Over 80 years ago May was designated as Better Speech and Hearing Month to spread awareness about what it means to being hearing or speech impaired and what can be done to create a better life for those who may or are experiencing it or affected by it.  REM Audiology began as a small endeavor to create a better life for those dealing with a hearing impairment of any magnitude – founder, Liz Patterson, has through her great passion for the industry grown and expanded her practice to include 2 new audiologists in Medford and NE Philadelphia, Maegan Mapes and Shaina Nishimura, other specialists dealing directly with school districts to ensure a secure and rich educational environment for hearing impaired youths, as well as a young wife and mother, Kim Egan, whose position as a receptionist in the Voorhees office is not all that meets the eye.

Kim, who began as a receptionist at REM nearly four years ago, just wanted to help out in any way she could.  As a hearing impaired person whose hearing worsened as the years went on, she never felt she could be truly successful at a job – “it is not that I do not think I can do the job—certain things stopped me” says Kim, “I was afraid to work in an office because I thought the phone would be too difficult.”  Despite having supportive parents who always encouraged her that she was no different than anyone else, Kim has been forced to cope in a world too often apathetic to disabilities of such magnitude.  One staggering statistic shows the adversity deaf and hearing impaired persons must overcome: the unemployment rate amongst such ones is nearly 10% higher than the rest of the population; this is not due to unintelligence, but a lack of patience and compassion with such ones. 

As the receptionist has been a part of the immense growth REM has experienced over the years – branching from one office now into three, Kim sincerely appreciates the role she plays in the advancement of the practice.  She realizes she plays an integral role in the success of the company in the business of transforming people’s lives.  Growing up, Kim visited physicians who without fail told her nothing was wrong with the hearing aid she received in 3rd grade and carried with her to high school – the world was not knowledgeable about the fact that aids must be provided, tested and replaced – the hearing aid industry is constantly advancing and finding new, innovative ways to make hearing impairments not something to be ashamed of, but a problem like diabetes that just needs a little attention.

REM Audiology has invested in such assistive listening devices as a closed-caption phone for Kim that provides a transcript of the conversation on an enlarged screen on the phone so she cannot miss a beat due to her hearing loss; such devices Kim appreciates.  The empathy she receives from her co-workers and boss continues to fortify the confidence borne within by her mother and father; her impairment has never been something that makes her inferior or inadequate – it is just a struggle she must rise above.  She admits at times she gets frustrated when dealing with those that lack patience with her disability, however her employment at REM Audiology is positive reinforcement for parents seeking help for their hearing or speech impaired children – Kim is truly a success story.

Speech and Hearing impairment too often goes undiagnosed; for people who may suspect such impairment of themselves or loved ones – the best medicine is early intervention, but it is never too late.  Although Kim’s condition worsened between middle school and high school, it never truly hindered her from doing things she desired to do.  Egan is a heroine for those she works with and interacts with – she is living proof that you can do whatever you put your mind to; even after failing first grade and “just [getting] by in high school” Kim refused to let her disability get the best of her. 

It is because of REM Audiology’s endeavor to practice what they preach that has made the company a family that has their difficult times, but is better for it.  Due to Kim’s ambition and REM’s resolve, Egan has had steady employment over the past four years and is no longer “afraid to work in an office” – the assistive devices that the Voorhees office utilizes, like the closed-captioned phone, is indicative of the specialized care REM Audiology has provided for over 20 years.  If only the people of the world would make a concerted effort to educate ourselves on speech and hearing impairment could May’s Better Speech and Hearing Month truly fulfill its mission.