Ida tools have major impact on Florida audiology students

Research Audiologist and Ida fellow, Dr. Michelle Arnold, integrated the Ida University course materials into the summer semester, 'Adult Aural Rehabilitation' 10 wk course, she usually undertakes at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, with significant results. In addition to incorporating the Ida tools and ethnographic films into the class, she designed the course to reflect an Ida Seminar where open minds and brainstorming to problem-solve difficult cases were key! After each session, the 2nd year Audiology students would share/reflect their clinical experiences that day and would discuss as a group ‘reflection after action’ what could have been done differently, how they could incorporate reflection before action and reflection in action in future encounters. Dr. Arnold believed this helped them a great deal with their clinical patients. Every student enthused over the materials and thoroughly enjoyed utilizing the Ida ethnographic videos, in addition to re-enacting the role-playing activities. The students were broken into groups and each group was given a different dilemma card to re-enact throughout the semester. "Material was very interesting. Great class!" said one of the students. "Every class [is] interesting. I feel like I am actively instead of passively learning, and it helps me remember what we've learned when I feel engaged." For 3 meetings, Dr. Arnold used real patients with hearing loss. The class was broken down into small groups and each group was assigned a different patient. They spent the first meeting completing a full case history using the Patient Motivation and Communication Partners tools and then they came up with an action plan. They then introduced the action plan to the patient, and assisted with any hearing aid adjustments, accessories and at-home auditory training for patients where applicable. Each case was different. “I truly believe that I was able to change the perspectives of some pretty tough students towards a more holistic and patient-centered approach to hearing healthcare and rehabilitation .The same group of students gave me much better reviews for this course than for a different course I taught them the previous semester, and I believe that was largely due to my incorporation of the Ida course materials in the class. I will also say that I did not receive a single negative comment about the course. All were 100% positive.” “The Ladies (student audiologists) have been very professional and very caring. Thank them for me. They are great and will make very capable doctors,” emailed Ruth, one of the patients. “Patty enjoyed it very much. She learned a lot. Understanding my side and how hard it is to have a loss of hearing. “ Michelle Arnold, Research Audiologist at the University of Florida,along with Department Chair, Dr. Terry Chisolm Ph.D., will be expanding the course into a more intensive AR practicum next summer, due to the great success and positive comments from both students and patients.