Dr. Saunja T. Burt
First Black woman audilogist in the Midwest
Photo courtesy of Saunja T. Burt, Black Entreprise-Wealth for Life
I am writing this blog about the first Black woman audiologist in the Midwest! Her name is Saunja T. Burt. Her story is based on an article in Black Enterprise—Wealth for Life Online magazine, from which I've drawn excerpts from.
September 10, 2023
"Normal hearing can be taken for granted," says Dr. Saunja T. Burt, the first Black audiologist in the Midwest. She grew up in the Midwest, as did I in Wisconsin. This article resonates deeply with me—if I had known about her during my journey, such representation would have helped me better accept my hearing loss. I struggled without seeing someone like myself in the field. Upon discovering this article, I was in awe. Let me tell you about this amazing Black audiologist.
Dr. Saunja T. Burt, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, makes it her mission to debunk misconceptions about audiology and encourages families to screen and start interventions for hearing loss as early as possible. She found inspiration in her mother, who returned to nursing school while raising her children. Through studying with her mom, she discovered her own passion for learning, supported by parents who deeply valued education.
Dr. Burt earned her B.A. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from HBCU Hampton University and her Master's in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. She made history as the first Black student to attend and graduate from the four-year Au.D. program at Central Michigan University. Her clinical interests focus on auditory processing and traumatic brain injury. Her late grandfather, who wore hearing aids, took immense pride in having a granddaughter in the profession.
The transition from an HBCU to a predominantly white institution proved challenging, but she found support through the Black Graduate Student Association and work in minority student services. Despite facing bigotry and insensitive comments from patients and supervisors, she persevered. She advises newcomers to get involved early and build professional relationships to feel comfortable in the field.
While she noticed few people who looked like her on the American Academy of Audiology board, her presence there has inspired many students. She emphasizes that audiology extends far beyond hearing aids, offering various specialization areas. The social and professional impact of hearing loss can be significant, making school-age screening crucial for minimizing academic consequences. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association stresses the importance of mandatory routine hearing screenings to identify students with unilateral, less severe, or late-onset hearing loss.
Dr. Burt served as supervisor audiologist at the Miami Veterans Administration (VA) for 17 years and now works as a clinic support audiologist at Oticon, Inc. Throughout her career, she has witnessed numerous misconceptions about audiology, even as some states implement newborn screening guidelines.
Her community service is extensive: she's a certified mentor, board member of the American Academy of Audiology, vice president of the Jack and Jill America Greater Fort Lauderdale Chapter, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Her advice to aspiring audiologists? Complete an externship, connect with professional organizations, and attend conferences—there are always opportunities for student recruitment.
As a Black woman, I am happy to share seeing this makes my passion for advocacy even more stronger! Let’s spread the awareness of hearing loss in the Black community!
Blessing,
Coach V
