For the majority of people, the ability to hear is something we spend little time thinking about, but for many students at Auburn, helping those who can't hear is a top priority.
The Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic is holding its annual Hearing Aid Open House July 13 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Patients will have the opportunity to work one on one with students to find the best fit for their hearing needs.
Hosted by the class of 2014 Doctor of Audiology students and clinical audiologists, the open house will allow people to undergo hearing tests and listening demonstrations with new machines provided by GN Resound.
Patients are also able to purchase hearing aids at the open house. The clinic offers hearing aids at more affordable prices than other hearing offices.
Patients that purchase hearing aids may pay only for the hearing aid itself, but they will also have to opportunity to use many of the benefits that come with them.
"Let's say someone bought his or her hearing aid from us in 2009," said Ellen Sharp, sophomore in audiology. "Their contract may expire this year in 2011, and they will continue to seek services from us: cleanings, repairs, all of that for the whole life of their hearing aids."
Not to mention the two years of free appointments, check ups and adjustments.
"One thing we like to promote for our patients to come here is that we have extra time to spend with them, get to know them and listen to them," said Marsha Kluesing, assistant clinical professor at the Speech and Hearing Clinic. "That's not the case with another professional office somewhere. They really like that, and they enjoy the attention they get here."
In fact, the patients who have signed up for the open house so far, which totals to about 30 people and counting, have one hour to spend with a student and clinical audiologist to tend to their specific needs.
Not only is this an open house with the purpose to assist others, it is also a learning experience for the students.
"It really is an educational tool," said Lyle Drake, sophomore in audiology. "And to raise awareness of the need for new hearing aid technology."
Students learn how to handle equipment from training sessions by that year's manufacturer, how to develop a report and learn each individual patient's story and what the patient needs.
The audiology students take the results from testing and put patient's hearing ability on the computer, which then helps program the hearing aids.
It is about using the technical skills they learned through the year in their classes and combining it with their communication and people skills.
Because it is an event run by first-year students, they will have mentors like second-year students or people that have already run a Hearing Aid Open House the previous year that know what to expect.
"So anything that we don't know about that manufacturer, they can impart to us," Drake said. "And everything that we learn through this experience, we can share with them."
The students look forward to continuing that kind of mentor-mentee process.
"But I think this a great point, now that we have finished our first year," Sharp said. "We've mastered the basic forms of audiological testing, basic hearing aid type fitting techniques, and hearing-aid troubleshooting."
Hearing aid technology has come a long way in the recent years and is continuing to get better. Hearing aids are now more advanced and are able to match features to work with the exact type and degree of a person's hearing loss.
"Come get to know us and let us answer any questions," Kluesing said. "If anyone has friends or family that are having hearing problems, this is a great way to enter that world where you can find out what can be done for it."
To make an appointment, call 334-844-9600 or visit the Speech and Hearing Clinic, located in 1199 Haley Center.
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