Danielle Inverso, PhD

Get to Know Me

Dr. Yell Inverso, Director of Audiology for the Delaware Valley and the Nemours Center for Pediatric Communication (NCPC), has been a professor of audiology, an invited presenter and a published author of peer-reviewed medical journal articles.

Why I Treat Children

I always had a deep interest in the Deaf community. In fact, I fully intended to become a teacher of Deaf children and those with hearing loss. During my studies, a mentor noticed my strong interest in science, in addition to my interests in humanities and education, and suggested I consider audiology as a way to marry those interests. So I enrolled at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the only liberal arts college in the United States for the Deaf. After completing my Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, I decided to further my education and completed a PhD in Hearing Science. After graduation I still wanted to work with children, and that's where I've concentrated my practice. I find it to be very rewarding. There is a unique challenge in working with kids — each responds in his or her own unique way, and that really keeps me on my toes. And, specific to my work with children who are receiving cochlear implants, it's such a big transition. I enjoy being a constant for the family as they move through it.

What I'm Passionate About

I'm passionate about each and every one of the kids seen within NCPC and the Department of Audiology! I'm passionate about perhaps the most sophisticated implant technology in medicine today — the cochlear implant. Many of the patients I see receive cochlear implants, and it's the area on which I spend most of my research time as well. In addition to being technologically advanced, it's dramatically life-changing. A little boy or girl hearing their mother's or father's voice for the first time is profoundly moving. The implants really make a significant difference in the children's — and ultimately, the whole families' — lives. Professionally, I'm passionate about the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient- and family-centered care. I look at it on an individual basis in my own practice, and as a leader at Nemours across our Department of Audiology and within the Nemours Center for Pediatric Communication. Much of what I learned in my PhD studies combines with what I see in my clinical practice to give me a unique view and ability to evaluate strategically what's needed to deliver successful care and make the center successful from a business perspective.

How I Try to Make A Difference

In addition to treating kids in a clinical setting and overseeing the department and center, I also try to make a difference with the next generation of audiologists. I maintain an active role in audiology education and help instruct fellows and residents in audiology as they rotate through our hospital. Outside of Nemours, I've had the honor of providing mission-based audiologic care in Nairobi, Kenya. The work we have done there makes it possible for children with HIV/AIDS to receive the hearing care, hearing aids and cochlear implants they need.