UC Speech & Hearing Clinic serves patients while acting as training site

The University of Cincinnati's Speech & Hearing Clinic provides graduate students in audiology and speech-language pathology with hands-on experience while delivering care to patients across the region. Located on the university's medical campus, the clinic serves patients of all ages and was recently featured on Spectrum News 1 Ohio.

For Nina Holzaepfel, a second-year doctor of audiology student, the clinic allows her to apply what she learns in the classroom directly to patient care.

"As a hands-on learner, that is completely invaluable to me," Holzaepfel said.

Graduate students provide services under faculty supervision, enabling them to earn required clinical hours and gain valuable experience before entering the workforce. The clinic offers free hearing evaluations, and other speech and audiology services are available at reduced rates or on a sliding scale.

Holzaepfel said that having faculty nearby as she began working with patients gave her room to learn and build confidence.

"Getting to have supervision from people that you know and you're comfortable with made it an environment where I could make mistakes, and I could learn from them," Holzaepfel said. "It was a safe space to really push my limits and grow as a clinician."

Jessica Prewitt, an associate professor-educator in the College of Allied Health Sciences, said that watching students connect what they learn in the classroom to their clinical work is one of the program's benefits.

"It's really fun to watch them have all their light bulbs go off and to put things together," Prewitt said. "Our patients enjoy our students, too."

UC's doctor of audiology program follows an accelerated three-year, nine-semester schedule. Students complete classroom instruction and local clinical experiences before transitioning to a full-time externship in their final year.

Jasmine Keaney, clinic director and assistant professor, said affordability is another focus, particularly for people who may not have insurance.

"Our evaluation entry level may cost $80 to $85 for an evaluation," Keaney said. "If you went over to one of the major health systems and were uninsured, those would cost you anywhere from $300 to $500."

Watch the Spectrum News 1 Ohio story to see how technology is also playing a role in how students learn and patients receive treatment at the clinic.

Featured image at the top: Prewitt, Holzaepfel and other graduate students line up inside the Speech & Hearing Clinic, wearing costume ears for Halloween. Photo/Provided by Nina Holzaepfel.

Tags

• In The News
• Experience-based Learning
• College of Allied Health Sciences
• Student Experience
• Academic Health Center
• Health