Where in the World is Kelly Archer?

Good question. I am afraid I have abandoned my responsibilities as a "poster" for school, work, and travels. However, I will resume what I started with the best of intentions. Realizing, I probably won't get a post in once a week, but I don't want to quit without a fight.

A lot has happened between now and Christmas. The whole Archer clan made a visit to California to visit the family and have some vacation time. I became the Organizational Chair person for UNL Student Academy of Audiology (SAA). Currently, for work and SAA, I am working on a Hearing Conservation Program for grade school students in the Title 1, Lincoln, schools. Maybe I will make my marker here then:

ATTN: There are 3 causes for hearing loss; genetics, aging process, and noise exposure. We cannot control hearing loss due to genetic makeup or aging, however, hearing loss due to noise exposure is 100% preventable. Keep these 3 primary goals in mind: Protect, Prevent, Preserve. Wear hearing protection (correctly). Prevent hearing loss by turning down the volume, wearing hearing protection, avoiding exposure to excessive levels of noise. and Preserve what you have. Even if you have a hearing loss, protect  what hearing you do have.

Common causes of hearing loss due to noise exposure: Concerts, earbuds (they don't cancel out background noise so you turn them up louder to compensate for that noise), lawn mowers, farming equipment, construction, motor-cross/motorcycles (Scott), firearms-hunting, etc.
Hearing loss in children is becoming move prevalent due to exposure to noise: specifically earbuds, TV, video games, hunting, loud toys, go-carts/4-wheelers, etc.

What kind of hearing protection is appropriate? Cotton in your ears will not cut it, at all. Ear muffs work great, but not the earmuffs that play music because you end up turning the music up louder to overcome the noise of the lawn mower or other background noise. Custom hearing protection is also great because everyone has differently shaped ear canals, so it would provide the greatest attenuation of noise (reduction of noise). If you have disposable foam earplugs, those work fine if inserted correctly.

Of course, you can always ask me more about this if you have questions.

Alright now, I have been working diligently at school. Just yesterday, I passed my final practical exam!! AND, I will be going offsite for clinic this summer to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Clinic in Omaha 2 full days a week. Normally, students don't go off site until fall of 2nd year.  I wish I could say I am going offsite because my skills are advanced, but in reality, the program accepted too many students than they have supervisors for and accepted just as many into the program next year. This means, they are sending some of us off campus earlier than usual because they don't have room for everyone.
This also means, that I am TERRIFIED! Not only will I be leaving my bubble, but I will be at an ENT clinic which is extremely fast pace, and in Omaha. Also, since I have to be there 2 full days a week, where I might have 15 evaluations in 1 day as opposed to the 2 evaluations a week I have had, I will probably have to work on Saturdays.
Wish me luck!

This year, I also took a trip to Cincinnati to visit my friend Leah and also spent a day at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. It was a great experience, but didn't confirm where I want to be as an audiologist. However, with all the experiences I have had so far, I think I would feel more comfortable and feel like a good audiologist in a private practice, university, or working for a hospital. I guess I'll find out soon how I really feel about the ENT clinic, but I can't see myself there. I really want to provide patient centered care, and many (not all) ENT clinics push for more patients, more hearing aid sales, so faster, faster, faster. That means, you lose time counseling patients and getting to know them. Of course, that is not the way the audiologist wants things, but you have ENT physicians and administrative personnel who don't know the first thing about your job and responsibilities, telling you, you only have 30 minutes to obtain a case history, a full diagnostic evaluation, counsel, and get a hearing aid sale. That means, you lose out on counseling and case history. Some times, you even have to omit parts of the test battery. It's not fair, but unfortunately audiologists haven't gained autonomy yet.  In fact, the AMA (American Medical Association) just published a document suggesting that audiologists aren't necessary and shouldn't be called doctor. I won't get into all the details, but I will say that it was not based on data, just some old farts opinion who spend 12 years in school to be called a medical doctor and doesn't want to share his title with anyone else. EVEN THOUGH, audiologists are not medical doctors. It's a heated discussion that I shouldn't get into right now; I could go on and on.

So for now, my closing statement will be that this has been a very challenging semester, but I have had some great experiences and trips, which I will share more!