8:15am |
8:45am |
Registration & Arrival Tea & Coffee |
8:45am |
8:55am |
Welcome and Introductions |
8:55am |
9:35am |
Prof Barbara Weinstein Social Isolation and Health: Hearing Health Care to the Rescue It is well accepted that social networks can be health-promoting or disease-promoting mechanisms depending on the extent and nature of one’s engagement. Stated differently, social integration is predictive of cognitive decline and mortality, for example and social connectedness confers resistance to selected negative health outcomes. The connection between one’s social environment, social support systems, hearing and health outcomes is of great relevance to how audiologists should approach patient management. Based on existing research on the role of social relationships in health, I will discuss how audiologic rehabilitation could be re-envisioned as a social support intervention aimed at improving health outcomes in older adults with age related hearing loss and co-morbidities. The potential for hearing enhancements to alleviate negative interactions within one’s social network and with health care providers will be discussed, as well. Finally, the import of family member involvement and the partnership in the rehabilitative enterprise will be highlighted. |
9:35am |
10:05am |
Christopher Lind Perspectives on the audiological rehabilitation needs of veterans with hearing loss and their families: A case for Family Centred Care. Most military personnel are exposed to hazardous noise levels at some time during their career. As a result, hearing loss is amongst the most common impairments arising from war service, and as a chronic condition requires attention and intervention over the war veteran’s life time. However, many veterans return from war service with multiple health and medical concerns, and the needs arising from their hearing losses must be understood in the broader context of their lives and their other ongoing conditions. The impact of these conditions on family and broader social life are complex and have been reported to have substantial effect on the lives of those close to the veterans.
This paper presents the findings from a project funded by a Defence Health Foundation grant addressing veterans’ hearing health needs as perceived by veterans themselves, their family members, as well as clinicians and administrators of hearing health services in Australia. The project aimed to evaluate: (a) what issues might be specific to the needs of war veterans and (b) whether benefit was noted in the application of Family Centred Care (FCC) in the hearing assistance provided to veterans and their families. The presentation will outline key comments made by all parties in the interviews conducted by the research team, and review the outcomes of the FCC-based intervention. |
10:05am |
10:35am |
Morning Tea |
10:35am |
11:15am |
Myriam Westcott Tinnitus and hyperacusis This presentation will provide a contemporary overview of psychological and neurophysiological models of tinnitus distress, and the key aspects of an effective tinnitus habituation therapy program.
Hyperacusis is an abnormal intolerance of loud/impact everyday sounds, which most others tolerate well. It can develop in the belief that pre-existing tinnitus may be aggravated or the ears/hearing may be damaged by these sounds.
Hyperacusis can readily be overlooked as a significant contributing factor in tinnitus related distress. Recent research shows that about 50% of help-seeking tinnitus patients have some degree of hyperacusis. We will cover hyperacusis understanding, evaluation, diagnosis and desensitisation therapy. |
11:15am |
11:55am |
Stephanie Meier Benefits of bimodal hearing and wireless audio-streaming technology In the history of cochlear implant candidacy, bimodal fittings have not always been as common as they are these days. With the first cochlear implantation in 1985, and the first reported bimodal fitting in the early 90’s, the combination of electrical and acoustic hearing for those patients with sufficient residual hearing in the non-implanted ear has come a very long way, resulting in an increased utilization of bimodal stimulation.
‘Benefits of bimodal hearing and wireless audio-streaming technology’, a presentation by GN ReSound, provides a summary of recent research studies highlighting the benefits of binaural and bimodal hearing, and subsequent review of the benefits of bimodal streaming using 2.4 GHz technology. The presentation outlines the evolution of Assistive Listening techniques, focusing on the first truly wireless streaming solution for bimodal users, developed by the Smart Hearing Alliance. |
11:55am |
12:25pm |
Bec Bennett Hearing aid handling & management: Are you getting the full story? Hearing healthcare clinicians provide hearing aid related information, training and troubleshooting as part of the rehabilitation program. However, too often we assume that our patients have learned that which we have taught them. Emerging literature suggests that up to 90% of hearing aid owners do not how how to perform all of the tasks required for basic hearing aid management (such as proper insertion, cleaning and ongoing maintenance). It is thus not surprising that almost 30% of hearing aid owners do not use their hearing aids regularly due to ongoing issues, such as those relating to physical fit, handling (e.g. difficulty inserting batteries), performance issues (e.g. sound quality, inability to reduce background noise) and complaints regarding ongoing maintenance requirements (e.g. cleaning, basic repairs). Until now, no comprehensive tool was available for clinicians and hearing aid owners to identify hearing aid related problems that clients may be experiencing.
