Dr. Grinn is an expert in the area of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) with special attention to auditory risk in youth populations. Her research program is centered on the development of a model that accurately predicts individual susceptibility across the NIHL-risk spectrum. The Grinn Hearing Lab is currently supported by a 5-yr NIH R01 grant and NIH LRP Clinical Research Award to study the improvement of automated hearing aid safety and audibility, and to study peripheral and central auditory deficits following virtual-reality music concert exposure. Dr. Grinn collaborates with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, and Boys Town National Research Hospital. At Central Michigan University, she serves as the Director of the OSHA-required Occupational Hearing Conservation Program, which tracks and maintains the hearing health of all university employees who are exposed to hazardous noise at work. Dr. Grinn is an Associate Professor at Central Michigan University, where she instructs clinical audiology coursework in advanced hearing science and hearing conservation.

Ph.D. The University of Texas at Dallas
Au.D. The University of Florida
B.S. Michigan State University

Hello! My name is Alexis "Lexi" Hutchinson, and I’m from West Salem, Wisconsin. I attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth where I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. When I was looking for the right program for me, I was looking for hands-on learning and an opportunity to explore the field. CMU is the perfect program for that! My time here has been amazing. I have had plenty of opportunities in our clinic to explore research and applied learning opportunities. The field of audiology is vast and I am still learning about new areas everyday. My favorite part about audiology is being able to see each patient as an individual, and provide them with the best tools to communicate. This research opportunity will provide me with further education and experience to be able to better serve my future patients. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with Dr. Grinn! 

Hello! My name is Caitlin Barkow and I am from Green Bay, WI. I attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. I worked for a little over two years as an Audiology Technician and certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist for a hospital system in Wisconsin. I enjoyed traveling to work with companies in the area to administer annual hearing conservation testing and promote hearing health and prevention of noise induced hearing loss. I was so excited to pursue my doctorate of Audiology at CMU because of their strong academic program, clinical opportunities and resources (plus they’re the longest running Au.D. program!) Having been born with a hearing loss, I have been on the patient side of things for a while. Once I got to college, I took a communication disorders course and knew I wanted to become an Audiologist. I love that it’s challenging yet so fulfilling to be able to work with patients and have an impact on their life. I am grateful to have the opportunity to research Loudness Discomfort Levels and their relation to a patient's natural ear resonance with Dr. Grinn. This allows me to continue work related to hearing conservation and further education on hearing loss prevention.

Hello! My name is Vanessa Mayou, and I am from South Bend, Indiana. I attended Central Michigan University where I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I initially planned to pursue speech-language pathology. However, after completing the Introduction to Audiology course in undergrad, I realized my interest had shifted. Following that course, I decided to continue my education at CMU in Audiology! One of the highlights of my undergraduate studies was a course; Research in Design in CDO, taught by Dr. Grinn. Her guidance deepened my understanding of research and instilled an appreciation I didn’t know I had. Additionally, my interest in hearing conservation was sparked during a talk at the American Academy of Audiology conference regarding hearing conservation in the music industry, which has motivated me to delve into this realm of the field. I appreciate the opportunity to work with Dr. Grinn and learn more about hearing conservation and work on projects that are to come!

Hello, my name is Emma Ingalls and I am from Cheboygan Michigan. I completed my undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University. I came back to Central to complete my Au.D. because of the exposure I got to the program during my undergrad.  I was able to shadow in the Carl’s Center and fell in love with Audiology! This program has provided with me such great hands on experience that gives me confidence that I will become a well rounded clinician during my time here. I come from a military family and this sparked my interest in hearing conservation thinking about those who serve and how most don’t consider their hearing a priority. One of my goals in my future career is to provide a more convenient way for soldiers to protect their hearing as well as providing education on the importance of protecting their hearing as it is a vital part of their careers. I’ve been involved in a variety of researches projects since undergrad and I am fortunate enough to be able to continue completing research in Dr. Grinn’s lab! 

