For the second year in a row, a UT Dallas Doctor of Audiology (AuD) student has won first place in the Texas Academy of Audiology (TAA) Student Poster Contest. Rachel Wood, fourth-year AuD student, received her award during the 9th Annual TAA Conference in Richardson on Nov. 13-14.
Wood’s entry focused on the two methods for conducting a test that audiologists use to detect the health of the inner ear.
Her poster was titled “Clinical Distinction of Transient Evoked and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Neonatal Testing: A Systematic Review of Published Research Using Evidence-Based Practice Criteria.”
“There are two different types of this test, and my poster compares the two to see if they are providing similar information when performed on newborns,” said Wood. “This evidence-based examination of the literature helps clinicians make informed decisions about the testing they provide on a daily basis.”
Dr. Jackie Clark, clinical assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, served as Wood’s faculty research mentor and co-author. “Dr. Clark was the driving force behind this project,” said Wood. “She helped me brainstorm a topic and provided guidance for the research and encouragement to stick with it.”
Wood currently works as an audiology extern at the UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders. Under the supervision of a licensed audiologist, she evaluates hearing and treats hearing disorders for patients of all ages, from newborns all the way up to geriatrics.
“Choosing to attend UT Dallas for my graduate degree was an easy decision,” said Wood. “After I visited the Callier Center and spoke with the faculty and audiology graduate students, I knew UT Dallas was the place with the best opportunities for hands-on learning.”
The Callier Center, with locations in Dallas and on the UT Dallas campus in Richardson, is one of the nation’s pre-eminent educational, research and treatment centers focusing on communication and communication disorders. In 2008, U.S. News & World Report ranked UT Dallas’ audiology program fourth in the nation.
Media Contact: Debra Brown, UT Dallas, (214) 905-3049, debra@utdallas.edu
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu
Rachel Wood (right) celebrates winning first place in the TAA Student Poster Contest with her faculty research mentor, Dr. Jackie Clark.