By Will Bower
UI Sound Awareness For Everyone (UI SAFE) is a faculty-student community outreach program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The program was established in 2010 by faculty members Dani Kelsay and Stephanie Fleckenstein and addresses the issue of dangerous noise levels in daily life.
UI SAFE works with individuals of all ages to promote healthy hearing. Faculty and graduate students provide healthy hearing tips via social media and work directly with groups through in-person events.
Kellsie Busho, clinical assistant professor and coordinator of the UI SAFE program, said UI SAFE works with a variety of groups to promote healthy hearing, like the College of Music, the College of Education, and the athletic training program.
“Most of the groups we work with are long-established,” Busho said. “People find us on social media or reach out after attending an event.”
Kevin Kock, former UI SAFE member and audiologist with Audiology Consultants, P.C., said his involvement with UI SAFE influenced his understanding of hearing loss prevention and hearing health.
“We explored how attitudes and belief models affect peoples’ willingness to make changes and set goals for hearing conservation,” Kock said. “UI SAFE provided a strong foundation that continues to guide my clinical practice today.”
The football season is a tenuous time for hearing health. Kock said that noise levels at Kinnick Stadium have been measured above 100 decibels with peaks of over 115 decibels—levels that can cause immediate hearing loss.
Sound awareness, turning down the volume on streaming devices, and distancing yourself from loud environments are all good ways to protect your hearing. Busho said that wearing one of the many forms of hearing protection can also be beneficial.
“They come in both custom and non-custom options,” Busho said. “Speak to an audiologist to learn more.”
If you are interested in exploring hearing protection, consult with an audiologist at the CSD Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic. To learn more about UI SAFE, visit their webpage or Facebook and Instagram pages.
How to access the clinic
The UI Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic is located at 302 S. Grand Avenue on the west side of the University of Iowa campus, near Melrose Avenue.
When visiting the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, please park at Hospital Ramp 4, located across S. Grand Avenue. Exit the ramp on the east side, cross S. Grand Avenue, and turn left. Walk until you reach the side doors and follow the clinic signs to the front desk.
If you plan to arrive via public transportation, the free black-and-gold Cambus stops at the West Campus Transportation Center, less than a block away. The Iowa City Oakcrest Route 8 bus line also has a stop near the clinic.