Hello! My name is Alyssa Vandegriff and I was born in raised in Saint Johns, Michigan. I attended Central Michigan University, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Communication Sciences and Disorders. I decided to apply to and attend CMU for graduate school because it already felt like home. After spending three years getting my bachelor's at CMU, I knew that staying here to get my Doctorate was where I wanted to be. During my time as an undergraduate observer in the Carls Center, I got the opportunity to get to know some of the staff and students within the audiology program. They all greeted me with a smile and were eager to teach me what audiology is all about. The program works hard to get its students hands-on experience with patients and in research. My primary research interest is noise-induced hearing loss prevention. Growing up in a small town where hunting is a huge hobby, I have firsthand experience with how much gunfire can affect an individual's hearing and what can happen to it over time. Through my time and experience in this program, I have been able to better advocate for myself, friends, and family about the safety measures they should take with preserving their hearing. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Grinn for my doctoral project and I look forward to seeing what we find!

Hi!  My name is Colt Nieuwenhuis and I am from Martin, Michigan.  I completed my undergraduate studies at Grand Valley State University with my Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  When I was deciding between audiology programs, I knew I wanted to go somewhere that had a strong emphasis on clinical experience.  CMU has provided me with ample opportunities to grow my audiological skills and I have been more than grateful for the experiences I have been given.  Research has always been something that has enticed me and Dr. Grinn has given me an opportunity to broaden my horizon in the field of audiology.  I am a big advocate for hearing health, and getting the experience in noise induced hearing loss is a great stepping stone that I can use to advance my knowledge and my career.  

Hi! My name is Erin Siebert, and I am from Shelby, Michigan. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Central Michigan University. When choosing where to attend graduate school for audiology, it was important for me to choose a place that provided their students with lots of clinical experience and resources. CMU has provided me lots of different experiences and I am thankful for that! I never thought research would be something I was interested in but working with Dr. Grinn has made it enjoyable. I love that I am a small part of a bigger doctoral project related to noise-induced hearing loss, as it is something we see occurring more and more in today’s world. I am looking forward to continuing this research and see what results we can get.

Hello! My name is Kaylee Knowles, and I’m from Bucksport, Maine. I attended the University of Maine, Orono where I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. For me, when choosing an audiology program it meant making sure there would be lots of opportunities for research and practical, applied learning. And CMU has just that! Since the start of my time here in the program, I have been able to apply what I am learning in the classroom right into the Carl’s Center clinic here on campus. Audiology was a field that I fell in love with fast, and I haven’t looked back since. There are countless opportunities to learn in this fast-expanding profession. At first, I didn’t think I would ever have a strong enthusiasm for research, but after working with Dr. Grinn, a whole world of opportunity has opened up for me. In terms of research on noise-induced hearing loss specifically, many people, like myself, enjoy noisy hobbies. For me, that includes concerts. Participating in research that promotes and advocates for hearing conservation is not only educational but also extremely satisfying. I’m grateful for the chance to work with Dr. Grinn, and I’m looking forward to helping her with upcoming research projects.

Hello! My name is Dion DuClos II, and I was born and raised Burleson, Texas. I attended the University of North Texas, where I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. I chose to attend CMU because of their great reputation, how much outreach they have in the state, and their vast range of research opportunities. After attending the Au.D. program open house, I knew this was the school for me, and after a campus visit, I couldn’t wait to attend classes. Although I am new to CMU, I love that the program gets “hands-on” in the first week, as it helps the students to apply what they learn in class. I have always had a passion towards the field of Audiology, as I have had multiple ear surgeries which resulted in me acquiring a unilateral, mild-to-moderate conductive hearing loss, which led me to get a hearing aid of my own. Aside from working with patients to assist in their hearing problems, my primary research interests include noise-induced hearing loss prevention. After seeing firsthand what excessive noise exposure from factories can do to a person’s hearing over time, I became very interested in advocating for hearing conservation. I am very fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Grinn, as she has helped me realize my interests in hearing conservation, and I look forward to assisting her in the research projects to come.

Hello! My name is Joseph Garozzo and I’m from Albany, New York. I attended the College of Saint Rose in Albany, where I received my Bachelor of science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I chose Central Michigan University because I saw how knowledgeable the audiology faculty were in their areas of expertise, and because I saw the availability of quality, clinical and educational equipment to help me study. The supervisors at CMU are always there to help students in the clinic, and we receive a full-spectrum clinical experience through rotations at the CMU Carls Center Audiology Clinic, and in external clinics throughout the greater community. The hands-on education style that CMU provides consistently impresses external audiology clinics, due to the fact we already have plenty of experience by the time we get into our fourth-year clinical externships. I am interested in hearing aids and diagnostic testing in the geriatric population, which is why I chose to research the effects of noise induced hearing loss. There is great carryover from the added effects of noise exposure as we age, and I’m glad to be a part of further understanding this process. I’m grateful to learn about the affects of noise injury under Dr. Grinn’s mentorship, and to practice actions that can noise-induced hearing loss in the future

