Melanie Buhr-Lawler, Au.D., CCC-A

Education

B.S., University of Wisconsin–Madison
M.A., University of Iowa
Au.D., University of Florida

Courses Taught

CS&D 891: Clinical Clerkship in Audiology I
CS&D 892: Clinical Clerkship in Audiology II
CS&D 921: Seminar in Audiology

Background and Expertise

Dr. Buhr-Lawler has 25 years of pediatric and adult clinical audiology experience spanning diagnostic audiology, cochlear implants, hearing aids, and hearing conservation, including specialized services for musicians and music enthusiasts. She is committed to personalized, patient-centered care that helps people hear and communicate at every stage of life. She especially values working with individuals and families to find solutions that make everyday communication easier and more effective.

Dr. Buhr-Lawler coordinates several clinical and outreach programs, including the Hearing Aid Recycling Program (HARP), the UW Occupational Health hearing conservation program, Listen Up UW, and hearing screenings for children enrolled in Reach Dane Head Start. She also partners with community organizations and local music venues to advance hearing‑health education, promote safe listening practices, and expand hearing services for medically underserved communities across Wisconsin.

Dr. Buhr-Lawler especially enjoys supervising UW-Madison Au.D. students in the UW Speech and Hearing Clinic and teaching in the Doctor of Audiology program. Before joining UW–Madison in 2010, Dr. Buhr-Lawler practiced in hospital settings including Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, and Froedtert Kenosha Center.

Highlighted Activities

• Outstanding Service Award, Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Association, 2026
• American Cochlear Implant Alliance member, Current
• Student Mentor Award, Wisconsin Speech-Language Hearing Association, 2019
• Audiologist of the Year, Wisconsin Speech-Language Hearing Association, 2015
• American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Advisory Council/Committee of Ambassadors, 2017-2023
• American Board of Audiology Cochlear Implant Specialty Certification (CISC) awarded in 2010
• Featured on the UW Madison College of Letters & Sciences Instructional Design Collaborative’s site “Choose More Inclusive Teaching Strategies” under “Diversify your course materials”, 2026

Buhr‑Lawler, M., & Steinke, K. (April 2023). Rock & roll and audiology. Presentation at the American Academy of Audiology Conference, Seattle, WA.

Buhr‑Lawler, M., & Botten, E. (July 2023). The technology that connects: Navigating hearing loss in today’s digital world. Presentation at Middleton Glen, Middleton, WI.

Buhr‑Lawler, M. (2017). A hearing loss prevention outreach program for farmers and motorsports enthusiasts. Seminars in Hearing, 38, 212–221.

Buhr‑Lawler, M. (2016). Thinking outside the booth: Three overlapping categories of university audiology outreach. The Hearing Review.

Gartrell, B. C., Jones, H. J., Kan, A., Buhr‑Lawler, M., Gubbels, S. P., & Litovsky, R. L. (2014). Investigating long‑term effects of cochlear implantation in single‑sided deafness: A best practice model for longitudinal assessment of spatial hearing abilities and tinnitus handicap. Otology & Neurotology, 35(9), 1525–1532.