From Damage to Renewal: An Audiology Lab Revitalized

The day after Thanksgiving in 2024 truly was a Black Friday for Osborne Audiology at the then Salus at Drexel University’s Elkins Park campus. 

While the campus was closed for the holiday, a water pipe on the third floor of the West building burst. Unfortunately for the Osborne Audiology department, the Audiometric Principles Lab, a critical hands-on training space for Osborne Audiology students, is located on the second floor directly below the broken water pipe, and extensive damage was done to the lab before the break was discovered and the water was turned off.

“Water remediation was promptly initiated; however, the water damage to the audiometric equipment was already in play, and the insulation in the walls of all four booths was compromised,” said Jonette Owen, AuD ‘03, MHA, FNAP, CH-AP, associate program director – clinical education - and associate professor at Osborne Audiology.

The Audiometric Principles Lab houses four sound booths, four audiometers, three middle ear analysis units, a video otoscope (a handheld medical device used to examine the ear canal and eardrum), two OtoSim units (a computerized simulation system used to train audiologists in otoscopy) and numerous CDs containing multiple test materials, manuals, and paper test score sheets, as well as numerous laptops, computers, and chairs. 

“Imagine replacing what you have in one test space times four,” said Dr. Owen. “That was the nightmare we were faced with, and we had to do it as quickly as possible not to disrupt student hands-on education.” 

An additional factor was the timing of the water damage. Upon returning from Thanksgiving break, students would be preparing for credentialing, which normally would be held in the lab and needed to be completed before the end of the semester in mid-December. 

Renovation of the space would require a near-total gutting of the lab to prevent mold and mildew from forming in the walls. The project required brand-new equipment throughout, along with upgraded carpeting, improved lighting, fresh paint, and enhanced technology infrastructure for stronger WiFi access.

“In replacing the items, it quickly became obvious the items in the lab were very old as they could not be replaced exactly, as items were obsolete or at least no longer in production,” said Dr. Owen. 

After more than a year of hard work, students recently returned to the newly renovated lab and have the opportunity to train and practice on state-of-the-art equipment in new booths. 

“Our new audiology lab is equipped with advanced technology, and being part of the first cohort of first-year students to utilize it has been exciting,” said Taelor-Shanel Sanders ‘29AUD. “All the tools can be easily connected and projected onto large TV screens within the lab, which have been amazing for demonstrations and teaching moments throughout the semester.”

Dr. Owen said that with the new technology, faculty and students are better equipped to demonstrate techniques in an environment designed to support learning.   

“It allows our students to be familiar and hopefully comfortable with utilizing a variety of equipment, so they are better prepared to go off-campus for their third-year clinical rotations and not encounter as steep a learning curve at the various clinical sites by already knowing how to operate various audiometric test equipment,” said Dr. Owen. 

She added the renovated lab has “that new-car smell” and the happiness it brings, which counterbalances the misery of what happened and the “hours, days, weeks, and months of rebuilding” the lab.