Bridging Gaps in Hearing Healthcare: The Memphis SOUND Project

by: Kirstein Williams

 

Dr. Sarah Warren, assistant professor of audiology in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is leading groundbreaking research to address hearing health disparities in the Memphis community. Her team recently received the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Grant for Projects on Multicultural Activities for their initiative, Community-Based Approaches to Identifying Barriers to Hearing Healthcare Among Black Adults: The Memphis SOUND Project. This grant supports the first phase of a multi-year effort dedicated to understanding the factors that influence hearing healthcare access within the Memphis community. By partnering with local faith-based organizations, Dr. Warren and her team are working to increase access to hearing services, reduce disparities, and promote effective communication for all.

Listening to the Community

Before becoming a researcher, Dr. Warren worked as a clinician. She saw firsthand that many of the people who could benefit from hearing technology, such as cochlear implants, were not receiving the care they needed. “Once our clinic started to grow, I couldn’t ignore that my patients didn’t reflect the demographics of our city,” she explained. “Minoritized populations are less likely to receive a cochlear implant. That realization, along with a powerful conversation with a patient who faced multiple barriers to care, was ultimately the inspiration behind this project.”

Dr. Warren’s commitment to equity also led her to pursue a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Memphis to deepen her understanding of health disparities and community-based research. “What our team is uncovering is that many people value communication health but aren’t aware of how to access hearing healthcare,” she said. “Hearing healthcare isn’t just about hearing—it’s about overall health, communication, and quality of life. Hearing healthcare is public health.”

Looking Ahead

Dr. Warren’s long-term vision for the Memphis SOUND Project centers on sustainability and collaboration. “This isn’t just a research study—it’s part of a larger movement,” she emphasized. Her team’s next step is to partner with Black adults to learn about their experiences and barriers to receiving hearing healthcare. The goal is to design a community-driven, sustainable, and effective intervention informed by the voices of those most impacted. The team recently submitted a grant to the NIH to support interviews, hearing evaluations, and surveys within faith-based organizations in the Memphis area. “Long term,” Dr. Warren said, “I plan to expand this work to other communities and create a model that helps ensure hearing healthcare is accessible, trusted, and culturally responsive for all.”

A Transformative Experience for Students

The Memphis SOUND Project also offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in community-based participatory research (CBPR)—an approach that emphasizes partnership and co-learning. Dr. Warren hopes students gain more than just research experience. “I want them to become well-rounded clinicians—deeply attuned to patient-centered care and aware of the people who aren’t in our clinics but still need our services,” she said. She loves to remind her students that “community” and “communication” share the same root word. “When we help restore someone’s ability to communicate, we help restore their ability to participate in their community,” she reflected. “That’s the real value of our work, and I hope the Memphis SOUND Project brings that message into focus for everyone involved.”

About the Memphis SOUND Project

Dr. Warren and her team are helping to redefine what equitable hearing healthcare looks like—and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to be heard. To learn more about Memphis SOUND (Serving Our Underrepresented Neighbors who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing) or inquire about participating in research, please contact Dr. Sarah Warren at sarah.warren@memphis.edu or go to the Memphis SOUND Project website. 

---