The May 2025 edition of the Northwest Farm Worker periodical featured some familiar faces to the School of Audiology. On May 22, marking the second annual audiology session with Western Farm Workers Association (WFWA), our graduate audiology students volunteered their time, resources, and acquired skills to provide free hearing services to migrant farm workers of the Willamette Valley. For many workers this was their first time receiving hearing-related care. From fitting donated hearing aids, to making custom earmolds for hearing protection, students provided their patients with invaluable care and counseling.
The purpose of audiology day is to ensure excellent hearing healthcare within one day and one location. For most members of WFWA, transportation to medical appointments is a huge concern. Having a diagnostic appointment, followed by multiple trips to the clinic for hearing aid follow up care, can be quite taxing to their pocketbook and time away from work. The saying “many hands make light work” really hits hard for audiology day, enabling WFWA members to obtain a hearing test, possibly be fit with hearing aids, and receive other services like custom hearing protection, all in a one-stop shop.
The students gained irreplaceable experience working with their community and putting their honed skills to the test. Of the 51 members who participated in the most recent session, 22 received custom hearing protection and 13 were fitted with donated hearing aids. Some of our students reflected that volunteer experiences like this are part of why they want to pursue the field of audiology: they get to provide care to marginalized communities who have no or limited access to audiology care and are likely at more risk due to their working environments. Our students also receive the opportunity to work with interpreters from our community to overcome significant language barriers that may prevent a person from seeking hearing healthcare.