Integrating Lived Experiences into Audiology Education to Bridge the Empathy Gap
- Jonathan H. Westover, PhD
- Aug 19
- 1 min read
Research Advances Section
Received July 24, 2025; Accepted for publication August 4, 2025; Published Early Access August 18, 2025
Title: Integrating Lived Experiences into Audiology Education to Bridge the Empathy Gap
Authors: Kathleen Cienkowski and Shari Eberts, University of Connecticut
Abstract: Community-engaged learning (CEL) offers a unique opportunity to bring the lived experience of hearing loss into the classroom, enhancing empathy and the implementation of person-centered care (PCC) among audiology students. This paper describes an initiative at the University of Connecticut that integrated CEL into an advanced hearing aids course. Students engaged with patient narratives through the book Hear & Beyond and attended a community meeting hosted by Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Reflections demonstrated enhanced awareness of real-world challenges and a renewed commitment to PCC. This pilot project offers a model for incorporating CEL into audiology education to improve hearing care outcomes.
Keywords: Person-centered care, community-engaged learning, audiology education, patient narratives, experiential learning
Suggested Citation:
Cienkowski, K. & Eberts, S. (2025). Integrating Lived Experiences into Audiology Education to Bridge the Empathy Gap. Transformative Social Impact: A Journal of Community-Based Teaching and Research, 1(2). doi.org/10.70175/socialimpactjournal.2025.1.2.4
