Week 12, Spring 2008

I didn't see much this week, so I thought that I would include an article review instead.

This article, Audiologists with Hearing Loss by Sandra Mintz, Samuel Atcherson, and Ally Sisler, follows the story of three indviduals with hearing loss. Although this article was not a study per say, I believe that it describes an important issue that we may face as audiologists.

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=23265918&site=ehost-live

http://web.ebscohost.com.www.libproxy.wvu.edu/ehost/pdf?vid=54&hid=101&sid=5077a623-7531-4b3a-a840-604f8d099f9b%40sessionmgr106

Of all of the "difficult" patients that we could have, perhaps the most difficult patient would be a fellow audiologist or fellow audiology student. The article focuses on 3 individuals who have used cochlear implants to help them succeed. Most relevant to us, as students, is the story of Ally Sisler. Ally was born premature with a congenital mild to moderate S/N hearing loss in both ears. She used hearing aids for the majority of her life. However, in 2004, she suffered a head trauma following a car accident. She noticed a decrease in her hearing and was implanted in her right ear in 2005. After she had finished her B.S. degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology, she decided to get implanted in the other ear so that she would have a greater opportunity to succeed in her Au.D. program and in her future career as an audiologist.

What a difficult choice!