This October, Special Olympics Kansas is thrilled to recognize Susie Ternes, one of our dedicated Healthy Hearing Clinical Directors, as our Health and Fitness Partner of the Month. Susie’s commitment to providing top-tier ear care for our athletes is nothing short of extraordinary, and her work has made a profound impact on the health and well-being of countless individuals. Here’s a closer look at Susie’s journey and the invaluable contributions she’s made through the Healthy Hearing program.
Susie’s journey with Special Olympics Kansas began back in her graduate school days at KU Medical Center. “I reached out because I wanted to get involved, but I didn’t think anyone was doing anything like this,” Susie recalls. Her initial idea of volunteering quickly turned into something more when SOKS invited her to organize a hearing screening at a bowling event. “I just wanted to volunteer, but they threw me right in!” she laughs. This was the beginning of a rewarding journey that has spanned over a decade, with Susie eventually undergoing Clinical Director training in California.
For Susie, her passion for ear care stems from a personal place. “I have an older brother who is deaf, so hearing has always been a big part of my life,” she shares. She quickly noticed that many of our athletes, particularly those with Down syndrome, are prone to middle ear dysfunction, recurring ear infections, and wax impaction. “Their doctors don’t always take a thorough look, and sometimes these issues go unnoticed,” she explains. Through the Healthy Hearing program, Susie and her team work to fill these gaps, ensuring that athletes receive the attention and care they deserve.
One of Susie’s most rewarding experiences is seeing athletes come full circle—from identifying a hearing issue at a screening to seeing them return with the necessary aids that have transformed their lives. “There’s one girl I see repeatedly, and her mom is always so grateful. Knowing we helped meet that need is incredibly rewarding,” Susie says.
Of course, working with our athletes comes with challenges, particularly in ensuring follow-up care. “It’s always tough to get athletes to follow up with their primary care provider,” Susie acknowledges. But SOKS is improving by providing lists of local providers to make it easier for athletes to get the care they need. Susie emphasizes the importance of annual ear checks and making sure that people in an athlete’s life are advocating for this essential aspect of their health.
Common ear care issues among Special Olympics athletes include swimmer’s ear, wax impaction, and hearing loss. “For our swimmers, making sure they dry their ears after swimming is key, and avoiding Q-tips is important because they can make wax impaction worse,” Susie advises. She also recommends regular ear cleanings and hearing checks every two years to stay on top of any potential issues.
Being a Healthy Hearing Clinical Director has impacted Susie both personally and professionally. “One of the great benefits is working with other clinical directors,” she says. “We come from different settings, but we come together for a common good. It’s great to build camaraderie among audiologists and discuss how we can support our communities.” Planning ahead for events and collaborating with her colleagues has made her more organized and proactive in her own practice.
When asked what advice she would give to healthcare professionals considering getting involved with Special Olympics Kansas, Susie’s message is simple: “Just do it!” She emphasizes the support from SOKS staff and the volunteers, saying that while screenings might differ from day-to-day practice, the work is incredibly rewarding. “We’re helping athletes get follow-up care and evaluations that might otherwise go overlooked,” she adds.
For Susie, the impact of Healthy Hearing goes beyond just ear care—it’s about communication. “Hearing is a basic human need. If an athlete can’t hear well, people might mistake their hearing issue for an intellectual disability,” Susie explains. By addressing hearing problems, the program helps eliminate communication barriers and improves athletes’ ability to fully participate in the world around them.
Looking ahead, Susie’s goals for the Healthy Hearing program are clear: “I hope we continue to see lots of athletes come through, but I especially hope that our referrals are followed up on in a timely manner,” she says. She’s passionate about making sure that athletes not only receive the care they need but that the care continues beyond the initial screening.
Susie concludes by praising the Special Olympics Kansas team, saying, “Special Olympics is an organization that doesn’t have a ton of funding, but they do a lot with the little they have. The staff bends over backward for what they do and who they serve, and that speaks to the hearts of gold that they have.”
We are incredibly grateful to have Susie Ternes on our team, and we look forward to seeing her continued impact in the Healthy Hearing program!
