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Turning hearing loss into life-changing impact

As a student in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Caylyn Turner’s Auburn experience is shaped by the connection between her personal journey and the work she hopes to do in the world.

When Turner arrived at Auburn, she was looking for a place where she could fully be herself. She found that in Delta Zeta Sorority.

“If I had to describe what drew me to Delta Zeta, I would say it was the cause that was so close to my heart. But what keeps me invested are the people I can count on for anything and who can count on me. I found the sisterhood and friendships I’ve been looking for all my life.”

That connection to the sorority’s cause is rooted in her own experience with hearing loss. After undergoing a double tympanoplasty to reconstruct her eardrums, Turner understands what hearing loss feels like and what it means to get that sense back. Delta Zeta’s focus on hearing and speech advocacy gives her a way to turn that experience into something bigger than herself.

Turner has served in multiple philanthropy roles within her chapter, including philanthropy assistant and now vice president of philanthropy. In those roles, she helps lead fundraising efforts for events like Houndz for Hearing and even created a sign language club.

Her work with Delta Zeta has taken her far beyond Auburn.

During a service trip to Lusaka, Zambia, Turner worked alongside the Starkey Hearing Foundation to help deliver hearing aids to individuals in need. Through hands-on training, she helped install hearing aids and assess sound frequencies, directly contributing to patient care. In a single day, her team helped more than 600 individuals receive hearing assistance.

Working alongside students and professionals in Zambia, Turner saw both the challenges and the dedication that exist in different parts of the world. It changed how she thinks about access, opportunity and the role she wants to play.

“In the short time I spent in Zambia. I saw life through an entirely new lens. It is one thing to fundraise and be a part of an organization, but it is something else entirely to be a part of witnessing the lives changed by your hard work and dedication,” she said.

“I watched a little girl hear for the first time when I turned her hearing aid on, and her face lit up when we played music. I left Africa feeling a sense of gratitude that I will fight to put into words for the rest of my life.”

Back on campus, Turner sees a clear link between what she is learning in class and what she has already experienced. Her own hearing journey continues to shape how she approaches her education. It makes her more intentional in how she learns and more aware of others who may be navigating similar challenges.

Turner plans to pursue a career in audiology, focusing on helping individuals regain their ability to hear and connect with the world around them. Her time abroad reinforced just how real that impact can be.

“What may seem like small efforts can truly change lives in ways you may never fully grasp until you witness it firsthand.”

Learn more about programs in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

Tags: Speech Language and Hearing Sciences Community, Outreach and Engagement Students