Hello! I am Ryan Saxon, and I come from Cary, Illinois in the northern Chicago suburbs. I earned my Associates of Arts at McHenry County College, and my Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Illinois State University. While attending there I found my passion for audiology and research that got me to where I am today. I was grateful to attend CMU’s Au.D. program because of the strong emphasis on clinical experience and research opportunities. Early involvement in the clinic with Dr. Grinn and learning of her research was a perfect fit with my goals of noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus prevention. I am grateful to be a part of the Grinn Hearing Lab, and to be completing my Doc Project on the differences between extended high frequency and standard frequency temporary threshold shift following music exposure. I want to be able to provide the best care for those who experience tinnitus noise induced hearing damage.

Hi! My name is Dana Notaro, and I am from Rio Linda, California. It’s a small town located about 20 minutes north of Sacramento. I completed two Bachelor of Science degrees at the University of Nevada, Reno in Biology and Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. During this time, I fell in love with the profession of Audiology and quickly became interested in how our ears work and wanting to help people preserve their hearing as much as possible. I chose to attend CMU because I had read about the audiology department’s outstanding reputation and their state-of-the-art clinic. I attended the open house and immediately fell in love with the clinic and all the opportunities they had to offer. My primary clinical interest is in the diagnostics and aural rehabilitation of our patients and providing them with the best management and prevention strategies possible. I believe raising awareness about hearing conservation will get the conversation started, now that ‘quality of sound’ and ‘louder than ever’ are phrases we hear a lot. Research dealing with noise-induced hearing loss is critical now more than ever, given the increasing popularity of noisy clubs, sporting events, concerts, and recreational firearm use without the use of hearing protection. Therefore, I chose to join the Grinn Hearing Lab to complete my doctoral research project. Specifically, I chose to look for ABR evidence of noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy in young concert goers, and to assess their hearing in noise understanding, despite normal audiometric thresholds.

Hello! My name is Madelyn “Maddy” Kurtz. I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I stayed local to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne, receiving my bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a certificate in Gerontology, and a minor in linguistics. I’ve always been passionate about healthcare. I fell in love with the field of Audiology after witnessing first-hand the impact providing back the gift of hearing can have on individuals. I chose to attend CMU because of the great reputation of the audiology program. I have received a well-rounded, hands-on clinical experience from day one. Everyone’s hearing loss is different and it’s important that everyone is fit properly to their hearing prescription. One way of verifying a proper fit is through real ear measurements. If real ear measurements are unattainable, we default to average real-ear-to coupler-difference (RECD) which is predicted by age. I’ve had the pleasure of working in the Grinn Hearing Lab researching alternative proxy measurements of RECD that would improve accuracy of the estimation. This research is important to the field of audiology as it allows us to better fit hearing aids to different patient prescriptions and improve their overall hearing ability and outcome with hearing aids, as well as keep them safe from over-amplification and a noise-induced hearing loss.

Hi! My name is Jatinder “Jenny” Shokar and I’m from Merced, California. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech Language Sciences at University of Northern Colorado in Colorado. I chose to pursue my Doctorate of Audiology at Central Michigan University because of the clinic (it’s amazing!) and the diversity in faculty members. My clinical interests include evaluations and assessments of vestibular disorders, diagnostics, electrophysiology and NIHL research. My interest in NIHL research and hearing loss prevention stemmed from my own experience; I was constantly surrounded by loud noise as a Blackhawk helicopter mechanic and crewchief in the U.S. Army. My responsibilities in the Grinn Hearing Lab include research participant recruitment and scheduling, equipment calibration and trouble-shooting, and leading the human data collection team. In addition to these roles, I studied the relationship between stress and Words-In-Noise performance following a temporary threshold shift for my Doctoral Research Project.

