Hey all

[DrAudio]

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I was looking for something else when I came across this forum.

I'm an audiologist so I figured I'd register and offer my advice or help in whatever way you all might need.

-D

 

[Dustbug10]

Welcome to the forum! My first question: What do you think of the Packers Super Bowl chances this year?

 

[SoCalAud]

Welcome to the audiology and sport fanatics forum!! I'm Stephanie, but just call me Steph.

My question is and not sports-related, yet, but where did you get your Au.D (or Masters in Audiology if any)? How did you like your program?

Dusty, if the Packers can beat Minnesota and Chicago then this will be a very interesting season.

 

[rEliseMe]

Welcome to the audiology and sport fanatics forum!!

These guys are nuts!

I agree with Steph's questions, though, and I would also like to know how you think the field of (and education of) audiology has changed since you started practicing.

 

[DrAudio]

More of a Bears fan than Packers so I'm hoping the Packers don't go to the super bowl

I went to Rush University in Chicago their first year having an Au.D. program from start to finish. There was another Au.D. graduating class ahead of me but they transitioned from Masters to Doctorate degree 1/2way through their program so they don't count. The program was hellish but I think most people would say the same about their graduate program.

The state of the field needs to change. On the diagnostics and CI end, there's too much kissing ***** to the ENT's and on the HA side there's too much emphasis on sales, not enough emphasis on correct patient care, and not enough distinction between an audiologist and a dispenser. From what I've seen the clinics specializing in hearing aids are more interested in selling devices than doing the complete rehab process with their patients - and I spent 3 years traveling while working on the clinical research end of things for a HA manufacturer seeing offices all around the country. During that time I also trained a good many surgeons on new procedures that we developed before we got FDA clearance for audiologists to perform the same stuff.

It'd be great to have a hearing aid clinic that is seperate from a hospital clinic where the HA pt's can go across to the hospital for rehab services to realize that there is so much more that we do - that will set a distinction in their mind that we're not sales people. It will also get a great referral basis from the MD's on staff in the hospital because they can learn how our services benefit them.

We as practitioners also need to start dictating what the manufacturers are doing rather than the other way around. Sounds like you guys are an intelligent bunch with your discussions further down the forum on DSP and physics and the like. We need more of that in the field and less people who think, "oh, well it's digital so it's gotta be great."

Where do you all study? Have you started your Au.D. programs yet?

Steph - I grew up in Santa Monica and then worked in Westwood after I graduated so I know a lot of audiologists down there if you need hours or want to shadow or whatever.

-D

 

[SoCalAud]

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[SoCalAud]

Steph - I grew up in Santa Monica and then worked in Westwood after I graduated so I know a lot of audiologists down there if you need hours or want to shadow or whatever.

-D

D,

That would be very much appreciated. I would love to shadow another audiologist if you happen to know a few closer to Orange County area. I'm usually in that area for school and work.



-Steph

 

[DrAudio]

Steph - what kind of setting are you looking for? I can think of a couple people in that area that might be good. ENT practice with one of my fellow grad students, another one that is primarily a balance clinic. I have two friends down there that could help you find something else if you want - one is a trainer for a manufacturer with socal as her territory and the other is sales for a different manufacturer with a territory south of LA to SD.

-D

 

[AUD09]

Hi,

I'm actually attending the audiology program this Fall at Rush University. I'm from orange county california, so I guess I'm following in your footsteps! Anyways, I was wondering how the program at Rush was for you. I visited the campus during the summer and I really liked everything! Could you share some of your experiences at Rush. Oh and I was wondering where you are currently working at. It would be great to get to know some audiologists in the southern california area so i could have some references when i finish my program in several years.
Thanks for coming onto this forum and offering your advice!

 

[DrAudio]

Best of luck to you! Rush has a very good program. As always YMMV but you can make it into a pretty killer education. Best part of Rush is you end up with a HUGE amount of clinical experience. And I'm sure they have improved things a little since I was there - our stats and pharmacology classes for example were tought by total dingbats.

