When Audiologist Dr. Soo Jang is not providing diagnostics and treatments for patients in her clinical practice, she partners with the House Institute Foundation to increase access to hearing care in high-need communities worldwide.
Soo Jang joined the House Institute in 2018 after graduating with her Doctorate in Audiology from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. After completing her clinical externship at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Dr. Jang moved back to her hometown to provide care to those with hearing difficulties in Los Angeles. Dr. Jang provides services in diagnostic methods and evidence-based treatment methods in audiology, with an emphasis on hearing aid care.
Audiologists like Dr. Jang specialize in the prevention, identification, and evidence-based treatment of hearing and balance disorders for all ages. Her goal is to minimize the negative impact of these disorders, with the hope of achieving improved outcomes and quality of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 6% of the world’s population – 466 million people – have hearing loss that is disabling to their everyday lives. Of that 466 million, only 17% of those who can benefit from hearing aids actually use them. This is mainly due to financial limitations, limited access to resources, or denial of hearing loss. Unaddressed hearing loss can have social, functional, emotional, and economic impacts on individuals’ lives.
In 2019, Dr. Jang joined the House Institute Foundation’s (HIF) Global Hearing Health Committee. “I found HIF’s commitment to universal hearing healthcare very appealing. The Global Health Committee’s mission aligns with my professional vision and belief in the importance of addressing hearing loss and its implications globally,” Jang explained. By fostering collaborative humanitarian efforts within the fields of otology and audiology, Dr. Jang and the Global Health Committee are working to provide patients with necessary interventions, and to educate medical professionals overseas who may benefit from the standardized practices implemented in the United States. Through future HIF partnerships, Dr. Jang hopes to work jointly with otologists, audiologists, and technicians abroad to translate any finalized training material to their language of interest. This may help educate hearing professionals in numerous developing countries, which in turn may alleviate patients’ limited access to care. Dr. Jang is also currently working with several manufacturers to receive equipment and hearing aid donations for international mission trips. These indispensable contributions will increase patient access to care and help bring medical relief to those who need assistance.
Today, with support from the House Institute, Dr. Jang continues to advocate for patient success, and helps educate the general public on the implications of hearing loss and benefits of treatment, with the long-term vision of increasing patient access to resources and care worldwide.
