Lena Havtorn

My role at Eriksholm is divided in two as I work both as a Senior Research Audiologist as well as being line manager for a group of audiologists and scientists. As a research audiologist, I have two main areas of work. I carry out rehabilitation tasks related to our portfolio of test subjects, making sure that they are always equipped with the best possible hearing solution. We put a lot of effort into our service in the clinic. We are very focused on always keeping the clinic up to the best possible standard in equipment, following regulations, execution of tests etc. Also, I work on research projects together with our scientists. As an audiologist we know our test participants very well and we make sure to match the right participants with the right projects. We also help prepare and mature experiments and support the execution of the data collection. Finally, we can also be involved in data analysis, documentation, and dissemination of research results.

I have always known that I would one day work in a field that would allow me to help other people improve their quality of life. I knew someone who was working as a speech and language pathologist and audiologist, and that is how I became aware of this profession. I like the combination of close contact to people with hearing loss, and the more technical and technological knowledge you must have as part of your professional skill set.

I applied for a job as a research audiologist at Eriksholm because I saw great opportunity there to become part of a hearing clinic and help other people combined with the possibility to do research and impact future aspects of hearing care treatment.

It motivates me to have great colleagues with whom I have close collaboration while sharing the same overall goal. I also find it very rewarding to see the result of my work lead to improvements in the quality of life for people with hearing loss.

I hope to achieve a broader, but also more in-depth knowledge of the future of hearing care treatment.

I love spending time with my family and friends. I also love to travel, and I recently travelled around the USA for a month together with my husband. I also engage in audiological projects to convey knowledge about tinnitus to both children and adults. I have co-authored several books and also occasionally work as a consultant for the Danish Hearing Association. When I need to unwind, I exercise or keep myself busy doing needlework.

I think the way we keep gaining knowledge about what impacts the environment, and which measures we can take to better preserve it is immensely important. Within my own field, audiology, I still believe that the invention of the digital hearing aid has been the greatest breakthrough, enable loads of other brilliant features and benefits for those using them.

I hope hearing aids become even more intelligent in the way they adapt to sounds in the environment. Hearing aids that can work together with the human brain and the unconscious mind and thereby be automatically controlled by the intent of the hearing aid user.