International Conference and Expo on Audiology and Hearing Devices August 17-18, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Biography:

Mashudu Tshifularo is an academic Professor and HOD, ENT specialist medical doctor. He was appointed at the University of Pretoria Republic of South Africa (RSA), ENT department and Steve Biko Academic Hospital as a Professor and Chief Specialist. He is running Cochlear Implant Unit in Steve Biko Academic Hospital, for the disadvantaged community state funded unit. He is passionate about Innovation in the Audiology – Medical devices development.

Abstract:

Otosclerosis and genetics among South African Blacks. An epidermiological study and hearing devices. Presentation of PhD work and new concept in stapes surgery and stapes prosthesis. Innovate new stapes prosthesis.

Biography:

Max Stanley Chartrand serves on the advisory committees to the American Tinnitus Association, the Better Hearing Institute, Audiology Online, and is a professional member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, on the Federal & State Advocacy Committee of the International Hearing Society, and the Advisory Committee for the Arizona Division of Hearing Aid Dispenser Licensing. He is also a professor of Behavioral Medicine and has served on numerous doctoral research committees relative to human health and the hearing sciences. In 1994, he was recipient of the Joel S. Wernick Excellence in Education Award, and has published and lectured extensively throughout the world over the past four decades. At age 3 he became severely hearing impaired and later profoundly deaf. He utilized hearing aid and assistive technology for many years until cochlear implant technology and assistive devices were advanced enough to accommodate his profound deafness. He believes that there has never been a time that communicative options and amplification technologies have been more accessible, more attractive, and more affordable than they are today. His findings are that the market has grown exponentially faster than the industry’s ability to accommodate it. Now, he says, is the most exciting and empowering time to be in the hearing health the good that can be done is immeasurable and so vital to the well-being of so many hearing loss sufferers and their families.

Abstract:

Objective: To help attendees integrate concepts of cognitive health issues of hearing impaired older adults into hearing health practice, while educating the larger allied professional community on the need for correction of hearing impairment in older adults. Learning Outcomes: 1) Explore the interaction of symptoms of hearing loss and Alzheimer's disease in older adults. 2) Understand the difficulties that arise when undetected hearing loss causes misdiagnoses/over-diagnoses of Alzheimer's in older adults. 3) Gain the skills in taking case history, fitting and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling the hearing impaired and family members in cases where AD is suspected. 4) Effectively communicate with the larger allied professional healthcare team of the need for evaluation and resolution of hearing loss before concluding mental health diagnoses.

Background: Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative syndrome of cognitive and psycho-[social behaviors that, in many cases, is often difficult to diagnose. There is rising concern within the hearing health community that undiagnosed, untreated hearing loss combined with normal aging factors are driving a sizable portion of the increase in Alzheimer's diagnoses among today's older adults. Despite the many studies already indicating a strong correlation between the behaviors of hearing loss and cognitive dysfunction, there appears to be no substantial movement within the mental health field to require the assessment and mitigation of auditory limitations before concluding mental health diagnosis in older adults. This course will explore not only the need for correction of hearing loss in older adults, but also that such correction can bring improvements in mental health status, including such functions as short-term memory, cognition, and personal well-being. It will also show how dispensing professionals may: 1) detect and discuss auditory/cognitive concerns during the case history and audiometric examination, 2) work optimally with such individuals in achieving best-aided condition within a comprehensive auditory rehabilitative plan, and 3) interact within the larger community health care team, including referral and educating local mental health professionals about hearing loss and its cognitive and effects upon older adults. An updated literature review will accompany handout material, as well as aids for the professional dispenser to utilize within a best practice standards framework.

Biography:

Peter L Nagy has received his MD degree from the University of Pecs, Hungary in 1989. He has obtained his PhD at Purdue University in Biochemistry under the mentorship of Dr Howard Zalkin and his Anatomic and Molecular Genetic Pathology training at Stanford University working on the MLL gene with Michael Cleary and Roger Kornberg. His research is on neurodegenerative disorders like ALS and young adult onset ataxias (AOA2). He built and oversees the clinical next-generation sequencing facility in the Laboratory of Personalized Genomic Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center.

