Meet Megan Williams | Audiologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I spent my time in grad school rotating through the different aspects of audiology in search of what I felt like was a good fit for me. I found that I really enjoyed working with the older populations and helping them with hearing aids. I work for a sister company, Helix Audiology, to my mom’s private practice, Little Listeners, that specializes in Auditory Processing Disorder in pediatrics. Through my experience working for her practice, before I started grad school, I got a glimpse into how access to sound is only one part of the puzzle to helping individuals improve their speech understanding. So my practice has become one of not only fitting hearing aids on adults with hearing loss, but trying to come up with ways to help their processing of speech. My ultimate goal is to develop an auditory training program alongside my mom, Dr. Christa Reeves, that we can offer to my hearing aid patients. We strive to spread the word that hearing aids are only the first step to becoming an effective communicator.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I own an audiology practice that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss in adults. I think what sets me apart from other practices is my experience in the auditory processing disorder world. I understand that the auditory system is very complex and that there is more work to be done, aside from just being fit with hearing aids, in order to become an effective communicator. Because I am such a small practice, I really take the time to understand my patient’s goals when it comes to communication and believe strongly in counseling them on good communication skills. I graduated in 2021 after finishing my last year of grad school in the midst of a pandemic. My mother’s own private practice went through some massive changes due to the pandemic which led to her needing my help right out of grad school. Opening this practice was a 5-10 year goal of mine, which I was not prepared to take on as a new grad. I struggled for many months with my imposter syndrome. I did not think I was old enough or impressive enough to start my own private practice. But thankfully I have an amazing support system through my husband and my family that have helped me realize that I was ready to take on this challenge of opening up my own private practice. I really felt a shift in my attitude when we had our open house in January of this year. My mom was going to help me host the open house, since my practice is part of her building where she has her practice, but she ended up getting sick and couldn’t attend. I had to step up and host the event and give a speech to the attendees and it really encouraged me that I am exactly where I need to be. I have learned that although I am young and a woman, if I show that I am confident in what I am doing and keep my head held high, I will be treated with the respect I deserve. I have found that my patients appreciate my time with them and I’ve many success stories since I began this practice.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love the wine country in Georgia. We have travelled to Dahlonega to visit the wineries on many occasions, including for my birthday this year. My favorite wineries are Montaluce, Wolf Mountain, Kaya, and Cavender Creek. The winery with the most incredible atmosphere is Cavender Creek, they have indoor and outdoor seating areas with fire pits and fire places and it’s so cozy. The scenery of the mountains in Georgia are to die for, especially in the fall with the changing leaves. I would definitely suggest renting a cabin in the mountains and then traveling to the wineries for at least a weekend. The downtown area in Dahlonega has amazing restaurants and shops to explore as well. It is by far my favorite place to take a friend when they are visiting me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my mom, Dr. Christa Reeves. I would not be in this profession if it weren’t for her. She has always been a great example of a strong, hardworking woman and mother in my life. She decided to open her own private practice almost 10 years ago and encouraged me to do the same right out of grad school. I literally would not be able to have my own practice if it weren’t for her encouragement and trust in me and her offering me a spot in her building. She has been the biggest role model in my school career and my professional career. She is the epitome of a hardworking professional and I strive everyday to be more like her.

Website: www.helixaudiology.com

Instagram: @helixaudiology

Facebook: Helix Audiology