Why did you choose to become an Audiologist?
I have several family members in the medical field and I have always wanted to do something to help others improve their quality of life. Both of my grandmothers have had hearing loss for many years. I have witnessed their frustration first-hand when they have difficulty communicating during family gatherings. Seeing them struggle with their hearing really pushed me to want to be able to do something that could make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.
What’s your educational and training background?
I earned by Bachelor of Science degree at Indiana University in 4 years, where I majored in Speech and Hearing Sciences and minored in Psychology. I then went on to receive my Doctorate in Audiology at the University of Arizona, which took another 4 years.
Throughout my doctoral program, I was assigned different clinical rotations where I got hands-on experience with patients in different settings. In the state of California, Audiologists are required to obtain a Hearing Aid Dispensing License in addition of our Audiology license. This involved a written and a practical examination. I am also a member of the American Speech and Language Association and the American Academy of Audiology.
What’s a day like for you at Shohet Ear Associates?
Being an audiologist at Shohet Ear Associates, I get to see so many interesting cases that require me to be knowledgeable in many different areas of audiology. I work with children and adults, perform hearing tests and hearing aid evaluations, perform hearing aid and assistive device fittings and follow-up, perform balance and electrophysiological testing and interpretation, perform cochlear implant and other implantable hearing aid candidacy testing and programming. Most of all, the interaction and counseling with the patients is extremely important and that is what has a significant impact on the experience that the patient has in our office.
Is there a patient that you’ve treated that is particularly memorable to you?
A cochlear implant candidate is someone who has a severe to profound hearing loss and doesn’t get very much benefit from their hearing aids. One patient I am thinking of has worn hearing aids most of her life and has continuously struggled to hear in all social situations and even one-on-one conversations with her significant other. We saw her for a cochlear implant candidacy evaluation and she was very excited to find out that she was a candidate for the implant.
I was able to be a part of the initial activation of her device and she had her significant other present during the appointment. The look on her face was priceless when she was able to hear her significant other with much more ease that she did prior to the implant. At her follow-up appointment she was so excited to tell me stories about how she was able to hear in different situations that she wasn’t ever able to communicate in before, especially during a large family reunion!
What is most challenging about what you do?
I feel it is most challenging when there is a patient who struggles to hear but doesn’t have the motivation or drive to do something about it. It is my job to give the patient their options, teach them about the technology, and discuss the numerous benefits of treating their hearing loss. However, it is very important for the patient to be willing and motivated to take the next step in improving their quality of life through hearing.
Is there an area of research that you are excited about?
A lot of the latest research in hearing has to do with cognition. Research has shown an increased rate of cognitive decline in individuals with hearing loss. Therefore, by treating the hearing loss, with either hearing aids or cochlear implantation, it is thought that this can help in slowing down the rate of cognitive decline. When an individual has hearing loss they often remove themselves from social interaction due the increased difficulty communicating. Fitting an individual with hearing aids can facilitate social interaction while also stimulating the auditory nerve and regions of the brain to increase brain function and decrease listening effort.