Abstract:

Our Laboratory of Personalized Genomic Medicine (LPGM) at Columbia University Medical Center started to offer clinical whole exome sequencing (WES) in January 2013. We processed and issued reports on over 500 constitutional cases including approximately 70 cases involving hearing loss. Next-generation sequencing in the clinical practice allows for a critical review of the literature describing the pathogenicity of specific mutations or the disease relatedness of specific genes and also provides an important discovery tool for new disease genes and disease causing mutations. Because of the large volume and complex nature of the data obtained from large panels and whole exome sequencing testing, the management of the data in a transparent, yet powerful analytical framework is the key to a successful clinical operation. We have provided diagnosis for constitutional patients in about one third of the cases we analyzed. The full potential for discovery of new disease associated genes and disease causing mutations can only be realized if there is a tight collaborative effort between the clinicians performing the interpretation and structural biologists and analytical chemists and cell biologists who can help predict and verify the effects of variants identified.

Biography:

King Chung is an Associate Professor of Audiology at Northern Illinois University. She has been leading students onto humanitarian research and service trips every summer. Past destinations include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brazil, China, and Cambodia. A researcher at heart, she publishes information on the hearing systems in the visited countries/regions and the hearing status of individuals tested during the trips to raise the awareness of the great demand for hearing services in different countries. The long term goal is to facilitate the provision of frequent and high quality hearing services to underserved and unserved populations around the world.

Abstract:

Transient noise reduction (TNR) algorithms implemented in hearing aids are not well-understood or studied. The purposes of this study were to examine the amount of noise reduction provided by 3 TNR algorithms and the spectra characteristics of speech at the hearing aid outputs. Eight different transient noises were recorded in real-life environments approximately 1 meter away from the sources. Three hearing aids were programmed to have 1) flat frequency responses with linear amplification, 2) flat frequency responses with 3:1 amplification, and 3) NAL prescription for people with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss, when they were worn on a manikin. Transient noises and HINT sentences were then presented at 0° azimuth of the manikin in a sound field. Hearing aid outputs were recorded in the TNR ON or OFF condition. The levels of the recorded transient noises were calculated and the spectral characteristics of the recordings were compared in the ON and OFF conditions. Results showed that one hearing aid consistently provided high levels of noise reduction for all 8 noises but it reduced the high frequency energy in most of the recordings. The second hearing aid was inconsistent in reducing the noises and it only reduced the high frequency energy in a few recordings. The third hearing aid provided negligible amount of noise reduction or high frequency reduction. No consistent effect of compression or frequency response was observed. These results highlight the need to design consistently effective TNR algorithms without affecting the spectral characteristics of the signal.

Biography:

Vural Fidan has recieved his MD and PhD in Hacettepe University. He is the Deputy Director of ENT department. He is an Otorhinolaryngologist at Yunus Emre Goverment Hospital. He has worked as a Visiting Scientist at Yale University ENT and Allegry departments. He has more than 20 SCI indexed articles. His Research interests are pulmonary hypertension, allergy, otology, rhinology and sleep medicine.

Abstract:

Tinnitus is generally resulted by expression of neural plasticity evoked by deprivation of auditory input. The hearing aids makes the patient less aware of the tinnitus and it helps communication in tinnitus patients. Hearing loss reduces stimulation from sounds. Hearing aids help enough activation of the auditory nervous system to reduce the tinnitus perception so they have an impact on tinnitus by restoring neural function. We studied on 25 patients to investigate the effect of hearing aids on tinnitus. 60% of patients said that their tinnitus were absent and 36% of them said that their tinnitus were decreased. Only 4% said that his tinnitus was not changed. As a result hearing aids should be used to both ears to take the best results.

