By Sarah Sparks, Margaret Richter, and Emily Camacho
This article is a part of the November/December 2020, Volume 32, Number 6, Audiology Today issue.
The clinical experience is a key component of education for students enrolled in doctor of audiology (AuD) programs. Throughout a variety of clinical rotations, students learn how to diagnose, treat, counsel, support, and empower patients with hearing loss. To become effective clinicians, students must be able to participate in and experience these rotations to the fullest.
How do we support our students who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (HOH) themselves in this setting? We educate our patients and encourage self-advocacy skills that they can use in their everyday lives. How can audiologists incorporate this same practice for our student clinicians who are d/Deaf or HOH?
Students and preceptors alike might wonder how to address these issues most effectively so that a positive clinical experience is shared by all. Finding answers requires a collaborative effort. Building a partnership and tackling these questions together is important for good communication between student and preceptor and will yield the best outcomes for the student.
Although self-advocacy and transparency about needs are the student’s responsibility, new students are not typically aware of all their options or the kinds of clinical situations they might encounter during their education. This is where the preceptor can step in, applying their role as a mentor to provide support, as well as audiology knowledge and skills to help students brainstorm effective solutions.
It may seem obvious that a partnership between preceptor and student is necessary for the student’s development of strategies and clinical independence; however knowing where to begin can be difficult (Allen and Culbertson, 2002). This article, authored by two audiologists who are Deaf and have cochlear implants and a final-year AuD extern with hearing loss who uses a hearing aid, will outline some potential challenges for our students who are d/Deaf or HOH and offer suggestions for ways to tackle these issues successfully.
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