By Kellsie Busho and Danielle Kelsay

This article is a part of the May/June 2021, Volume 33, Number 3, Audiology Today issue.

When COVID-19 swept across the world, life as we knew it came to a halt. Large gatherings were canceled, schools were closed, and businesses were shuttered. With the abrupt change in daily living, new opportunities arose, as online usage increased. Facebook saw daily website usage jump by 27 percent from January 15, 2020, to March 24, 2020, in the United States (Koeze and Popper, 2020). Other platforms, such as Zoom, went from under two million daily users to over six million in the same period (Koeze and Popper, 2020).

With the switch from in-person interactions to online, the ability to interact with individuals and continue outreach events was not only plausible but also offered unique opportunities. Audiology graduate students participating in the University of Iowa Sound Awareness for Everyone (UISAFE) program jumped at the chance to spread healthy hearing messages in a new way.

Established in 2010, UISAFE is a clinical and outreach program through the University of Iowa Doctor of Audiology Program. The goal of UISAFE is to promote hearing health and prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) by increasing awareness of NIHL and the hearing hazards that are part of everyday life.

Employing evidence-based practices, such as the Dangerous Decibels® curriculum, UISAFE strives to be an active member of the local community spreading healthy hearing messages. Participants include graduate students, faculty, and staff of the University of Iowa, who are dedicated to promoting hearing health through hearing screenings both in the clinic and at community venues, consultations, and outreach educational programs.

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