2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

10/27/2019 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | The Structure of Ethiopian Audiology Training | Ventana Ballroom C

The Structure of Ethiopian Audiology Training

Background: Since 2016 hearing health specialists at the University of Illinois in Chicago have been arranging audiology education in an organized fashion in Ethiopia. Objective: To present the current state of the University of Illinois Ethiopian audiology education projects. Materials and Methods: Prior to 2016 there were no audiology facilities, no audiologists, no technicians, no training programs and no trainees, few used audiometers, inconsistent internet, no hearing aids, and certainly no cochlear implants. Using private funding, identifying a completely online training program, recruiting interested people and institutions, we were able to start training programs. Results: Seven audiology sites have been recruited – 5 are public universities, one is a national program for women with disabilities, one is a private hospital. Thirty people are enrolled in 1-year or 6-month EDUPLEX® online English-language training programs. The terms of their enrollment vary site-to-site. EDUPLEX ® monitors student progress with online modules and video chat as well as 3 trips to Ethiopia from their base in Pretoria, SA to evaluate and teach hands-on. Audiometry equipment has been supplied to each site and additional equipment is coming to 4 of the sites where the current trainees will become teachers – in their native language. Administrators are: the University of Illinois otologist and audiologist, the EDUPLEX ® coordinators, the Ethiopian administrator of all sites, the administrator for the national program, and the newly trained Ethiopian director of education. The Amharic language training programs are due to start in January, 2020. Job responsibilities, placement and productivity will be first seen in 2020 and 2021. Conclusion: Identification of willing institutions, a stand-alone online program, interested people, and funding for equipment may have resulted in the first Ethiopian audiology training programs. The authors have no funding and no conflict of interest to disclose.

To explain the audiology situation in Ethiopia
To show how audiology education can be created in Ethiopia
To encourage other to think creatively in implementing programs

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Presenters/Authors

Gabrielle Cager (), University of Illinois, gcager@uic.edu;
Dr. Cager is an audiologist with extensive experience with children and with cochlear implants. She is spear-heading audiology education as well as cochlear implantation in Ethiopia.