Cool Careers
Hearing Instrument Specialist
With Kathleen Jones
Kathleen Jones is the owner of Professional Audiology Clinic, Ltd. This private clinic offers hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings with follow-up, hearing protection devices and assistive listening devices. Both adults and children are seen for diagnostics and rehabilitation.
How did you become interested in your field?
Being hearing impaired myself and wanting to help others.
Where did you complete your studies?
I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree at U of A and Masters Degree in Educational Psychology at U of A as well. I also have a diploma from Grant MacEwan from Hearing aid Practitioner program.
What were some of your favourite courses?
Aural Rehabilitation, Hearing and children, development of auditory system and hearing aid technology.
How long did it take you to complete your studies?
About six and 1/2 years
What courses would you recommend a student in high school take to prepare for this profession?
I would say a mixture of linguistics, psychology, physics and biology.
Can you tell me about your hearing loss?
I have a congenital moderate severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.
Given the fact that you have a hearing loss, what challenges, if any, did you encounter? How were you able to work through them?
How were you able to work through them? The embarrassment of wearing hearing aids, having to advocate for myself and letting others know when I cannot hear. That was always a tough one for me esp. in junior high when peer pressure is high. I managed to work through it over the years and built up confidence. I think the experience helped me be a better clinician for children so I can be more sensitive to the look of their hearing aids along with hearing needs Hopefully when they see have have hearing aids they may feel more comfortable wearing them themselves.
How have your patients responded to you when they learn you have a hearing loss?
Overall they react very positive and demonstrate a feeling of relief that someone understands them at another level.
What have you learned about yourself as a professional in your career?
That everyone is different and to treat people accordingly while holding the highest standard of patient care possible. That sometimes patients just want to know you understand their frustrations with hearing loss and communication challenges etc.
What is your favourite aspect of your job?
Working with the little ones and seeing their face when they wear hearing aids for the first time.
What parts of your job do you like the least?
When all options are exhausted to help a patient out with a problem they may have.
Would you recommend this job/career?
Absolutely, it’s rewarding, fun, you learn things all the time and the day is never dull :)
What is the most unusual thing that has happened to you in this job?
A spider jumped out of hearing aid when I was cleaning it. Very odd...
Are you active in your community in terms of volunteering your time given your specialized training and education?
I used to tutor hearing impaired kids who needed extra help in school and I also was a mentor for awhile for kids too who have hearing impairment. These days I haven’t been as involved because our two year old daughter tends to keep me pretty busy!