This presentation draws on several studies to 1) outline the impact that hearing aid problems and poor hearing aid handling skills are having on hearing aid outcomes, 2) offer clinical tools to assist clinicians with the identification and management of hearing aid problems, and 3) demonstrate the positive impact that use of these tools can have on your clinical practice. |
12:25pm |
1:20pm |
Lunch |
1:20pm |
2:20pm |
Nina Swiderski and Kristan Abela The changing face of cochlear implant candidacy Candidacy guidelines for hearing implant solutions continue to change with improvements in technology, surgical techniques and hearing outcomes. There is no longer a ‘typical’ degree of hearing loss for which a cochlear implant may be recommended and as such, cochlear implants are becoming a suitable treatment option for a more diverse population of people with significant, permanent hearing loss. A cochlear implant may now be a suitable treatment option for many people with ski-slope hearing loss, asymmetrical hearing loss or Single-Sided Deafness (SSD). This presentation will use interactive case discussions to demonstrate the case-by-case nature of hearing implant candidacy and the importance of working in partnership to ensure optimal outcomes are achieved for recipients and their families. While medical suitability, audiological and speech perception results are considered, so too are the hearing and communication needs, listening goals and expectations of an individual and their family. |
2:20pm |
2:45pm |
Afternoon Tea |
2:45pm |
2:50pm |
Welcome to Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2:50pm |
3:30pm |
Prof Barbara Weinstein Hearing Loss: A Modifiable Risk Factor for Dementia A highly prevalent and progressive chronic condition, age related hearing loss (ARHL) is associated with poor physical function, poor mental, increased risk of falls, social isolation, caregiver burden, cognitive impairment, and mortality. The hearing impairment associated with aging reduces the fidelity of the information reaching the listener and combined with external sources of interference (e.g.background noise) challenge the listeners’ comprehension thereby impairing effective communication. Hearing loss is highly prevalent among vulnerable cognitively impaired older adults with a significant proportion experiencing disabling hearing loss. Social isolation and peripheral hearing loss have been recognized as potentially modifiable dementia risk factors. There is a growing interest in identifying modifiable risk factors given the cost savings that can accrue. The connections between dementia and hearing loss will be discussed along with the efficacy of auditory based interventions. How best to communicate with persons with dementia and hearing loss will be emphasized along with the important role audiologists can play in identification and management of persons with dementia. |
3:30pm |
5:00pm |
Ageing Colloquium Causes and consequences of Social Isolation
By 2050, one-in-four Australian adults will experience hearing loss, and older adults will experience the highest prevalence and greatest impairment. Hearing loss impacts communication and quality of life for the person with the hearing difficulties, their significant others, and is just one of many conditions which contribute to the complexities of ageing. An understanding of the breadth and complexity of the ageing process is essential for professionals working with older adults, to deliver consumer-centric, family-centred care.
This colloquium will bring a multidisciplinary approach to how ageing can impact an individual’s quality of life and functioning. Rather than focusing on impairment alone, the panel will also consider how ageing impacts an individual’s Activities, Participation, along with the influence of individual context.
This panel will consist of a group of experts from diverse professional backgrounds and will be facilitated by Dr Caitlin Barr. The panel will include:
- Geriatrician – Associate Professor Solomon Yu
- Sociologist – Cultural Factors/ Social Participation – Dr Helen Barrie
- Audiologist – Professor Barbra Weinstein (USA)
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5:00pm |
6:00pm |
Networking Drinks |
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