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Audiologists in all work settings were affected by the disaster. Private practice audiologists lost their offices, equipment and sound booths, their business investment and their client base. It is unclear how many audiology faculty have been displaced and what their options are. Hearing scientists lost valuable research; one researcher reportedly lost valuable laboratory animals that had been developed over several generations as subjects for research in the genetics of hearing loss.
Immediately after it became evident that Katrina had displaced thousands of people, audiologists began posting messages about how to help others on ASHA's electronic audiology mailing list. The first order of business was donating funds. Maxine Young, a dually certified audiologist and SLP in Broomall, PA, started keeping track informally and reported that within five days, members of the ASHA e-mail forum had donated $12,000 to different organizations.
Richard Navarro, a Houston audiologist, donated and then went further in an offer: "Any audiologist in private practice that has lost everything, call me and I will donate whatever I can to help you get back on your feet. If you need a place to crash in Houston, let me know!"
Leigh Ann Norman (jandlnorman@aol.com) a Shreveport audiologist and board member of LSHA, is collecting hearing aid batteries for storm victims and state agencies helping evacuees. In little more than a week, she had already mailed batteries to Mobile, AL; Kingwood, TX, Morgan City, LA, Baton Rouge and "even to evacuees in Minnesota," she said in a posting to ASHA's Katrina member forum. She is appealing to audiologists for "any batteries you can spare," offering to get them to people who need them. "That way, they can use their funds for other essential items."
AUDiTEC offered to replace printed materials and recordings that accompany its tests at a reduced cost. Company president William Carver said AUDiTEC would provide replacements at 50% off the retail cost for six months.
Other postings on the audiology mailing list and ASHA's Katrina member forum came from those seeking and exchanging information about missing colleagues. To sign up for the audiology e-mail forum, send an e-mail to asha-aud-forum-request@postman.com with your e-mail address and full name.
Living with Uncertainty
One New Orleans audiologist, Linda Pippin, evacuated on Saturday before the storm. "I leave every time they warn about hurricanes," she said. The 28-year resident of New Orleans expected to be gone a few days. Now she is in Baton Rouge with her family, where she is seeking temporary residence in a city whose size has doubled in the last week and where real estate prices have gone sky-high. As the administrator of Children's Special Health Services for the state's department of health and hospitals, she feels lucky because she has a job. "I just don't know where that job will be."
Pippin is also unsure about the condition of her home near the University of New Orleans by Lake Pontchartrain, and of her office on the second floor of the Superdome. She added that she was sure audiology clinics in New Orleans sustained damage, but had not heard details.
The 7,000 children served by her department and their families are now dispersed through Louisiana and neighboring states. "People have been very generous. It would help if they could continue to serve families in need, and if they could donate services to children as well as adults."
It's difficult to think about long-term plans, Pippin said. "It's hard to describe the tragedy when you've lost everything. I think a lot of people are going to end up leaving the state." She mentioned an audiology colleague with a private practice, who told her that even if he could go back now, he would have no patients.
"What do you do when all your money is tied up in New Orleans?" she said. "Another thing that would help is if people would consider hiring someone who has been displaced by the hurricane."
Natalee Allen, the AuD student mentioned above in this article that participated in her white-coat ceremony and then had no class to return to, was quickly accepted into the only other AuD program in the state, at Louisiana Tech in Ruston.
"It helped that I had applied to the school during the regular application process and been accepted," she said. One of her LSU classmates, however, dropped out of the AuD program and decided to take another career path.
Allen feels fortunate, but she now faces a tough decision-she's heard that LSU held a press conference in Baton Rouge announcing that AuD classes would resume in late September in that city, and that students might be housed on a cruise ship or in mobile homes.
"I love LSU but am not sure I'd feel safe alone on a cruise ship. There's a curfew now in Baton Rouge, because so many people are there. My parents aren't crazy about that idea, and I'm not either. So I'm still considering my options."
The ASHA Leader is still seeking information about the storm's impact on audiologists and their professional needs. Those with information are asked to post it on ASHA's Katrina section in the member forum area.
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