Hi!  I’m Christine “Fraz” Frazinski – I hail from the northern part of Grand Rapids, MI.  I received my Bachelor of Science from Northern Michigan University, and I chose to attend the CMU Au.D. program for three reasons 1) the clinic, 2) the clinic, and 3) the clinic!  It’s HUGE compared to other schools, it’s state-of-the-art, and it’s filled with so many audiologists.   I love CMU because I can really tell the difference (university to university) in how much they care for their students.  At CMU, our success is most important; the clinical and academic faculty will do whatever they can to get you to a point of that success.  It shows in their training in the clinic, in the research we conduct, and in our classroom education with the faculty.  I feel really supported here, and I have had a lot of fun getting to know pediatric audiology (I feel most comfortable with kids, so that could be the reason!)  Working in Dr. Grinn’s lab is awesome because we have project responsibilities from top to bottom, and I get to work with young participants who are at risk for music-induced hearing loss.  It would be amazing to live in a time when hearing damage could be reversed, but until then, it is our responsibility to protect vulnerable populations at risk for noise-induced hearing loss!

Hello! My name is Brittney Lubinski. I was born and raised in the small town of Mauston, Wisconsin (go Pack go!) I attended the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders. I ultimately chose to pursue my doctorate of audiology at Central Michigan University because of the program’s EXCELLENT reputation! CMU’s audiology program is well-known for providing above and beyond clinical opportunities, and I decided that CMU was the very best choice for a well-rounded educational and clinical experience. I am especially interested in cochlear implants, and Central Michigan University has a fantastic CI program. I am also interested in noise-induced hearing loss prevention because of the many people in my life that have been exposed to high levels of noise. Hearing loss prevention is key, and I wish I could have had the knowledge that I am gaining now to educate those that I love before they experienced auditory damage; however, I have the chance to do so now, and I am so excited to be a part of the team in the GHL! Noise-induced damage is such an important area of research because there is still so much information we do not know, including why noise affects some individuals significantly more than others.

Hello! My name is Rebecca “Becca” Dooley, and I am from Hockessin, Delaware! I got my Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Special Education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. I chose to attend CMU because of the audiology program’s reputation – CMU doctoral students receive clinical training in every assessment and treatment procedure. We are very fortunate to learn on a variety of state-of-the-art equipment, so that by the time we graduate, we are proficient in using several different kinds of equipment. My primary clinical interest is vestibular evaluation and assessment, but I also believe that raising awareness and promoting prevention of hearing loss is one of the most important things we do as audiologists. Accordingly, research into noise-induced hearing loss is a critical aspect of hearing loss prevention – this is why I chose to complete my doctoral project on noise-induced hearing loss in the Grinn Hearing Lab. Specifically, I am studying a population of adults who listen to music all day at work in office settings (~8 hours, 5 days a week) in order to assess their risk of noise-induced hearing loss and their willingness to adapt safe-listening behaviors.

Hi! My name is Aniellia Grabowski and my hometown is Brighton, Michigan. I completed my bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University, where I majored in communication disorders with a minor in American Sign Language and psychology. During that time, I fell in love with audiology and the provision of access to communication. I chose to stay at CMU for my Au.D. because of the program’s superior well-rounded and hands-on clinical education. The economic toll and negative effects of hearing loss on an individual’s quality of life are well documented. Noise-induced hearing loss research is an important area of the field because it allows us to equip patients with the tools to prevent irreversible damage. I am happy to be working with Dr. Grinn as we create the clinical protocol for selection, fitting, and verification of customized hearing protection devices. Through this project I feel that I am able to serve the community by contributing to CMU’s provision of access to preventative measures.

Why, hello there! My name is Kirsha Finemore. I’m from the small town of Oakland, Maine, and I proudly attended the University of Maine for my bachelor’s degree (GO BLACK BEARS!) My favorite part of Central Michigan University is the clinical experience you get from Day 1 in the program – you truly get hands-on experience with every appointment type in the field! What more could you ask for? Audiology has been in my life since the age of 4 when I was diagnosed with bilateral, mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss and fit with my first pair of hearing aids. My favorite things to do in clinic are hearing aid fittings and hearing protection device (HPD) fittings. Having grown up in a family that hunts, shoots, works with loud machinery, and much more, noise and HPDs have been a constant in my life. I knew I wanted to complete an Au.D. research project in the Grinn Hearing Lab – in young firearm users, I studied the relationship between variable degrees of HPD attenuation and early signs of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) using high-frequency audiometry (9 – 20 kHz) and other advanced auditory measures. NIHL can hinder communication, job performance, safety, and recreational endeavors; it is our job as audiologists to educate patients on the importance of protecting their hearing, and it is our responsibility to provide both amplification AND attenuation services.