Jacqueline Drexler says “I have never known ‘normal’ hearing. All I know are the sounds I hear through my hearing devices.”
“Since infancy, I wore hearing aids. In 2017, I underwent cochlear implant surgery. I am a bimodal user, wearing a hearing aid in one ear and a cochlear implant in the opposite ear.
My audiologist and family inspired me to become an audiologist. Growing up, they made sure I had the resources I needed to perform well academically and socially.
It felt natural for me to work with and help others living with hearing loss, like those who advocated for me.
After completing my Doctor of Audiology degree, I pursued a path in the hearing industry. When working for a hearing aid manufacturer, you feel like you can make a difference for many people at once.
I love being on the frontlines and contributing to the rapid improvements in technology that I depend on every day.
Today, I’m an audiology manager working with hearing aid fitting software. It is my responsibility to develop training materials to support hearing care professionals around the world in using the software and provide the best fitting experience for their clients.
What fascinates me about my work is collaborating with colleagues across multiple functions to translate the hearing aid technology into end-user benefits and using the fitting software to ensure that the hearing aids are tailored to their needs.
Hearing is one of the five senses we use in our everyday life, and without it, we may struggle to feel included in society.
My hearing aid and cochlear implant are the most valuable items I own. The sounds they provide me give me great joy.
I aspire to be an advocate for others with hearing loss and hope to help them feel more connected to the world.”