Biography:

Madhup Chaurasia is a Senior Consultant ENT surgeon with United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. He qualified from University of Jaipur, India and did his surgical training at University Hospitals NHS Trust Glasgow. He specialises in the field of Otology and Rhinology and his interests are focussed on Early Childhood Hearing Loss which has been the subject of his research and contributions to the development of the National Hearing Screening Programme. He also has a special interest in Noise Induced Hearing loss and regularly does many reports as expert witness, both for the claimants and defendants. In this presentation, he will focus on some of the complexities of the subject.

Abstract:

Abstract Damage to the inner ear as a result of noise exposure is a common occupational hazard and leads to numerous claims. The purpose of this presentation is to outline and discuss the criteria that confirm noise induced hearing loss in relation to the audiograms and the quantity of noise exposure, based on randomly selected cases from the authors’ reports. Characteristics of tinnitus related to hearing loss are described and the degree of disability associated with severity of tinnitus and hearing loss is discussed. Illustrations of borderline cases are presented and methods to reach conclusions are elaborated with examples of cases that are difficult to diagnose. The presentation includes a general guidance to make reports for noise induced hearing loss

Biography:

Somia Tawfik is a Professor of Audiology at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. She graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University in 1978 and received her Master’s (1982) and Doctorate (1986) degrees at the same university. She has many publications in the area of Central auditory evaluation & development of Arabic material for central auditory testing in adults & children and shared in development of an Arabic computer-based material for remediation of children with central auditory processing disorders. She has good clinical experience in evaluating and remediating patients with different hearing disorders, especially children with auditory neuropathy. She had been the Director of the audiology unit, Ain Shams University for twelve years (1998-2010) and got two grants and organized many local and international conferences. Presently, she is a member of the International Association of Physicians in Audiology, the Egyptian Audio-Vestibular Medicine Association and the Egyptian Society of Oto-rhino-laryngology. She is reviewer of the Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose and Throat and Allied Sciences and Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. Her present research focuses on new horizons in central auditory testing such as speech-evoked potentials in children with central auditory processing disorders and language disorders. She also shares in research on hearing aids, vestibular testing and rehabilitation of hearing-impaired children and central auditory testing in elderly.

Abstract:

Most of the training programs for cochlear implant recipients focus on the role of pitch and loudness for verbal communication. Unfortunately, the role of temporal aspects of auditory stimuli and the phonemic abilities in the training programs of CI children were not explored. This study was designed to explore the value of applying a computer-based training that was developed by audiology unit, Ain Shams University in Arabic language to improve temporal processing and phonemic awareness abilities. This program was applied on 33 CI children (Nucleus 24) with a minimum of one year of device use. Children received regular sessions twice /week for three months. Each session lasted for approximately 30 minutes. Results showed that 25 of 33 children could accomplish the training program. Children who completed training showed improvement in auditory skills as measured by Arabic version of MAIS questionnaire, Arabic speech perception tests and auditory fusion test that measured temporal processing. The neuroplastic changes following remediation was documented electophysiologically by increased amplitude of mismatch negativity test. On the other hand, they could not achieve significant change of Arabic language score. Such improvement was retained for a period of 6 months up two years after training was completed. It can be concluded that computer-based training of temporal and phonemic abilities are effective and promising for CI children.

Biography:

King Chung is an Associate Professor of Audiology at Northern Illinois University. She has been leading students onto humanitarian research and service trips every summer. Past destinations include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brazil, China, and Cambodia. A researcher at heart, she publishes information on the hearing systems in the visited countries/regions and the hearing status of individuals tested during the trips to raise the awareness of the great demand for hearing services in different countries. The long term goal is to facilitate the provision of frequent and high quality hearing services to underserved and unserved populations around the world.

