An Enriching Summer for Audiology Students

By Caroline Henning

For many audiology students, summer may sound like a break, yet it can still be full of classes, clinical rotations, and extracurricular activities. Balancing all of this can feel overwhelming, but it also offers a unique opportunity for growth.

Prepping for Summer Clinical Rotations

Summer clinical rotations often come with increased time in the clinic compared to previous rotations, which can be both exciting and challenging. This is a time to build confidence, strengthen clinical skills, and become more independent. Preparing ahead of time can make a big difference. Reviewing common procedures can help you feel more comfortable walking into a new clinic. Setting small, realistic goals for yourself can also help you stay focused and track your growth throughout the summer.

It is also important to recognize that spending more time in the clinic requires more energy. Giving your full effort during the day is important, but so is taking time to rest and reflect afterward. Growth happens not only through experience, but also through processing those experiences!

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

Summer is a great time to have experiences beyond required clinical hours. This might include community hearing screenings, educational outreach events, or working with underserved populations. These opportunities help build clinical confidence while also reinforcing the importance of accessibility and advocacy within audiology.

To Camp or Not to Camp

Hearing aid manufacturer camps are another opportunity that often comes up during the summer months. These programs can provide valuable insights into hearing aid technology, programming, and the behind-the-scenes processes of device development.

One student perspective comes from Braidyn Milner, the 2025-2026 national SAA Chapter Relations Chair, who attended both Starkey University and Oticon Summer Camp. She shared that these experiences allowed her to meet company representatives and learn how different hearing aid manufacturers design their products. She was able to dive deeper into processing algorithms, manufacturing processes, and the different platforms and devices each company offers.

At Starkey University, she had the opportunity to see the process of making earmolds and custom devices. At Oticon Summer Camp, she gained insight into how hearing aids are programmed for different hearing losses and had hands-on experience working within the programming software. Having representatives available during these sessions made it easy to ask questions and troubleshoot within the software. She also noted that the camps allowed her to listen to different devices and explore Bluetooth and connectivity capabilities across manufacturers.

At the same time, these camps are a significant time commitment and may not be feasible for everyone. When deciding whether to participate, it can be helpful to consider your personal goals, schedule, and overall fit. There are many ways to gain meaningful experience during the summer, and not attending a manufacturer camp does not limit your ability to grow as a future audiologist.

National Audiology Exam Preparation

Although summer is an important time to rest and recharge, it can also be helpful to begin incorporating small study habits for the national exam. Starting early does not have to be overwhelming. Short, consistent study sessions, even 20 minutes at a time, can be effective. Focusing on understanding concepts rather than memorization can also help connect clinical experiences with foundational knowledge. Building these habits early can help reduce stress later on!

Final Thoughts

There is no single right way to spend your summer as an audiology student. Whether your focus is on clinical experience, volunteering, studying, or taking time to rest, being intentional with your time is what matters most. As you move through the summer months, take advantage of opportunities to grow while also prioritizing your own well-being.

Additional Resources

• National Exam Study Tips & Resources
• National SAA Volunteer Opportunities
• Program Ideas Bank