Volunteering Overseas as a Student

[canuckaud]

Hello! Well, I am currently a master's student in audiology at a Canadian university. Myself along with several of my classmates are interested in organizing a trip overseas for mid-February of next year. Our hope is to go somewhere where there is a big need for audiological services, and help out with the fitting of hearing aids, and with training locals in the basics of how to make basic adjustments and repairs. We would do a hearing aid drive (or something to that effect) prior to leaving. We are still in the very early stages of planning this, but I was wondering if anyone on here knows of any contacts that would be useful for such a venture - I have heard that some students in the U.S. do something similar. I know there's a thread for people who want to volunteer after graduation, but most of those links weren't relevant to students, specifically.

Any help would be much appreciated

[KKP]

Hello! Well, I am currently a master's student in audiology at a Canadian university. Myself along with several of my classmates are interested in organizing a trip overseas for mid-February of next year. Our hope is to go somewhere where there is a big need for audiological services, and help out with the fitting of hearing aids, and with training locals in the basics of how to make basic adjustments and repairs. We would do a hearing aid drive (or something to that effect) prior to leaving. We are still in the very early stages of planning this, but I was wondering if anyone on here knows of any contacts that would be useful for such a venture - I have heard that some students in the U.S. do something similar. I know there's a thread for people who want to volunteer after graduation, but most of those links weren't relevant to students, specifically.

Any help would be much appreciated

Prof. Jackie L Clark has an amazing project that she has set up and been running since 1998 in Mozambique Africa. The work she does out there includes
"planning and overseeing nurses and nursing students training in basic hearing testing; train social action workers to conduct hearing screenings; perform hearing tests; dispense hearing aids. Entire trip and supplies funded from private donations." She welcomes anyone but it is self funded and can is about $2500. So it depends on what you are really looking for, but this would be an amazing experience. There is an interview that she had describing some history of the project. (below)

A good place to look is the WHO and WWF hearing web sites, they are quite useful.

http://www.audiologyonline.com/inter...terview_id=394.

[canuckaud]

Thank you very much - this information was extremely helpful!

[Karen]

I have just been looking into this recently as part of an assignment for my course, you may find this organisation interesting, it is UK based but they have areas all around the world where they are currently running programmes

http://www.sound-seekers.org.uk

[canuckaud]

I have just been looking into this recently as part of an assignment for my course, you may find this organisation interesting, it is UK based but they have areas all around the world where they are currently running programmes

http://www.sound-seekers.org.uk

That sounds very interesting too - thanks for passing this along!

[AcousticS]

Perhaps this is still an idea:

University Aalen (Germany)
Project Jordan: hard of hearing children are provided with hearing aids.

University of Würzburg (Germany)
Project Mongolia: Knowledge of the audiometry and hearing aid fitting to convey in Mongolia.
Pictures: http://www.hoergeraete-espig.de/foto...such-mongolei/

CLaSH Namibia
Objectives of CLaSH in Namibia are general equality with hearing- and speechimpaired children, free access to offers of education, training- and healthcare for all children and early detection and care of hearing- and speechdisorders.

[audman]

Starkey go on missions and fit thousands of hearing aids abroad.

Missions last a few days. I always wonder what happens after they leave, since many of the countries have no audiology facilities whatsoever. No repairs, nothing.

Can't imagine the number of kids whose hearing aid breaks, gets clogged up etc, or who wear it incorrectly, outgrow their mould, or can't afford batteries...

[AcousticS]

When I look at the life situation of the kids, it seems to me as if the hearing aids are the least problem.
Do you have a link to the project of starkey?

[audman]

When I look at the life situation of the kids, it seems to me as if the hearing aids are the least problem.
Do you have a link to the project of starkey?

I'd suggest it is one of the biggest threats to life chances! A child's life chances are significantly affected by hearing loss. I'm sure anyone in paediatrics would agree. But its doubly so in developing countries. Little education, no job, no welfare system? Ouch.

[vamos]

A couple of years ago whilst still doing my university course I volunteered in Cambodia at a clinic called all ears cambodia! it was a great experience, mostly pediatric and lots of frontline experieince with OME etc.

[audman]

Also check out the book 'audiology in developing countries'.

I loaned it from the british library through my university for about £2.

[AcousticS]

Also check out the book 'audiology in developing countries'.

I loaned it from the british library through my university for about £2.

Did you mean this book?



Source: http://www.amazon.com/...

Hardcover: 254 pages
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers; 1 edition ( October 2008 )
Language: English
ISBN-10: 160456945X
ISBN-13: 978-1604569452

It's interesting. I will look for it.