Dr. Sandra Clark-Lewis, clinical professor of audiology in the Department of Communication Disorders, was awarded $14,749 from the University for her project, "Auburn Audiology Outreach in Guatemala," which provided hearing and middle ear screening to 500 impoverished children attending three inner city schools in Guatemala City. The College of Liberal Arts provided an additional $3,800 in matching funds to support the project. The funds were enough to send six audiology doctoral students with Clark-Lewis for the August trip to Guatemala where they fit 40 children diagnosed with significant hearing loss with digital hearing aids.

The group arrived in Guatemela to a warm welcome (see photo of sign above) and began testing the children the next day at Los Cedros (school for boys aged 6-14 years). On the first day alone, the group tested the hearing of 92 children and of them, 14 children failed; of those 14, three were fitted with hearing aids. The rest were referred for medical intervention and the group is hopeful that funding will be available again in the future so they may see these children to re-screen them.

Here, an excerpt from Audiology student Jackie Brooke's blog about her experience from the first day of testing: "The first child we fit had a flat, moderately/severe hearing loss. We fit him with chocolate brown ReSound X-plore behind-the-ear hearing aids that matched his hair perfectly! He was able to hear his mother speaking from behind him for the first time! The child and his mother traveled from a rural school to take part in our hearing screening. His mother was SO appreciative of our services and the child hugged everyone!"

To read about the second day of testing click here.

Department of Communication Disorders alumna Dr. Martha Miller also made the trip to Guatemala and acquired the donated 40 digital hearing aids needed for this project.

Miller writes in her blog, entitled Day 3 - Still Alive!, "We are so overwhelmed by these precious children. They are without exception polite, humble, and so grateful for all we are doing. . . The parents of the children we have fit with hearing aids have been so grateful...many, many tears. (yes, of happiness)."

You can read much more about the trip and the students' experience by visiting http://auaudiology.ning.com/. The students kept daily blogs and uploaded photos of the children, the city, and the schools.

It is important to note that this project only received funding for the 2009-2010 school year. In order to continue the partnership with these schools in Guatemala we need your help! If you would like to donate to this outreach program please send a check to the following address:

Mary Baird
Director of Development for College of Liberal Arts
323 Biggin Hall
Auburn, AL 36849

Checks should be made out to Auburn University Foundation (Memo: Guatemala Outreach)

Or donate on-line by clicking here.

For information on these and other community and civic engagement projects in the College of Liberal Arts, visit www.auburn.edu/cce.

The CLA Student Services Center (this includes all Advisor and Administrative offices) is moving to 321 Tichenor Hall. We hope to be open for advising in our new offices on Aug. 26. We will be closed on the afternoon of Aug. 21 and all day Aug. 24 and Aug. 25 in order to make the move. Please keep checking your email for updates--as with all moves, there may be some last minute changes to the schedule.

The Department of Communication and Journalism will also be moving back to Tichenor. Please look for more information from the Department.

Two faculty members from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) recently received competitive Outreach Scholarship Grants from Auburn University's Office of the Vice President for Outreach.

Dr. Sandra Clark-Lewis, clinical professor of audiology in the Department of Communication Disorders, was awarded $14,749 from the University for her project, "Auburn Audiology Outreach in Guatemala," which will provide hearing and middle ear screening to impoverished children attending three inner city schools in Guatemala City. CLA provided an additional $3,800 in matching funds to support the project. Six audiology doctoral students will join Clark-Lewis for the August trip to Guatemala and fit up to forty children diagnosed with significant hearing loss with digital hearing aids. For more information and live updates from Guatemala, click here.

Dr. Elizabeth Brestan-Knight, CLA Engaged Scholar and associate professor of psychology, received a $15,149 grant for her project, "An Evaluation of Attachment Training for Mentoring Effectiveness." Shalonda Brooks, a psychology doctoral candidate, will serve as co-investigator. The project will apply the principles of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy to help Project Uplift mentors build a warm relationship with their mentees and increase the overall effectiveness of the local mentoring program.

For information on these and other community and civic engagement projects in the College of Liberal Arts, visit www.auburn.edu/cce.

For more information, contact: Mark Wilson, Ph.D. Community and Civic Engagement College of Liberal Arts 2046 Haley Center Auburn University, AL 36849 334-844-6198 Email: wilsom3@auburn.edu

Do you have trouble hearing? Is it difficult to follow a conversation in a noisy restaurant? Do you think you have hearing loss? The Speech and Hearing Clinic in the College of Liberal Arts will offer a free speech and hearing screening Monday, June 1, from 1-4 p.m., in 1199 Haley Center. No appointment is necessary. All children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please note that very young or handicapped individuals may not be able to respond to the speech hearing screening and may require a more formal evaluation at a later appointment date.

The Speech and Hearing Clinic is also offering a Hearing Aid Open House to demonstrate the latest hearing aid technology. The Open House will be held June 10-12, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., in 1199 Haley Center. This student-sponsored Open House is offered by appointment at no charge. Call 844-9600 to schedule an appointment. Space is limited.