Did You Know: Diversity in Audiology - An interview with Lyn Kirsch, Au.D.
Can you share with us your journey to becoming an audiologist and what inspired you to pursue this career?I'd never heard of audiology when I entered undergrad at Hampton University in 1994. Initially, I majored in biology/pre-med and quickly realized it wasn't for me. I toyed with the idea of psychology until I met someone majoring in speech language pathology. I’d envisioned myself working with children, so this seemed like a great transition. Again, it didn't take long to realize I still wasn't in the right place. Spending 8 months trying to get someone to properly pronounce the letter "P" and the mountain of paperwork which accompanied it wasn't nearly as gratifying as I’d expected. First semester of senior year, we had our Intro to Audiology class. Thank heavens!! It felt like I'd come full circle...back to biology and the opportunity to offer patients a solution they could benefit from immediately.
Upon graduation in 1998, I started my masters' degree program at the University of VA. I was a member of the last class admitted before the audiology program transitioned into a doctorate program. I graduated in the summer of 2000 with the plan to complete my CFY at George Washington Hospital in Washington, DC. As fate would have it, I attended the AAA Convention in Chicago (almost got frost bitten...well, not really but I'd never felt cold like that before lol) and per the suggestion of my classmate, continued to interview for practice. I ended up being offered a position with Sonus as a diagnostic audiologist in Los Angeles. Who in the world would've imagined I'd end up in Los Angeles! I sure didn't.
My plan was to stay in LA for one year, learn as much as I could, visit as many corners of CA as possible, and then return home to VA. The City of Angels, and a fellow audiologist named Stephen Kirsch, AuD, stole my heart and I've been here almost 25 years. I didn't know the true impact audiology would have on my life at the time but when I look back now, I'm so very grateful I “transitioned” into the profession because it changed my life.
What challenges did you face as a professional in the field of audiology, and how did you overcome them?
Initially, my greatest challenge was managing imposter syndrome. Even though I was well educated, as a Black 23-year-old I felt ill-equipped to advise grown adults on their hearing healthcare needs or anything health related, actually. Yes, I was an adult too, but I felt like such a child/novice in the field and in the eyes of the patients. Patients would constantly comment, “You look young enough to be my granddaughter!” or ask my age and question my credentials. Growing up in the south, we regarded our elders with great respect and reverence. We went to them for their sage advice and were taught to listen, soak it all in, and not talk.
Secondly, I was working in neighborhoods where wealth had been amassed beyond my comprehension and those individuals were typically seen by healthcare professionals who didn’t look like me. I’d grown up lower middle class in rural VA and Los Angeles was like nothing I’d ever experienced! It was a world I’ve only seen on TV. I’d be asked if I’d worked at the renowned House Clinic and when I said no, sometimes I felt, or maybe just perceived, some disapproval or disappointment. Now I was asking them to listen to little old me, pay thousands of dollars for hearing aids, and trust I was offering them the best solution and had their best interests at heart. I never forgot my intentions were pure. I only wanted to be of service and knew what I was offering was a legitimate opportunity to improve the quality of their lives, so I stuck with it and my confidence grew.
As I look back over my career, I’m so grateful for all those moments. If I’d never been challenged, I wouldn’t have grown into the confident professional I am today. Now I see those experiences were never a hindrance. My own thoughts, insecurities and limiting beliefs were. Those experiences strengthened me. I learned when leading with my heart and keeping my intention at the forefront, the people I served always benefited and so did I.
How does your cultural background influence your approach to working with patients?
I used to feel like I had to be perfect in every way to not create any doubt in the patient’s mind that I was a competent practitioner. I was particular about how I wore my hair, spoke (no country twang…oh I miss it sometimes, but it comes out around 4:30pm or later and now I don’t limit it), dressed, my posture, etc. I over scrutinized myself to the point that it became tiresome. The more I relaxed and allowed myself to truly BE ME, the easier it became to connect with patients. I was much more comfortable and so were they and that combination allowed real magic to happen.
Now I confidently wear locs, allow a “y’all “to roll off my tongue and have some of the best days of my life offering a warm and safe space for patients to share their stories, feel heard and appreciated. I’ve learned so much from them in the process and I’m grateful.
Yes, there have been patients who’ve been surprised to see me when I walked out to greet them (very small number of audiologists are black but that number is growing) and some have chosen not to return because of that. It doesn’t bother me anymore and honestly, it’s rare nowadays. We all have the right to choose our healthcare professionals, and I respect that. What’s important to me is to treat every patient with decency and respect because that’s what I want for myself.
What message would you share with aspiring Black audiologists or young professionals?
There’s a place for you in audiology. It’s turned out to be an extremely rewarding, welcoming, and versatile profession. As my desires and needs changed, there was always a different avenue to explore in audiology. I spent the first 5 years in corporately owned and independent offices providing diagnostic and dispensing services. I then moved on to work for Siemens’, when they were still Siemens, technical support team in their manufacturing plant in La Mirada, CA. I loved being there because I could watch the aids being built by the skilled technicians and learn the ins and outs of the groundbreaking technology. Next, I worked for the Starkey Hearing Foundation providing philanthropic audiology support and education to individuals and groups internationally and domestically. It was a dream experience traveling around the globe doing the work I loved. And for the past 9 years, I’ve worked side-by-side with my husband in our private practice, Kirsch Audiology in Santa Monica, CA. I never imagined being a business owner and boy is it hard, but again, so rewarding. Along with continuing to serve the patients, I now get to mentor new audiology graduates and as a manager, create an inviting, inclusive, educational, respectful and fun atmosphere for our team. We’ve created a little piece of home (VA and New Orleans) through service, and we are so thankful to have the privilege to serve this amazing community.
What efforts do you believe are needed to encourage more diversity in audiology and related healthcare fields?
- Increase visibility by sharing information about audiology at an early age, even in elementary schools, to spark interest. Our extern spoke to a 1st grade class about audiology, inspiring curiosity similar to career day experiences.
- Consider engaging with youth centers. Support underrepresented individuals in the profession by offering mentorship to those students preparing for college. Also, consider connecting with HBCUs, Tribal Universities, and other minority-serving institutions.
After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2000, Lyn Kirsch, Au.D. started her career as an audiologist with the national hearing health franchise, Sonus, where she met an admiring, passionate audiologist from New Orleans whom she would later wed. In June 2016, she joined Kirsch Audiology. Dr. Kirsch most recently worked for five years as the sole audiologist in the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s Los Angeles office. Previous to Dr. Kirsch’s tenure at Starkey, she represented Siemens, providing training and technical assistance for audiologists throughout the U.S. Throughout her career, Dr. Kirsch has performed comprehensive hearing evaluations, treated hearing loss with various hearing devices, and educated students and administrators nationally on hearing conservation. Additionally, she has provided the "gift of hearing" to thousands of impoverished children and adults through missions across 14 different countries and 4 continents.