Becoming a Pediatric Audiologist: Katie Colella, AuD

Katie Colella, AuD is a pediatric audiologist at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in 2008 and Doctorate of Audiology in 2012 from Purdue University. Prior to her position at Lurie Children’s, she was a pediatric audiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Media Committee member Samantha Ramirez manages the “So You Want to be a __ Audiologist?” article series. Samantha is currently a second-year AuD graduate student at Wayne State University. She also serves as the student representative for the AAA Membership Committee. Her audiological interests include pediatric early intervention, and AuD student development and success.

SR: At what point did you realize you wanted to be a pediatric audiologist?

Dr. Colella: I’ve always loved working with children. My externship was at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Even though the majority of patients I saw were pediatrics (which I loved), I hadn’t developed the confidence in myself yet to decide this was the right career for me. I even started to wonder if I should apply to a Veterans Affair Hospital after graduation. A couple months into my externship, I completed my first ear-specific VRA audiogram on a hearing-impaired 15-month-old. I remember thinking, “Hey! I CAN do this…and I think this is what I want to do with my career.”

SR: Describe your typical work day.

Dr. Colella: I don’t have a typical work day which is one of the reasons why I love my job. On a given day, I might test patients also seeing otolaryngology, perform a sedated auditory brainstem response (ABR) in the operating room, dispense a set of hearing aids, and complete a newborn hearing screening in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

SR: What is the most challenging part of working with pediatrics?

Dr. Colella: For me, the biggest challenge is maintaining consistent communication with a patient’s entire care team. Counseling and offering recommendations does not end with family in the appointment. I typically need to share and discuss the patient’s status with pediatricians, otolaryngologists, school, therapists, and even other audiologists. It can be challenging to stay organized with all these correspondences.

SR: Without breaking patient confidentiality, tell us about a memorable moment in your career as a pediatric audiologist.

Dr. Colella: I once saw a 4-year-old with sudden, significant sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing had reportedly been normal beforehand. Fortunately, I was able to fit her with loaner hearing aids that day. The next time I saw this patient, she gave me a beautiful picture she had painted with music notes all over it. Mom explained the patient had thought their home piano had been broken and was thrilled when it started “working” again.

SR: What is your advice for AuD students interested in becoming a pediatric audiologist?

Dr. Colella: Many AuD students I have met who develop an interest in pediatrics are concerned about the lack of pediatric exposure they might have had to date. If you are interested in pediatrics, attempt to request pediatric placements, if possible, in your third year. However, supervisors want to work with students who are teachable, flexible, and, of course, like working with children!

Students also need to understand that previous pediatric experiences that aren’t audiology-related are also valuable. If you have been a camp counselor or nanny, you understand how to interact with children. Another option is to volunteer with children at a local hospital or park district. Even if you aren’t observing audiology, you are learning more about children, who still teach me something every day!

SR: Any other piece of advice for students?

Dr. Colella: When you are applying for your AuD externship, preceptors are looking for qualities that aren’t related to clinical skills, such as a strong work ethic, willingness to learn, and the ability to accept constructive criticism. We don’t expect clinical independence yet. That’s why there is an externship!