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10/27/2019  |   10:00 AM - 11:00 AM   |  Ventana Ballroom B

Challenges and successes of an audio-technician training program in Guatemala

Hearing healthcare outreach in developing countries is inundated by sustainability issues. One method to facilitate sustainable efforts is by training local personnel on certain aspects of hearing healthcare. The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the challenges and successes of an audio-technician training program conducted in various regions throughout Guatemala. A partnership was created between the Healing the Children organization, the University of Washington, and Gallaudet University to create a learning environment for Audiology graduate students as well as Guatemalan audio-technicians. Administration of the training component of this program began in 2008 and continues today. Challenges and successes were identified around five themes: audio-technician recruitment and skills upon entering training program; practical and logistical components of clinical training; collaboration and resources for ongoing care; funding for travel, time, and accommodation for personnel involved in training sessions; and cultural differences surrounding our approach to hearing healthcare and training. These themes will be discussed, as well as ideas to overcome the barriers encountered and future directions.

• Identifying challenges with an audio-technician training program in Guatemala
• Identifying strategies for easier implementation of future training programs

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Christi Miller (Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), University of Washington, christim@uw.edu;
Christi Miller is a faculty member in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for individuals who wear hearing aids and her work has been funded by the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation and the NIH NIDCD. She has participated in the training of over 150 Audiology graduate students, and 15 Guatemalan audio-technicians.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Claire Buxton (Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Gallaudet University, claire.buxton@gallaudet.edu;
Claire Buxton has been working as a clinical educator at Gallaudet University since 2016. As a clinical educator provides supervision for graduate students during their on campus practicum experience. She provides clinical services to clients of all ages with an emphasis on pediatric patients. Her clinical interests include: pediatric assessment and amplification, as well as cochlear implant evaluation and management. She is also the internship coordinator for 3rd year audiology students. Prior to joining the department at Gallaudet, Dr. Buxton worked as a clinical faculty member at the University of Maryland, College Park. She also has seven years of experience working as a member of the cochlear implant team at Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Michael Mallahan (Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Hearing and Balance Lab, drmallahan@hearingandbalancelab.com;
Dr. Mallahan has been the director of the Hearing & Balance Lab since 1995. He has practiced audiology in the greater Everett area since 1982. Dr. Mallahan was instrumental in establishing the first county wide newborn hearing screening program in the State of Washington in 1998. He currently teaches medical audiology in the doctoral program at the University of Washington and supervises doctoral students through our partnership with the University’s offsite training program. He is regionally recognized for his expertise in providing assessment and direction of rehabilitative care for patients with balance disorders. Dr. Mallahan leads medical/surgical outreach missions twice a year to Guatemala with the non-profit organization Healing the Children, where his teams have conducted hundreds of surgeries and provided free hearing aids to over 2000 children in rural areas across Guatemala.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Martha Harney (Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), University of Washington, mharney@uw.edu;
Martha Harney, M.S., is a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Placement Coordinator in the AuD program at the University of Washington. Martha helped facilitate the first student group involved with the Guatemala project and has directly participated in the project for several trips. Additionally, she has extensive experience with program development for International Audiology outreach in a variety of countries such as Vietnam, Brazil and Kenya.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Receives support from University of Washington.