Priyanka Chaudhury Career Spotlight
Priyanka Chaudhury is an Audiologist with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Read more about her career journey below!
What area of healthcare do you work in? Where do you work?
I work as a Registered Audiologist for the Saskatchewan Health Authority at Ellis Hall in Royal University Hospital and at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. I specialize in pediatric audiology. I provide comprehensive diagnostic procedures for patients with auditory disorders for both inpatients and outpatients, providing habilitation and rehabilitation support including amplification devices. I am also an active team member with the Saskatchewan Cochlear Implant Program.
Our department in Saskatoon currently consists of four team audiologists. Beyond Royal University Hospital and Jim Pattison Children Hospital, our services extend to the Saskatoon City Hospital. Our team works closely with the speech-language pathologist, social worker and teachers of deaf and hard of hearing to support patients on their hearing journey. We think of ourselves as a pint-sized powerhouse, considering the vast specialized audiology services we provide in the province. We see clients from urban and rural communities across all the parts of Saskatchewan.
What are you responsible for as an Audiologist? Please describe a typical day for yourself.
As a professional, I diagnose and treat hearing disorders in newborns, children and adults. I work with all ages to assess their hearing abilities and develop treatment plans to improve their hearing and communication skills. I use a variety of techniques including auditory brainstem response (ABR), detailed audiometry tests, behavioral hearing assessment, and otoacoustic emissions testing to evaluate children’s hearing and determine the best course of treatment. This may include including hearing aids, bone conduction devices and cochlear implants.
I work very closely with other healthcare professionals, including referring providers, speech therapists, ear nose and throat specialists, social workers and teachers to provide comprehensive care for children with hearing disorders and their caregivers.
How is your work-life balance as an Audiologist?
Balancing work and life as an audiologist can be challenging, but it is essential for maintaining a healthy and fulfilling career. I have the privilege of working 5 days a week, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with weekends off. This helps me balance and set boundaries, building healthy relationships and fostering mutual respect. I prioritize my personal time, and this allows me to participate in my daughter’s extracurricular activities and spend quality time with my family, friends and my furry friend.
I keep my evenings busy enjoying martial arts, keeping up with my fitness routine and actively volunteering with cadets and branch in the Navy League of Canada. This helps me bring perspective, personal growth and navigate difficult situations. With weekends off, I enjoy cooking and being involved with community and cultural events. I can say I enjoy the perks of good benefits, continuous learning and set working hours.
Have you always wanted to be an Audiologist? Tell us more about your career path!
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be growing up, but I recognized I was good at communication from the beginning. Growing up, I had 2 cousins with hearing loss, one with a profound degree and the other one using hearing aids to support her communication. At our family gatherings, I always found I had a close connection with them. I could communicate with them using familiar gestures, signs, language and all the possible modalities. What fascinated me even more was the technology aspect of hearing.
My aunt and uncle were trained teachers, and they established school for deaf & hard of hearing in our town. Soon my mom became a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing as well and as I grew, everything aligned for me to study further to become an audiologist.
It always sounded like an exciting field where I could make a difference in people’s lives. I still feel confident in my decision to pursue this as my profession 15 years into my career.
Are there opportunities to further your career as an Audiologist?
Audiology is very niche and specialized. We are a small group nationwide and we have a close and active professional society. There are many opportunities for further training within the field. There are multiple statistics suggesting the audiology positions are consistently under supplied.
Do you have any advice for students or new graduates looking to pursue a career as an Audiologist? Are there specialty areas that are in more demand than others?
You do not need decades of experience when you start but noticing a clear interest is always the first thing when looking to pursue a career. In relation to audiology, an interest in areas such as diagnostic assessment and auditory processing in pediatrics with neurophysiological measures like ABR, intervention using hearing aids and cochlear implants, vestibular diagnostic, or all of it can give you an edge.
Maybe you’re especially strong with counselling nervous patients or you’re interested in working with underserved populations, these passions are valuable and relevant. No one expects you to fit a hearing aid in 10 minutes or master VNG interpretation on day one, but it is important to see that you’re willing to ask for help, eager to learn and improve, resilient when things get tough and comfortable with feedback.
Audiologists make a vital contribution to patient care and this career is in high demand.
What is the number one thing you love about being an Audiologist?
I feel the work I do is very important. I have the opportunity to support people’s communication and it is very rewarding. Sometimes it becomes emotionally intense, but I have strategies to recover. I love working in this fast-paced environment where I am always looking for answers and must make sound clinical judgements which can impact lives greatly. I also enjoy being updated with latest hearing technologies... “Audiology has given me a reason to thrive and not just survive”
