Melanie Mackenzie, a 29-year old from Central Otago, has won the NFDs 2007 Quest for Exellence Scholarship. And she′s set to be New Zealand’s first deaf audiologist.
Melanie, who has a profound bilateral hearing loss, is studying for her Masters of Audiology at the University of Canterbury.
“I feel extremely lucky and privileged to have been awarded this scholarship. Being recognised as a hearing impaired person who is really trying to make a difference is just a thrill. It will also lighten my load financially, helping to pay course fees as well as covering travel and time costs while I do my two months of practicums in clinics and hospitals,” said Melanie.
Melanie was 13 when her hearing loss was discovered by accident. A routine trip to the doctor for an unrelated illness uncovered the problem. Melanie was tested and issued with hearing aids immediately.
“The last thing you want when you’re 13 is to be fitted with hearing aids. There was such a stigma attached to them – it wasn’t a good look!”
Melanie′s hearing loss got progressively worse over the next 10 years as she struggled through high school and then university. Four years ago she lost virtually all hearing and was assessed and fitted with a cochlear implant.
Despite her difficulties, Melanie graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Anthropology. Later, she completed a Certificate in Business Systems in Computing to obtain business skills necessary for the workplace. However, she was still not satisfied and so, motivated by her part-time job at the Disabilities Office, she decided to pursue the path to audiology.
Melanie believes her experience of coping with profound bilateral hearing loss will help her in her chosen career.
“It is extremely lonely when you can’t hear but it doesn’t have to be the bane of your life. Because I’ve been through all the stages – from moderate to severe hearing loss, hearing aids and a cochlear implant – I feel that I can really understand and empathise with people. While everyone’s experiences are different, I think I can help people realise they can still achieve. It’s all about perseverance, developing communication skills and the confidence to speak up – it can be really hard.”
As well as providing treatment, support and advice to hearing impaired people, Melanie would also like to pursue hearing conservation programmes and promoting hearing awareness.
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