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10/09/2015  |   11:15 AM - 12:30 PM   |  Andrew Foster Auditorium

Assessing and Meeting the Needs of the People in Arima, Trinidad

An estimated 278 million people worldwide that have significant hearing loss, with the majority living in low-income areas it is imperative to consider those living outside of the United States. Trinidad and Tabago, rich with commerce from oil and tourism, has a growing number of persons with hearing loss that cannot reach the urban areas for immediate and effective treatment. Arima which sits approximately 25.5km (16miles) from the Port-of-Spain, is a predominately rural area with current hospital facilities unable to sustain the vast quantities of people needing basic medical care, not to mention audiological services. The Arima Diagnostic Center sought out an audiologist in the United States to fulfill the mandate of helping persons in the community receive basic hearing tests, proper referrals to ENT physicians, Primary Care Physician’s and provide quality hearing aids and services. Dr. Wiggins took on the challenge of going to Trinidad twice in 2014 to establish and provide support to the clinic. She continued work there via tele-audiology providing virtual fittings. Disease-state marketing and physician referral plans were established using a Cree Medicine model. Arima is a prime area for growth and facilitation of potential newborn hearing screening and support to the Ministry of Health in Trinidad. Technological advancements and willing individuals helped place the Arima Diagnostic Clinic in an area to bridge services to the hearing impaired individuals throughout the country.

• Diagnostic Asssessment
• Development of Supportive Services
• Tele-Audiology

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Crystal Wiggins (POC,Primary Presenter,Author), Global Coalition for Hearing Health, audear2007@gmail.com;
Dr. Wiggins is a practicing audiologist in the Houston Medical Center. She completed her Au.D. externship at the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Veteran’s Medical Center in Houston, TX. She received her BA from the University of North Texas and Doctorate of Audiology at Lamar University. She is Board Certified in Audiology, a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech & Hearing Association and a certified Tinnitus Retraining Therapist. She was recently elected by her cohorts to the Board of Directors of the Texas Academy of Audiology as Secretary/Treasurer. Dr. Wiggins is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston and Clinical Supervisor and Preceptor for Lamar University’s AuD students. Dr. Wiggins is also a member of the Global Coalition for Hearing Health. Dr. Wiggins’ research includes “Studies of Children with Cochlear Implants”, “ASSR vs. Behavioral Threshold in Simulated Conductive Loss” and “ASSR Air Conduction vs. Bone Conduction Thresholds”. Dr. Wiggins has also presented on a myriad of topics in her field such as: Clinical Concerns for Beginning Audiologists, Hearing Loss, Acoustic Neuromas, Ototoxicity and Vestibulartoxicity, FM Systems and Hearing Loss Resources. She has been invited to speak at prestigious events by the Top Teens of America, Lamar University Au.D. Program, the VAST Academy at Houston Community College and was a guest panelist at the Texas Academy of Audiology Convention. Dr. Wiggins’ work does not stop just in the clinic or in academia. She is also involved in philanthropy work. She is one of the active board members for Houston’s Hear-Say Partners in Hearing, a non-profit organization providing resources and hearing aids to low-income patients. Dr. Wiggins has also been instrumental in developing treatment at the Arima Diagnostic Clinic (ADC) in Trinidad and Tobago.