Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Audiology Takes on Noise

UWSHC audiologists and Au.D. students are passionate about healthy hearing habits! They have made it their mission to teach people how to have fun AND protect their hearing at noisy events. The group travels to urban and rural settings across Wisconsin. This hearing conservation outreach includes handing out earplugs and concerts, giving talks about health hearing habits to community groups, and even traveling to motosports events such as a tractor pull! UWSHC audiology also works with local music venues to protect the hearing of employees and concert-goers.

UWSHC audiology has handed out over 13,000 pairs of earplugs in recent years. Audiologists and Au.D. students use this outreach as an opportunity to talk with people of all ages about protecting their hearing across all noisy settings.

More information and media coverage on this special initiative.

Dr. Melanie Buhr-Lawler, Audiologist at the UW Speech and Hearing Clinic, hands out earplugs at the tractor pull.
Dr. Melanie Buhr-Lawler, Audiologist at the UW Speech and Hearing Clinic, hands out earplugs at the tractor pull.
Au.D. graduate student clinicians take impressions of music venue employees for custom musician’s hearing protection.
Au.D. graduate student clinicians take impressions of music venue employees for custom musician’s hearing protection.
Graduate student clinicians hand out earplugs at an outdoor concert. The earplugs have custom labels that highlight the importance of hearing protection at concerts.
Graduate student clinicians hand out earplugs at an outdoor concert. The earplugs have custom labels that highlight the importance of hearing protection at concerts.
Audiology graduate students explain the importance of using hearing protection in noise to children at a science festival.
Audiology graduate students explain the importance of using hearing protection in noise to children at a science festival.

For more information and to enjoy some of the media attention given to this special initiative, check out:

UW Madison Campus Media

This initiative has been featured in several campus and alumni publications, including a video feature on Big Ten Network.

Non-custom hearing protection that is commonly used in noisy occupational settings.

State & National Publications

The UW Audiology tractor pull outreach has received media attention from state and nation-wide publications.

Seminars & Presentations

Clinical faculty and students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders travel throughout the community to raise awareness.

Audiology Journals

By extending hearing healthcare beyond the walls of the traditional audiology clinic, an audiology outreach program demonstrates genuine professional care about the well-being of individuals throughout the state.