Helping Clients Hear better is a “Labor of Love”

March 15, 2001 - The Capital Times - Savvy Snapshot

Name: Veronica H. Heide

Job: Audiologist

What I like best about my job: Listening. My clients are the most wonderful people in the world! They welcome me into their hearts and are patient as we explore various options to enhance their hearing and communication. It is definitely a labor of love.

What I like least about my job: Long hours

Years in this job / line of work: 25 years

How I got here (education, experience): I completed my master of science degree from UW-Madison in 1977 and will complete my doctorate in Audiology this spring (Au.D.). I have worked in clinics, hospitals, and as a research audiologist for Nicolet Instrument Corporation on their digital hearing aid project. I have been in private practice, Audible Difference^®, LLC for the past ten years.  I was awarded the first annual "Audiologist of the Year " award in 2000 by the Wisconsin Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Advice I would have for someone considering this line of work:  Audiology combines science, technology, and working with people.  If you enjoy working with people of all ages, and are good in science, math, and computers, you should consider Audiology.

Birthplace:  I was born in Philadelphia, but did most of my growing up in Huntington, WV

Age: 47

Family: Parry, my husband and business partner; daughter Anne, a senior at West High School; and son David, who lives in St. Cloud, Minn.  My husband is amazing, bright, funny, and creative.  We have been married for 25 years, and he is still my best friend.

I spend my free time: Reading and Singing

My favorite place to go for enjoyment: Theater

The person I most admire is: My family.  Their love and support for me - and the work I do - gives me strength. Outside my family, there are many people I admire: Helen Keller was an inspiration to me at an early age.  I learned the manual alphabet in 4th grade from the encyclopedia in the back of the classroom and taught everyone in my class to fingerspell so we could communicate in class without the teacher hearing us. Locally, there are some wonderful mentors and friends including Bud Smith, my attorney, and Millard Johnson, my accountant, who share a love of their professions and have helped me with many business decisions in building my private practice.