Providing Life-Changing Hearing Care to Ukrainian Refugees in Poland

Chung worked in collaboration with audiologists Dr. Jill Mecklenburger from ReSound Corporation, Drs. Jessica Waid and Brittany Uitenbroek from Aspirus Health, Wisconsin.

Working out of three clinical/office rooms provided by the Komitet Obrony Demokracji (Committee for Defense of Democracy, KOD) in Krakow, an organization Chung has partnered with since the start of the war in Ukraine, the team set up multiple stations for hearing testing, hearing aid fitting, and patient consultation. Refugees were first evaluated, then fitted with hearing aids when needed,  on the same day.

“We took turns rotating between the audiologists so we could all have experience in each section,” explained Fox about the collaborative style of the clinic.

“The audiologists and students did patient intake forms, performed hearing tests, made ear molds, programmed hearing aids, conducted counseling on daily wear of the hearing aids, and so much more. Every day was truly a mystery until we got there, depending on how many clients we had and what services they required.”

One of the most striking aspects of the trip was the wide range of patients served. Among them was a three-month-old infant who could not respond to traditional hearing tests.

“For babies, we use tools that don’t require them to raise their hand or respond,” Chung explained. “We use tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions. We put sound into the ear, and if the ear ‘sings back’ to us, that tells us their hearing is likely normal.”

In this case, the test revealed a middle-ear issue, and the team referred the infant to an otolaryngologist for further care.  Two patients with conditions that can be treated medically were also referred to see physicians in the free Polish public health system, a testament to both the screening process and the effectiveness of on-site care.

For patients with severe hearing loss, the team created instant earmolds on site so individuals could begin using their hearing aids immediately. Permanent earmolds were later created back in the U.S. and delivered on subsequent trips.

“I’ve seen many of the Insta-earmolds still in very good condition after a year of use,” Chung said. “Most of the time, they fit well, and people are comfortable wearing them.”

“For me, it was an extremely humbling and extraordinary experience. It was heart-warming to see the smiles on the refugees' faces as a result of the work that we were doing," said Matthew Mascobetto from Emerson College.

In addition to providing clinical services, the team made time for cultural and community engagement. On Sunday, the group visited Auschwitz and Birkenau, the former Nazi concentration camps located just outside Krakow. Second-year MS SLP student Liv Menyo said that aside from the clinical experience, the exploration of the city was life-changing.

“The experience I will remember most vividly was visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. Being guided through this immeasurably significant part of history was solemn, poignant, gut-wrenching, existential, and powerful. Feeling the weight of that space is something I will remember for the rest of my life,” explained Menyo.

“It’s important for students not only to understand the history and the culture, but also the awful things that happened,” Chung said. “And hopefully, to work toward making sure those things don't happen again.”

Later in the week, the team hosted an informal evening social gathering at the Jewish Community Center to meet with members of the local Ukrainian Deaf community, many of whom were patients whom the team served. The meeting, facilitated through both spoken-English-Polish and Polish-sign-language interpreters, became a space for shared learning.

“Our students asked incredible questions,” Chung said. “What was your life like in Ukraine? What do you do for work now? What challenges do you face here? Is there discrimination?”

One of the most surprising insights, Chung noted, was that participants reported experiencing less discrimination in Poland than they had in Ukraine, despite the additional communication barriers of navigating both a new spoken language and a different sign language.

“It was powerful to see how strong their community is,” she said. “They’ve really found each other and helped each other.”

When asked about her favorite moment from the trip, Chung didn’t hesitate.

“‘The hearing aids changed our lives,’” she said. “One person said it, and then it was echoed around the room.”

When asked about the impact of the trip, Menyo said, “The bravery, strength, resilience, and hope that radiate from the Ukrainian people inspired me immensely, and I feel honored to have heard, and now get to share their stories.”

“I would say that the best memories came from speaking to Ukrainian refugees. It's one thing to hear about the war on the news, but it's an entirely different story talking to real people who are truly affected by the Russian invasion,” said Vivian Sun from Boston University. “Learning about the challenges that these people have had to face added a layer of complexity to the service trip, and motivated me to spread the story about Ukrainian resilience.”

Despite logistical challenges, safety concerns of Russian drones in Poland, and limited space and equipment, Chung says the importance of the work has never been in question.

“For me, the main goal is to right injustice in the world,” she said. “Someone wanted to make other people’s lives difficult and impossible. We want to make it better.”

By using their professional skills to serve those affected by war, Chung and her team are doing just that, one patient, one hearing aid, and one meaningful connection at a time.

“We can’t help everyone,” Chung said. “But whatever we can do, we will.”