Program

Join us on Friday 28 November at Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough for the WA Conference. Your registration gives you full access to every presentation

All times are listed in AWST (WA). Attendees will be eligible to receive 6 CPD points in Category 1.1.

Friday 28 November 2025

Time (AWST)	Details	Speaker/s
0855 - 0900	Welcome and Introduction
0900 - 1000	We can fit hearing aids to people with normal hearing thresholds – but should we? This presentation reviews emerging evidence on fitting hearing aids for people who struggle to listen despite having normal hearing thresholds. It explores pros such as better speech-in-noise performance and cons such as inconsistent results and risk of overtreatment.	A/Prof Wayne Wilson, The University of Queensland
1000 - 1030	Building an APD Clinic from the Ground Up: Lessons Learned, Challenges Faced, and Opportunities Ahead This presentation outlines the journey of establishing an Auditory Processing clinic within a multidisciplinary setting. We will share our key challenges and successes, and explore future directions including collaboration with Speech Pathologists for holistic care.	Natalie Bollen & Melanie Atkinson, Teach Speak Hear (TSH)
1030 - 1100	Audiology diagnosis: More than just 'hearing' – what are we really testing in children? Audiology diagnosis in children extends beyond measuring hearing thresholds. It involves evaluating the integrity of both peripheral and central auditory pathways, systems critical for a child’s communication, learning, and overall development. Understanding the broader scope of audiological assessment enables clinicians to identify difficulties, develop targeted treatment plans, and collaborate effectively within a broader allied health team. Through a holistic approach, audiologists play a pivotal role in identifying hearing, auditory processing, and broader developmental needs of children and their families. This diagnostic insight, combined with interdisciplinary teamwork, forms the foundation for effective intervention planning and supports outcomes that truly matter, creating value for clients. This presentation outlines an interdisciplinary service model and early outcomes.	Dr Azadeh Ebrahimi-Madiseh, Teach Speak Hear (TSH)
1100 - 1130	Morning Tea
1130 - 1300	Solution Suites Solution Suites are interactive small-group sessions where exhibitors showcase practical solutions and technologies.	Cochlear, EarTrain Program, Jands, Oticon & Specsavers
1300 - 1400	Lunch
1400 - 1430	Innovations in Cochlear Implantation Cochlear implants are a remarkably effective treatment for people with severe-to-profound hearing loss, but speech outcomes and patient reported benefits have stagnated for 15 years despite technological advances. After surgery, three types of inner ear damage can occur—scar tissue formation, sensory cell loss, and nerve damage—but we currently can't identify which problems affect each patient. At present, we can’t tell with accuracy which problem affects implant outcomes the most, which makes it impossible to accurately prescribe current therapies, or develop new ones. However, there are new electrical measurements that may be able to precisely diagnose each patient’s specific issue, enabling targeted treatments instead of one-size-fits-all approaches. Personalized medicine approaches could hold the way to unlock new therapies for cochlear implants, potentially transforming outcomes for over 1 million users worldwide and advancing the field toward truly optimized hearing restoration.	Dr Christo Bester, Ear Science Institute Australia
1430 - 1500	Remote Microphone Technology (RMT) for children with (C)APD - Understanding barriers and motivators of RMT use among children and parents Children with Central Auditory Processing Disorder [(C)APD] have difficulty listening despite normal hearing, often leading to academic and psychosocial challenges. Remote Microphone Technology (RMT) can improve children’s listening ability by improving signal-to-noise ratio in unfavourable listening environments. However, little is known about real-world engagement. This research aimed to explore barriers and facilitators of RMT use in children and parents. Preliminary qualitative findings from parent and child interviews, analysed thematically and guided by behaviour change models, highlighted practical, social, and emotional factors influencing RMT uptake. We hope this work will inform strategies to support sustained and meaningful adoption of RMT.	Akshaya Ravichandran, The University of Western Australia
1500 - 1530	Novel brain targets for tinnitus: Linking auditory hyperactivity, sensory gating and community priorities Tinnitus affects millions worldwide, with up to 30% reporting it as distressing and disruptive to sleep, cognition, and quality of life. One in five people experience tinnitus, yet despite its high prevalence, the neural mechanisms remain poorly understood and effective treatments elusive. Tinnitus is associated with hearing loss and persistent hyperactivity in central auditory pathways. Sensory gating, the brain’s ability to filter irrelevant sensory input, has emerged as a potential mechanism underlying tinnitus. Our research focuses on the prefrontal–thalamic network, which plays a crucial role in inhibitory control of auditory processing. Using rodent models of noise-induced hearing loss, we examined how impaired sensory gating contributes to neural hyperactivity. Electrophysiological recordings revealed impaired inhibition of increased spontaneous and evoked firing. This supports the hypothesis that disrupted prefrontal control facilitates hyperactivity. Community participants highlighted attentional overload, cognitive fatigue, and enthusiasm for brain-based research toward personalised tinnitus treatments.	Dr Kristin Barry, The University of Western Australia
1530 - 1600	Afternoon Tea
1600 - 1700	Fitting for music listening: What musicians and music lovers want Music isn’t just sound — it’s expression, emotion and nuance. This session will explore how hearing aids can be fine-tuned to better serve music-lovers and musicians alike. From selecting the right hearing aid settings and music programs to understanding the unique expectations of musical clients, we’ll cover practical tips and clinical considerations to help you optimise fittings for a richer, more satisfying listening experience.	Sarah Swann, The University of Melbourne