Summary: Melissa Palmer, AuD, CCC-A, an audiologist and owner of Clayton Audiology, has dedicated nearly 30 years to improving patients’ lives through state-of-the-art hearing technology, and the Widex Community Giveback Day gave her a chance to help a patient in need.
Key Takeaways:
- Palmer’s commitment to community service led her to participate in the Widex Community Giveback Day, providing free hearing aids to a deserving local resident, Gerald Hardee.
- Clayton Audiology prides itself on exceptional patient care, treating patients like family throughout their hearing care journey.
- Dr. Palmer encourages other hearing care professionals to participate in community service initiatives like the Widex Community Giveback Day to make a meaningful impact on those in need.
Melissa Palmer, AuD, CCC-A, a practicing audiologist for nearly 30 years and owner of Clayton Audiology in Clayton, NC, found at a young age the passion that would take her through her professional career.
“My goal is to improve the lives of every patient through better hearing health and the best, most state-of-the-art hearing aid technology,” Palmer says. “This passion for working with people with hearing loss dates back to when I was in high school having taken a course on American Sign Language. Since then, it has been my honor to give the gift of sound to so many people throughout my career, as a private practice audiologist and now practice owner.”
At Clayton Audiology, Palmer and her team pride themselves on cultivating the best possible patient experiences. “From the first phone call, to their first time in our office, through the life of their hearing care journey, we always want our patients to feel comfortable and at home because patients are like family,” she adds.
It was that mantra, combined with a lifelong interest in community service, that led Dr Palmer to participate in the first-ever Widex Community Giveback Day on February 26th. Organized by Widex, the Community Giveback Day empowers hearing care professionals (HCPs) to gift a free pair of Widex hearing aids to a member of their local community who would otherwise not be able to afford them.
The chosen recipient was 71-year-old Clayton resident Gerald Hardee, who was fit for a single Widex hearing aid by Dr Palmer in 2019. Despite needing two hearing aids, one device was all Hardee could get covered through government assistance, leaving him with years of suboptimal hearing experiences. But today, Hardee says his life has changed for the better.
“I was so excited to get these new hearing aids and they’ve been such a huge improvement for me,” he says. “Hearing in every aspect of my life has been better than ever before. I can hear the TV without turning up the volume, I can participate fully in conversations, and I can even hear all the little sounds of the outdoors when I go for a walk. This means such a great deal to me, and I want to thank Dr Melissa and Widex for what they’ve done.”
Once enrolled in the Giveback Day program, Palmer tasked her staff with suggesting one patient they felt would be a fit. They unanimously agreed that Hardee would benefit from the free pair of Widex Moment hearing aids, upgrading from the single Widex Evoke hearing aid he had worn for nearly five years.
“I’ve unfortunately seen so many patients with one hearing aid, when they really could benefit from two,” Palmer continues. “Gerald was one such case and his hearing aids were also getting older, so Widex provided us with a great chance to help him get equipped with the latest in hearing technology and performance.”
According to Palmer, Clayton Audiology will continue to check-in with Hardee and provide follow-up appointments as their service to a loyal member of their audiology family. Her team was extremely pleased with the entire process, and they encourage other HCPs around the country to participate in the next Widex Community Giveback Day.
“A significant part of our mission at Clayton Audiology is to give back to our community,” Palmer says. “The Widex Community Giveback Day is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people that need it most. Widex made it so easy for us to participate. It’s truly a no brainer for any HCP looking to make a difference.”
