in one ear for as long as I can remember.  This made it particularly hard for him in situations with a lot of background noise or when in a group of people talking.  I remember having to be sure to get his attention if I wanted to tell him something, especially when we were in the car because his “good ear” was the one facing away from us when he was driving.  When in a group of people, he would often just be sitting there quietly, while everyone else was talking.  Others thought he was just taking it all in but when I would meet his eyes, he would shrug his shoulders as if to say, “I have no idea what they are talking about.  Do you?”  Pretty soon, I noticed he didn’t socialize as much as he used to.  I really didn’t know then that it may have been because of his hearing difficulties but now, I think that probably had a lot to do with it.  He was a very affable, likeable man.  He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed telling stories of his youthful and innocent mischief making.  He was a good Christian man and he and my mother raised us in a Christian home.  As the hearing in his better ear began to deteriorate, he seemed to become more withdrawn.  I don’t think he even realized himself how much his hearing loss was affecting him.  He was told many years ago that nothing could be done for his hearing and he hung on to that.  By the time I was into my Audiology program and knew that something probably could be done, we discovered that he had a benign growth in his middle ear (a cholesteatoma) that had literally eaten away the bones inside.  Surgery might help prevent further damage but would not restore his hearing.  Sadly, if he had only had it checked sooner, something could have been done to prevent the degree of deterioration.  He later developed lymphoma of the lungs and did not survive. I believe miracles come in many forms and I accept his passing as a healing of his body, though I miss him every day. 

I don’t want to see someone else missing out on precious opportunities….chances to share conversations with loved ones, to laugh at stories that get bolder with each re-telling, or to hear whispered secrets from cherished grandchildren.  I didn’t get the chance to help my dad, but with God’s guidance, I will do my best to help others enjoy all the wonderful sounds life has to offer.      

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