Lynne Seebaluck Scotland

Why did you choose to study the Diploma at QMU? 

QMU was the natural choice for me! As I’m from East Kilbride, the campus was not too far away and most of my colleagues at Specsavers had passed through QMU’s welcoming doors at some point throughout their medical/health/audiology journeys! QMU was recommended to me by all of my peers – they all said the lecturers were great and very helpful and accommodating.  

What interested you about audiology? 

At Specsavers, there’s always been a strong emphasis on the dual importance of both eye and ear health, which sparked my interest in learning more about hearing care. I was eager to understand the vital role ear health plays in our overall wellbeing and the importance of regular hearing tests. Stepping into this area and qualifying as a Hearing Aid Dispenser has been incredibly rewarding—it’s a real privilege to help people hear better and make such a meaningful difference in their daily lives. 

What did you most enjoy about your course at QMU?  

I truly just really enjoyed the whole learning experience. Before COVID, there was a wonderful sense of community at the university. Even though much of the course was delivered through distance learning, the time spent on campus was incredibly valuable—it offered a chance to connect with people from all over the world. I made some fantastic friends during that time, and we’re still in touch years later. It’s been amazing to watch everyone grow and succeed in their own journeys. 

Since graduating, how have you been using your Diploma?  
 
I am now the Audiology partner within Specsavers Home Visits, Edinburgh. I was lucky enough to be the very first Home Visits partner for Specsavers in the UK, which brings with it a lot of responsibility and learning in itself. You have to make a few mistakes before you eventually get it right, and I think the course at QMU was instrumental in giving me the confidence to believe in myself and helping me to flourish. 

I get to travel all over Lothian, Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and Lanarkshire as well as Dumfries & Galloway, testing people's hearing within their own homes and helping them to hear better.  

Being the first Home Visits partner has brought a lot of challenges as well as a lot of joy and I feel like I have the best of both worlds - driving around the country seeing the beautiful scenery and meeting lots of incredible people along the way. I don’t work in a ‘test room’ at all anymore, which was tricky at first, but I think I've learned how to adapt to this, thanks to the practical teaching at QMU. 

I remotely manage a team of four and I think we do a pretty good job despite not being in the same room very often. Thank goodness for Microsoft Teams and hands-free audio!   

I’m even working with a student Hearing Aid Audiologist who is studying the same course that I completed at QMU! It has been great to see my learning coming full circle and being able to pass this experience on to someone else has been so worthwhile.  

Do you have any final words of wisdom for anyone looking to complete the HE Hearing Aid Audiology Diploma at QMU?  

Don’t worry about your age! I was 41 when I started the course and I wasn't even the oldest in my class, which I thought was great! Learning is - and should be - for everyone regardless of age. 

Also, embrace the balance between learning and your current job role—it’s a unique opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience from your workplace supervisor while also benefitting from the expertise and guidance of the fantastic lecturers at QMU. They’ve all been through the journey themselves, and they’re there to support you, uplift you when needed, and guide you every step of the way!