8:15am |
8:45am |
Registration & Arrival Tea & Coffee |
8:45am |
8:55am |
Welcome and Introductions |
8:55am |
9:35am |
Prof Barbara Weinstein What behaviours should we target with our hearing health care interventions Under treated and under appreciated chronic condition, age related hearing loss is associated with diminished quality of life and it is the threats to quality of life which lead to help seeking behaviors. In fact, the research now suggests that the affective or emotional responses to listening difficulty in noise (e.g. frustration, feeling left out) along with the absolute difficulty in social situations should be the focus of our intervention efforts. Recent evidence on the correlates of the emotional response to listening difficulty will be discussed (e.g. fatigue, depression, listening effort, social/emotional loneliness) along with the efficacy of our interventions vis-à-vis the psychosocial correlates. The import of communicating the psychosocial health outcomes of our interventions to stakeholders, namely patients and physicians will be discussed and a HEaring Loss Prescription (HELP) to address age related hearing loss will be proposed. |
9:35am |
10:15am |
Caitlin O'Sullivan 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. |
10:15am |
10:35am |
Morning Tea |
10:35am |
11:15am |
Dr Caitlin Barr Means, Motive and Opportunity: What is stopping audiologists engaging in psychosocial communication with their clients? Dr Caitlin Barr, Dr Ennur Erbasi, Dr Carly Meyer, Dr Katie Ekberg, Dr Monique Waite, Professor Robert Cowan and Professor Louise Hickson Recent research revealed that there are opportunities for audiologists to more effectively address the psychosocial consequences of hearing loss to provide person-centred care. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to audiologists engaging in effective psychosocial communication with adult patients and their significant others. Fourteen audiologists from across Australia were interviewed, and interviews were analysed using the COM-B model, a technique specifically used for developing tools to facilitate behaviour change. Findings of this qualitative study suggest that barriers are complex and span three major areas: means (skills and knowledge), motive (personal, professional and organisational beliefs) and opportunity (professional and organisational). These findings offer strategies for clinician and organisational change to pave the way for optimising the provision of person-centred hearing care |
11:15am |
11:55am |
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. |
11:55am |
12:35pm |
Victor Rodrigues, Chief Software Architect, Cochlear Limited Is the Future of hearing connected? We’ve all heard the future technology talk: big data, artificial intelligence, social media revolution, telemedicine, virtual reality, etc. But what does this all mean for the hearing industry? In his presentation, Victor Rodigues, Chief Software Architect at Cochlear, will explore this topic. Starting with a bit of history, he will then delve into the present and explore what Cochlear is doing in this space, finishing his talk with some insights on what the future potentially holds. |
12:35pm |
1:20pm |
Lunch |
1:20pm |
2:00pm |
Simone Boardman Current Surgical Options for Hearing Loss The surgical options for hearing loss are broadening, with increasing numbers of patients now able to consider the option of surgery and implantable devices to optimise their hearing and ability to communicate. Surgical options which assist in hearing loss will be reviewed, along with the changing indications and evidence for these interventions. Cochlear implantation is now an important option for some children and adults with hearing loss. The current indications, outcomes and developments in cochlear implantation will be examined. |
2:00pm |
3:30pm |
Associate Prof Wayne Wilson The evolving concept of APD Research in the area of auditory processing disorder (APD) has exploded over the past 10 years. Keeping up with so much new research can be difficult, especially for the busy clinician. This seminar will provide an update on the latest research into APD with a particular emphasis on new assessment and rehabilitation tools and the evidence behind them. |
3:30pm |
3:45pm |
Afternoon Tea |
3:45pm |
5:15pm |
Prof Barbara Weinstein Hearing Loss a Modifiable Risk for Dementia- An opportunity for Audiologists to make a difference The prevalence of age related hearing loss and dementia is on the rise with the increase in life expectancy continues with the aging of baby-boomer population. In fact, prevalence of hearing impairment in subjects diagnosed with dementia is higher than in the population without dementia. Age related hearing loss and dementia have a marked impact on social functioning, independence and quality of life and therefore the health consequences and relevance to society are dramatic. Hearing loss may be a forerunner of cognitive decline and in fact some argue that presence of hearing loss warrants a cognitive screen because hearing loss is considered a modifiable risk factor. Hearing loss can induce social isolation, which can lead to disorientation. Also associated with poor hearing and social isolation, depression may contribute to apparent cognitive impairment and dementia.
This workshop will begin with an overview of the warning signs and discussion of how dementia manifests. Recognition of common symptoms throughout the progression of dementia will be discussed. This will be accompanied by an overview of questions to be considered as part of the routine intake. Possible tools used to screen older adults with age related hearing loss who may be at risk for or who display behaviors considered precursors to cognitive decline or dementia will be described (e.g. Mini-Cog; De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale). Communication strategies to engage persons with dementia will be offered. Following the overview, there will be opportunities for role-playing of communication techniques, administration of cognitive screening tests, and counseling patients regarding referrals and next steps. |
5:15pm |
6:00pm |
Farewell Drinks |
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