Audiology Students Give Life-Changing Care to Children in Dominica

A Breakthrough Moment Across an Ocean

When 5-year-old Gabriella gave her mom a huge smile and a thumbs up during a hearing aid fitting, it brought her mother, Jenna, to tears. Communicating from the Caribbean island of Dominica, Jenna shared with Montclair State University Doctor of Audiology students and faculty that before her daughter received the free aids, such an interaction would not have been possible.

The moving scene played out during a July 23 telehealth appointment at Montclair’s Audiology Clinic — a follow-up to an inaugural humanitarian trip to Dominica in May.

Montclair students successfully guided a local doctor, nurses and family members through fitting and maintaining hearing aids for Gabriella and two other children. One student, Nitchaika Saint-Sulne, who speaks French Creole, stepped in to interpret for one Haitian family.

Real-World Experience, Real-World Impact

For Montclair Doctor of Audiology students Angelica Ramos-Lopez and Alicia Rincon, seeing the children thrive via telehealth was a powerful full-circle moment.

“It’s a continuation of what we started,” Ramos-Lopez said. “It shows another way of us being really committed to helping them.”

Rincon added: “We're getting to see the follow-up and how we're going to help these kids throughout their childhood and learn independence through hearing.”

"Nothing compares to the priceless moment of seeing the smiles on the faces of the children and their parents as they heard through their hearing devices for the very first time. In those moments, I witnessed hope, joy and lives being transformed. Those expressions of happiness and gratitude touched my heart in ways words cannot fully describe and will remain forever imprinted in my memory."  

~ Dominica Registered Nurse Ermine Rene'-Roberts

A Humanitarian Project Years in the Making

This initiative was the inspiration of Director of the Doctor of Audiology Program Maryrose McInerney. Working with faculty members of the speech language pathology masters program she developed it through a new collaboration with Therapy Abroad, an organization that runs faculty-led global health programs for allied health students. That collaboration led to a partnership between Montclair’s Audiology Department (part of the College for Community Health) and Dominica’s health ministry to bring hearing health care to people of all ages on the island.

Because the Commonwealth of Dominica has no public audiologist, Montclair offered to provide crucial hearing checks and follow-up care for residents. In turn, Montclair Audiology students would gain the real-life experience of providing hearing care to people in need. 

In May, nine Audiology students — alongside McInerney, Anne Michele Puglisi, audiologist and adjunct professor and School of Nursing Professor Courtney Reinisch — traveled to the island to launch the initiative on the ground. Assistance in coordinating the trip was provided by Montclair's faculty-led study abroad program, with the support of Dean Ron Werner-Wilson.

The long-term goal is to help Dominica establish EHDI — Early Hearing Detection and Intervention — a public-health approach that screens for hearing loss at birth and connects families with timely diagnosis, support and follow-up care. McInerney is currently seeking funding to bring an EHDI program to the island.

This work sits within Montclair's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, home to both the Doctor of Audiology and the Master's in Speech-Language Pathology programs. "Because EHDI programs also include speech-language services, the initiative offers a natural opening for Montclair's Speech-Language Pathology program to join future trips," says Megan Matson, Director of the Minor in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Things came together this summer after students organized various fundraisers, including bake sales and a raffle, to cover the costs of the trip. They also solicited donations of hearing aids and other equipment, created hearing healthcare programming to build sustainable hearing healthcare capacity on the island and prepared the hearing aids for the three children, as well as the culturally appropriate educational materials distributed to the families.

By teaching nurse Rene'-Roberts how to take earmold impressions, they are ensuring that future hearing aid candidates in Dominica receive earmolds locally as the hearing healthcare program continues to develop, said McInerney.

Hands-on Clinical Practice

While in Dominica, the students gained vital clinical and interdisciplinary experience adapting to real-world challenges, technical limits and cross-cultural communication by conducting hearing screenings at local public schools and a hospital. They served more than 400 people, identifying 15 children and 20 adults with hearing issues. Working with Reinisch, some students ran ad hoc clinics, screening 60 community members, and providing in-service training for 40 nurse practitioners and midwives.

“We brought all our own equipment and supplies – audiometers, screening forms, adapters – and built makeshift clinics in classrooms and hospital rooms. It was all hands-on deck getting everything set up and running smoothly,” said Izabela “Izzy” Sadowski.

McInerney said: “The students worked alongside local healthcare providers to deliver hearing screenings, diagnostic testing, education and follow-up planning for children and adults with limited access to audiologic services. Their work extended far beyond direct patient care.”

Making a Lasting Impact

Rather than a one-time relief effort, the project establishes ongoing care to support pediatric patients throughout their development.

“It felt meaningful to know we weren’t just flying in and out, we were helping set up systems,” said student Kayla Pierre. 

Pierre added that her career goals came into sharper focus: “This trip pulled together everything I’ve been learning — newborn screening, pediatrics, counseling — into real situations. Kids have always had a special place in my heart, so at least for now, pediatric audiology is where I see myself.” She already has a jumpstart, as she conducts newborn hearing screenings at NYU-Langone Health in Manhattan on a part-time basis.

Future Humanitarian Efforts

Nursing joined the effort as future plans point toward a Global Health Initiative — expanding to other disciplines — to provide sustainable nursing care and community health education, such as CPR and AED training.

“This is a real learning opportunity,” said School of Nursing Dean Janice Smolowitz. “There are things that we can do interdependently, and then there'll be some things that we do separately; we must look at the student's needs.”

Delivering on Montclair’s Mission

“This project highlights not only the profound impact these experiences have on our students, but also Montclair’s commitment to global engagement, interprofessional collaboration and developing sustainable partnerships that improve access to hearing healthcare for underserved communities,” McInerney said.  

Rene'-Roberts said she is grateful and humbled to have been a part of the initiative. “Experiences like these are a powerful reminder of why serving others is such a profound privilege.”