Sounds of Life Hearing Center, a 4-provider private practice in Concord Township, Ohio (located about 40 minutes east of Cleveland), is seeking a 4th Year Extern with a heart for giving, a dedicated and driven spirit, and a growth mindset for the 2023-2024 academic year. Our audiologists are passionate about high-quality precepting and prioritize our students’ education. Our externs are not expected to generate their own separate revenue and while they do see patients independently (as appropriate and based on payer), there is always at least one audiologist on-site assigned to the student schedule.  

Our owner, Dr. Sarah Curtis, prioritizes: evidence-based, best-practice care; high-quality continuing education; community giveback; shared decision making; outcomes-focused care; ethical practice; and supports innovation and professional growth. We consider ours a “unicorn practice” providing excellence in a wide variety of clinical areas which (in addition to standard adult diagnostics and hearing aid fittings) include pediatrics, cochlear implants, tinnitus, auditory processing, cerumen management, community outreach and humanitarian opportunities. Specifically, below our the specific services offered. 

Diagnostic services: 

• Audiometry (air, bone, high frequency; traditional, CPA and VRA) 

• Immittance measures (standard and wideband tympanometry, ARTs) 

• Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions 

• Electrophysiologic testing including newborn diagnostic testing and adult diagnostics (ABR, ASSR, and other AEPs) 

• Cochlear implant evaluation including for single-sided deafness and non-traditional candidates 

• Tinnitus evaluations 

• Auditory processing evaluations for pediatric and adult patients including individuals with additional diagnoses/differences such as language and literacy disorders, mental health disorders, attention-deficit disorders, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing differences and others 

Rehabilitative services: 

• Hearing aid consultation, demonstration, and rehabilitative needs assessments 

• Hearing aid fittings (we are able to fit all 7 major manufacturers) including real-ear measures and electroacoustic analyses on every hearing aid 
  *Included in our team are audiologists with unique skills in fitting musician patients and in fitting low-gain hearing aids on individuals with normal/minimal losses 

• Recommendation and fitting of appropriate assistive devices  

• Hearing aid services including minor repairs 

• Unbundled hearing aid service model 

• Ear impressions & custom earpieces 

• Hearing loss/aural rehabilitative options including app-based treatment options 

• Community and off-site diagnostics, screenings, and hearing aid services 

• Non-surgical comprehensive cochlear implant care including device selections, MAPpings, and follow up care 

• Development of comprehensive rehabilitative plans for children and adults with auditory processing deficits, including app and/or computer-based therapies and audiologist-administered programs 

• Tinnitus rehabilitation including skilled patient counseling and comprehensive treatment plan development and, when appropriate, treatment with the Lenire tinnitus treatment device, hearing aids, and/or rehabilitative app-based programs such as Mahana tinnitus 

• Multi-technique cerumen management including irritation via the Earigator, suction, and curettage 

• Development of specific treatment plans tailored to educational and/or vocational needs 

We emphasize "whole-patient" audiology and utilize a shared-decision-making model of care. 

This position is well-suited to a student interested in pursuing a career in a private practice and/or wanting to understand the business side of audiology. We ensure that our externs are exposed to different reimbursement models, insurances (including Medicaid), and are well-educated on coding and reimbursement rules. We involve our students in marketing efforts such as community fairs and other outreach and physician/provider marketing. Our students are also encouraged to try new things and learn through their mistakes and be involved in the growth and development of new programs. Our 4th year externs additionally gain experience mentoring third-year students from local universities that we precept throughout the year.