Speech Pathology major Karsen Damon, '25, recently returned from a mission trip to Santo Domingo, where she helped to distribute hearing aids and provide hearing-related healthcare services to citizens in the Dominican Republic.
"I have been interning for Delta Zeta's National Headquarters since January as a global marketing and philanthropy intern," said Damon. "This internship has given me so many opportunities to volunteer and learn more about speech and hearing."
The Speech Pathology and Audiology Bachelor of Science program in the School of Health Sciences offers a dynamic and innovative learning experience for students passionate about helping individuals with communication disorders.
Sponsored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation, the trip included Damon and nine other Delta Zetas who learned why the foundation travels to other countries to provide people with hearing aids, how many individuals would be fitted in Santo Domingo, and the process for fitting them.
The volunteers spent the first day learning how to adjust the volume on hearing aids and how to cut the tubes to connect the processor to the ear mold. The following day, volunteers arrived at the mission site and paired into teams of three that included one expert volunteer who supervised the process and answered questions.
Damon said the communication barrier was quite difficult but the volunteers used translators, sign language, Google translate, and written instructions to communicate with the locals. She was included on the trip as a member of the Delta Zeta organization that inspires action that impacts lives globally through philanthropy, scholarship and service.
"This was a truly life changing, unique experience that helped to augment what I learned in my audiology classes," said Damon. "We got to give the gift of hearing to around 300 patients. This trip will forever be a highlight of my collegiate career, and it provided me with more knowledge and experience with hearing aids."