Community & Culture

We Are IH: Vernon audiologist supports hearing-loss journeys

Name: Jessica Niemela (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Audiologist
Years of Service: 3
Worksite: Vernon Health Unit
Community: Vernon
Ancestral Territory: Syilx
Advice to live by: “It’s not just about hearing, it’s about being heard.” – Gael Hannan

Going through her own journey with hearing loss and wearing hearing aids provided inspiration for Jessica’s career choice. 

“The journey is not always easy and requires a holistic approach that goes beyond wearing hearing devices,” shares Jessica. 

The onset of permanent hearing loss can happen after birth, making it important for children to have their hearing screened prior to entering school in order to give them the best chance for academic success and social/emotional development.

Jessica finds it most rewarding to work with children and families through their own journeys with hearing loss and to see them become their own self-advocates for accessibility.

Learn more about her journey with IH

Vernon recently launched a kindergarten hearing screening program, which was made possible through collaboration with Interior Health’s public health nursing immunization clinic.

Through this program, Jessica and her colleagues identified a child with bilateral moderate hearing loss who was a candidate for hearing aids.

“The parents were so appreciative of our program and services,” says Jessica. “The child is now wearing hearing aids and loving them!”

Jessica is a board member of Canadian Hard of Hearing Association - BC Chapter (CHHA-BC) and the driving force behind The Way We Hear It! A Community Engagement Exhibition. She is proud to be a part of the exhibit's working group, along with a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers and community partners.

This exhibit provides an interactive, hands-on experience to educate the general public of all ages about our auditory system, hearing health, hearing loss, diverse treatments and solutions, as well as promoting the community of people with hearing loss. The event takes place May 1-31, 2022 at the Okanagan Science Centre in Vernon.

Jessica’s passion for audiology continues beyond her day-to-day career:

  • She is the CHHA-BC Youth Peer Support Program event coordinator for the Okanagan region and a CHHA-National Online Mentor, where she provides a volunteer one-on-one mentorship for those all over Canada struggling with hearing loss.
  • She was the recipient of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada’s 2020 National Clinical Certification Exam Award-Audiology, of which she received the highest grade on the required certification exam; and
  • She served on the panel on currently affected populations for the Lancet Commission on Hearing Loss.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys the great outdoors, being with her family, playing guitar, skiing and mountain biking. She has also achieved a black belt in Isshinryu karate.

Jessica poses with her bike.

Jessica on Okanagan bike trails

 

Learn more about hearing health for infants, children, and youth at Interior Health.

Jessica’s nomination of Irma Lipski, Audiometric Technician, keeps the We Are IH loop going:

“Irma has worked in the audiology department for 10+ years. She is an expert on the importance of newborn hearing screening and hearing health. - Jessica Niemela

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