International Audiology career paths? - Working in underdeveloped countries.

[Shehla @]

Hello,
I'm a 2nd year AuD student at the University of Washington in Seattle. I am interested in working in underdeveloped countries to improve hearing health, I have read that many of you have volunteered abroad, but was wondering about potential career paths available/opportunities (from a public health perspective). Can people share their experience of international Audiology?

Thank you!

Shehla

[audman]

I have a similar interests.

Searching 2339 international development jobs for "Deaf", "audiology" or "audiologist", all returned 0 results. The point being there aren't many such jobs, although I have seen some (temporary) advisary/consultancy positions for those with heaps of experience. Think WHO.

Working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, water sanitation, infectious diseases, child health etc, no problem... But audiology is under-recognised. It's simply not where the major funding is, unlike, say the international "Vision 2020" initiative for blindness.

My thought is you'd need to carve out your own career path in international hearing health. I suppose you could take up volunteer audiology roles or work for a charity. Or, have international research interests as a university lecturer.

Of course, you might have more opportunities in the USA than myself in the UK.

I hope in the comng decades there'll be more opportunities and funding, with audiology gaining a wider reach.

[PRH]

Hi there

I know of some Audiologists who have gone to the following places to work. keep us posted

http://www.allearscambodia.org/

http://www.natron.net/clash/main.html

thanks
penny

[Kiki]

Hi!
A couple of people from my department recently went to india as part of a project called 'Slum Doctor'.
Its not just audiologists but all medical professionals.
I dont have any links but I'm sure if you typed it into google something would pop up.
They both really enjoyed it and said it was a great experience.