In ten years.... by Nicole

In ten years.... by Nicole - December 2015 Scholarship Essay

Hearing loss has a huge impact on an adult’s quality of life. For many, decreased access to speech negatively impacts social and professional life, causing feelings of isolation and frustration. The majority of adults experience hearing loss gradually, as a natural consequence of aging. However, for the 59,000 United States veterans who have incurred hearing loss suddenly as a consequence of their service in Iraq or Afghanistan (According to the Hearing Loss Association of America) the impact is especially detrimental as it often occurs alongside other debilitating conditions like PTSD or traumatic brain injury. Any of these conditions can impact veterans’ abilities to hear, speak and otherwise communicate, which has serious socioemotional implications that further complicate efforts to reintegrate into civilian life.
In light the high incidence of combat-based hearing losses and brain injuries as well as their implications for quality of life both in and out of military service, the audiologists and speech-language pathologists are increasingly vital within the health care system, as their multidisciplinary scope of practice best suits the complex needs of veterans. The services they provide are pivotal in helping veterans take charge of their recoveries following these injuries. That’s why I chose to study Communication Sciences and Disorders in college—I want to be a speech-language pathologist working in the military health care system, where I will be at the forefront of recovery and rehabilitation services for veterans.
I can help veterans capitalize on their remaining communication abilities in order to achieve their goals in both civilian and military life by coaching them through aural rehabilitation, fitting them with assistive listening devices like hearing aids and cochlear implants and providing them with speech and language therapy services, While experiencing a hearing loss, traumatic brain injury or any other injury in combat can present a challenge for veterans, with the informed use of technology like hearing aids and cochlear implants as well as language therapy and communication-difficulty remediation, these obstacles can be overcome. I want to be part of this process.
In order to give veterans the care they deserve, the United States needs to employ the services of audiologists and speech-language pathologists because the multidisciplinary nature of their practice and education best suits the diverse and complex needs of the veteran community. Throughout my four years of undergraduate education I have studied extensively all aspects of speech, language, hearing and communication through my major, Communication Sciences and Disorders. I have a strong backing in anatomy, neurology and language development. I know the ins and outs of hearing testing, balance and vertigo rehabilitation, and language therapy for stroke and dementia patients. The multi-disciplinary nature of my education will allow me to better serve the diverse needs of veterans
After I graduate this spring, I will attend a graduate program in speech-language pathology where I can increase both the breadth and depth of my understanding of these topics. Even more importantly, I will practice my diagnostic and therapeutic skills in a pro-bono clinic on campus where I will gain experience in the practical application of what I’ve learned while helping people suffering from paralysis, hearing loss, stroke, cancer and dementia. While I have not yet committed to a specific graduate program, I know that wherever I go my studies will prepare me to make a difference in the lives of veterans.