CURRICULUM VITAE
Name:
Lou Echols-Chambers
Address:
University of Illinois
Department of Speech and Hearing Science
901 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Telephone:
(217) 333-2230
email: lec@illinois.edu
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
1981
M.S.
Purdue University
Audiology
1976
B.S.
Texas Tech University
Speech Pathology & Audiology
MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Academy of Audiology
American Speech-Hearing-Language Association
Alexander Graham Bell Association
American Auditory Society
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, ASHA.
Certified Hearing Aid Dispenser, State of Illinois.
Licensed Audiologist, State of Illinois.
Credential in Early Intervention, Specialist, Audiology, 1999-2002.
Credential in Early Intervention, Professional, State of Illinois, 1994-97.
Credential in Early Intervention, Early Intervention Supervisor, 1994-97.
AWARDS
Award for Continuing Education, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2006.
Award for Continuing Education, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2003.
Fellow, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2002.
Regional Counselor and National Vice-President, National Student Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, 1975-76.
Linda M. Scholarship, Texas Tech University, 1974.
Tuition Scholarship, New Mexico State University, 1971-73.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
2004- present, 1990-2001; 1982-1987: Director of Audiology Clinic
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Clinic, including administrative, clinical,
and training functions of this facility.

Supervise graduate students in audiology clinical practica. Responsibilities included
supervision of audiological assessment, site-of-lesion testing, hearing aid selection, fitting,
and dispensing for conventional, programmable, and digital hearing aids, earmold fitting and
modification, evaluating and dispensing assistive listening devices.

Responsible for securing and negotiating contracts for external placement sites in medical
centers as well as public school systems.

Responsible for scheduling graduate audiology students practicum at this facility and for all
external placement sites.

Responsible for selecting and purchasing major audiological equipment, e.g., diagnostic
audiometers, impedance units, hearing aid analyzers, an auditory evoked potential system, an
otoacoustic emission system, and a visual otoscope.

Responsible for hearing conversation program with the University of Illinois. Includes
obtained and assessed employees' annual audiograms, administered impedance screening,
and DPOAEs, made necessary referrals, provided in-service training to employees, and
meeting with University personnel.

Organize and supervise adult individual and group aural rehabilitation programs. This
includes speechreading and a four-week communication strategies instruction.

Organize and supervise aural (re)habilitation programs for parent-infant and school-age
cases. Supervision of child patients included parent counseling and coordination with school
personnel.

Responsible for weekly meetings of Audiology practicum.

Responsible for up keeping and standard calibration procedures for all equipment.
2001-2004: Director of Clinical Services (Audiology & Speech-Langauge Clinics)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Overseeing the internal and external clinical operations of the Department of Speech and
Hearing Science.

Responsible for assuring quality of clinical services.

Responsible for hiring, evaluating, and work assignment of all clinical supervisory staff,
graduate assistants, and administrative personnel.

Responsible for updating and selecting equipment, tests, and supplies for the clinics.

Responsible for up keeping and standard calibration procedures for all equipment.

Responsible for scheduling approximately 60 audiology and speech-language pathology
students for clinical practicum at the University’s clinics and at approximately 35 external
placements sites.

Responsible for securing and negotiating contracts for external placement sites in medical
centers as well as public school systems.

Responsible for administrating hearing conservation contracts.

Established and have maintained cooperative programs with other area’s clinics (e.g.,
Cochlear Implant Program with Carle Clinic & Hospital).
1989-1990: Research Associate and Coordinator, NIH grant
“Effects of Aging on Speech Recognition” (PI: Robert Bilger)

Responsible for scheduling grant subjects, maintaining records.

Planning strategies for experimental protocols.

Coordinate experimental procedures for subjects.

Development of materials and forms for testing subjects.

Assisting in running grant subjects.

Responsible for suppliers and equipment.

Public relations for the project grant.
1987-1989: Carle Clinic Association, Department of Audiology

Served as an Aural (Re)habilitation Specialist. Responsible for the developing a
multifaceted, comprehensive aural rehabilitation programs for this large regional health
center. These were:
* Parent-Infant programs
* Pre-school Program
* School-age programs

Within the above, personal clinical services included: (a) speech and language evaluation and
remediation for infants through school-age children, (b) hearing aid orientation, (c) auditory
training, use of FM auditory trainers, and vibrotactile devices, (d) counseling for parents and
children, and (e) coordination with other agencies.

Member of the Carle Clinic cochlear implant team. Conducted initial audiological
assessments of children who were implant candidates. Conducted speech perception testing
and assisted in the initial mapping procedures for children who had received cochlear
implants.

Diagnostic audiology included a full range of basic and differential test procedures,
and hearing aid evaluations and dispensing for all ages as part of a large Department
of Otolaryngology.

Member of the Carle Cranial-Facial Deformity Clinic. Provided audiological
assessment and consultation.

Member of the Carle Child Disability Clinic. Provided audiological assessment and
consultation.

Provided complete adult and pediatric audiological assessment, hearing aid selection,
evaluation and dispensing. Pediatric aural (re)habilitation included speech and
language evaluation and remediation. Adult aural rehabilitation included hearing aid
orientation, counseling and communication skills training.
1980-1982: Clinical Supervisor in Audiology, Purdue University

Supervision of graduate students' clinical practicum in audiological assessment.
Responsibilities included supervision of site-of-lesion testing, hearing aid selection
and evaluation, hearing aid dispensing and earmold modification for adult and
pediatric patients

Pediatric aural rehabilitation responsibilities included speech and language evaluation
and remediation for infants, preschool and school age children. Supervision included
individual and group sessions, parent counseling, parent groups and coordination with
school personnel

Approximately 18-22 students were supervised per semester. Number of hours of
direct supervision per week ranged from 24-29 hours.