One thing that Rush didn't teach at all was cerumen management. They might have changed this recently - I'm not sure. Previously they relied a lot on ENT for help on that type of stuff but my opinion is that the less we need to refer out the more autonomous we'll become. We use surgical microscopes for foreign body removal, cerumen removal, deep canal impressions, and device placement in some instances in my clinic. You'd be amazed at how often you find yourself taking batteries and wax traps off of peoples eardrums - I had 11 traps embedded in a cognitively impaired persons ear once!

Are you going to be living in the student apartments on Ashland and Harrison? Do you know anyone in Chicago yet? If not I'll call in a favor and have one or a few of the sales people from the different manufacturers come show you around the town once or twice.

Only thing that annoyed me about Rush (and I don't know if this is problematic for you) is I wasn't able to meet any single ladies during my 4 years there. It amazed me how there didn't seem to be even one single gal in the entire hospital. And you'll have very little time outside of school to meet people.

I'm actually not in socal anymore. I'm in the bay area, moving to the peninsula in a couple weeks. Recently switched from research to working in a private practice.

If anyone would like information about anything in particular, feel free to send me a PM with your email and I'll happily respond back to you by email.

-D

 

[SoCalAud]

D, what was the thesis/dissertation process like when you were at Rush? Was it a tough process to find a mentor?

As far as the audiology setting, I'm interested in private clinics.

 

[DrAudio]

Steph - For me that question is a bad one. I had a miserable time on my dissertation because I had to work with someone who had no interest in my topic (musical sound quality in hearing aids) and tried to force me into a topic related to his own research on CI's.

Private practice doesn't narrow it down at all. Are you intersted in diagnostics, balance, HA's, ENT, hospital settings, etc?

-D

 

[SoCalAud]

Diagnostics.

 

[Dustbug10]

Thanks for posting here. I wish we had more professionals lurking around.

My AuD program has a broad curriculum with a lot of switching around; not much consistency or direction yet. If you could name off the subjects that you would recommend harping on most (to the point where you study it on a near daily basis), what would they be? Clinic questions to come. 🙂

 

[saythewordlaud]

dustbug - vestib and medical audiology are where you ought to develop solid foundation. as far as hearing aids and cochlear implants, know the basics, but you learn most from the job and the feedback your patients give you (no need to remember RETSPL numbers and all that stuff). certainly, know the test protocols and why/when they should be used.

steph - private practice nowadays pretty much narrows it down to hearing aids and hearing aid evals. there are some private practices that perform vestibular testing, but there aren't many that would do just diagnostics and no hearing aids because that's not where the money is. while we're not here just for the money (hopefully, because we'll be pretty disappointed if we are), we still need to put bread on our tables too. you'll be surprised by how little you make per hearing test, especially through health insurance or medicaid/medicare. if you're into diagnostics, try a hospital or ENT clinic. hospital settings tend to get all the crazies but little hearing aid experience. ENT clinics tend to get middle ear pathologies and some hearing aid experience. i hope this helps. 🙂

 

[Dustbug10]

dustbug - vestib and medical audiology are where you ought to develop solid foundation. as far as hearing aids and cochlear implants, know the basics, but you learn most from the job and the feedback your patients give you (no need to remember RETSPL numbers and all that stuff). certainly, know the test protocols and why/when they should be used.

steph - private practice nowadays pretty much narrows it down to hearing aids and hearing aid evals. there are some private practices that perform vestibular testing, but there aren't many that would do just diagnostics and no hearing aids because that's not where the money is. while we're not here just for the money (hopefully, because we'll be pretty disappointed if we are), we still need to put bread on our tables too. you'll be surprised by how little you make per hearing test, especially through health insurance or medicaid/medicare. if you're into diagnostics, try a hospital or ENT clinic. hospital settings tend to get all the crazies but little hearing aid experience. ENT clinics tend to get middle ear pathologies and some hearing aid experience. i hope this helps. 🙂

Thanks for your response. And your username is probably the best here, barnone. 😆 I love me some spondees.

 

[saythewordlaud]

hhaha thanks. in no time, you'll get multiple lists down. i love me some laud. 🙂