Abstract:

Hearing services are often not available to children and adults in many countries, especially for those with disabilities or living in rural areas. A variety of populations in Brazil, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan were tested using a combination of otoscopy, otoacoustic emissions, and tympanometry during annual humanitarian service trips. Those who failed or could not be tested using the testing protocol were then followed up with pure tone audiometry on-site. Populations tested include: 1) adults living in nursing homes, 2) children and adults with special needs, 3) children and adults with HIV+ or AIDS, 4) adults with recreational drug addiction, 5) children living in orphanages, and 6) children living in rural areas. The test results indicated most of these populations, except children living in an orphanage in Taiwan or adults with drug addiction, exhibited high incidences of excessive cerumen, middle-ear problems, and/or hearing loss. The rate of referral was as high as 50% in some populations. These results combined with the fact that many of the individual tested have never had their ears or hearing checked highlight the tremendous need for regular and quality hearing services for these underserved or unserved populations.

Biography:

Lindsey E Jorgensen completed her AuD and PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Dakota, a clinical audiologist and an audiology researcher. Her areas of interest include examining the impact of aging/dementia and traumatic brain injury on speech perception and how hearing aids or other assistive listening devices may improve the processing of speech.

Abstract:

Providing appropriate amplification to patients is more than just providing audibility. Many other factors must be taken into account when selecting options and fitting strategies. Most audiologists and clinicians understand the complexity the patient needs and perspective play into the selection of appropriate amplification. However, once the choices of style/manufacturer/etc. have been made, most audiologists use the same fitting strategy for every patient. The purpose of this presentation will be to discuss what other factors should be taken into account when fitting patients. Additionally, suggestions for changes which can/should be made in the hearing aid software to appropriate fit the young, aging and cognitively impaired patient. Current research findings will be discussed about fitting options for patients who are underperforming or who present with cognitive decline.

Biography:

Assoc. Prof. Ayşe Sanem SAHLI, PhD. She earned ‘Master of Science degree’ at Hacettepe University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Educational Audiology Program in 2005 and ‘Doctorate degree’ in the same program in 2010 and she received “Assoc Prof” title in field of Audiology in 2012. Between 2008–2010, she has worked with Warren Estabrooks who is a Global Ambassador of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and professional trainer and she has earned certificate of Auditory-Verbal Therapy and Trainers of trainers. In 2009, during four months, she has been Albert Ludwig University, Freiburg University Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology and Freiburg Cochlear Implant Center as a fellow and visiting researcher. She carried out studies on cochlear implantation, programing (fitting), auditory re/habilitation and music therapy in Hearing and Speech Training Center Turkish and German patients and performed doctorate thesis on multiple intelligences and learning preferences of Turkish children with cochlear implant in Germany. She has been carrying out music therapy programs of hearing and speech disorder with childrens and their parents still. She has been working in Cochlear Implant Assosication Supervisory Board since 2006 and Hacettepe Disability Research and Application Center, Education Unit actively since 2010. She has been in organizations of many Audiology meetings and congresses and educational meetings for parents, teachers and society in different regions of Turkey. Dr.Sahlı, has been working as ‘editorial consultant/ scientific reviewer’ in journals and she has many scientific articles in international and national journals. She has attended many international and national congress/symposium as speaker or listener and currently, she has been continuing her vocational and academic studies as staff in Hacettepe University Vocational School of Health Services Hearing and Speech Training Center since 2004. Workspace: : Hearing loss, delayed speech, educational assessment in children with hearing and speech disorders and cochlear implant, assessment of speech and language, educational follows, auditory re/habilitation, auditory-verbal therapy, music therapy, family counselling,

Abstract:

Cochlear implants have been designed primarily to enhance speech and language skills. Therefore, musical perception and appreciation can be challenging for many users with cochlear implant. Children and adults with cochlear implant have difficulty with accurately perceiving certain elements of music, such as pitch and timbre. Also, they often provide lower scores of musical sound quality when compared to normally hearing people. Musical skills depend on many factors in cochlear implant users. The age and duration of hearing loss and cochlear implant, number and condition of surviving auditory neurons, processing capabilities of the implant and sound processor and musical trainings after cochlear implant very important factors for musical perception. Music activities reinforcing the levels of auditory development can help children and adults with cochlear implant to develop their listening, auditory perception and communication.