Karen Christine Johnson

Dr. Karen Christine Johnson is a Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (Clinician Educator, Part-Time) at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. A licensed audiologist, her work focuses on pediatric hearing loss, cochlear implants, and early intervention strategies for children with hearing impairments. She leads the Come Read with Me program, a grant-funded literacy intervention for deaf/hard-of-hearing children from bilingual (Spanish-English) homes, which also trains parents and educators.

• Teaches courses such as Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Aural Rehabilitation
• NIH-funded studies include diabetes management, cardiovascular risk, and smoking cessation
• Over 40 years of academic publications spanning audiology, pediatric development, and metabolic health

Her research bridges clinical practice with education, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to improving outcomes for hearing-impaired children and managing chronic diseases like diabetes.