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Thursday, February 20
 

7:00am MST

Breakfast
Thursday February 20, 2020 7:00am - 8:00am MST
Bayview Room
  Meals and Networking

7:00am MST

Registration
Thursday February 20, 2020 7:00am - 6:30pm MST
Bayview Foyer
  Registration

8:00am MST

*Boothless Audiometry Workshop
A sound booth has long been the gold standard of equipment needed to conduct hearing conservation and audiological examinations.Within the past 10-years, several companies have worked to develop novel approaches to enable hearing assessment outside of the sound booth, to make services more accessible and increase efficiencies.Acceptable solutions must include specialized capabilities to meet additional requirements for specialty populations and markets, including foreign and domestic militaries as well as U.S. Veterans.It can be challenging to keep up with current technological advancements in boothless audiometry products.This workshop will present an overview of boothless audiometry technologies currently available to the hearing conservation professional.In the first part of the session, participants will learn about the military, Veteran, and civilian requirements, including a current summary of technologies available to meet them.It will also include overview presentations from participating boothless audiometry representatives.The second part of the session will include hands-on demonstrations of individual devices, allowing participants to become familiar with each device and how it can be used for hearing conservation services.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Gates, AuD

Kathy Gates, AuD

Prevention Audiologist, DoD Hearing Center of Excellence
Kathy Gates, Department of Defense (DoD) Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE): Dr. Gates supports the Prevention and Surveillance Branch for the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE).Her primary role is to promote hearing loss prevention initiatives and total worker hearing health... Read More →
avatar for Odile Clavier

Odile Clavier

Engineer, Creare
avatar for Jameel Muzaffar

Jameel Muzaffar

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Jameel Muzaffar is a Royal College of Surgeons Research Fellow at the UK Military Hearing Research Collaboration. His clinical background is in ENT and alongside this he is currently in the final year of a PhD in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge... Read More →
DK
RL
LP

NHCABoothlessWorkshopGatesIntro pdf
Boothless Audio for NHCA 2020 Final Read Only pdf
Creare WAHTS Clavier pptx
AMTAS NHCA 2020 Boothless Audiometry pptx
Thursday February 20, 2020 8:00am - 11:00am MST
Linkside A
  Thursday Workshop

8:00am MST

*Hands-On Workshop: How You (or Your Students) Can Contribute to Wiki4YearOfSound2020
How can we boost the implementation of evidence-based practices that will improve the health and well-being of the populations we serve?As people are turning to Wikipedia for information, we want the information they find to be complete, up-to-date, and accurate. For the International Year of Sound (IYS 2020), NHCA is supporting Wiki4YearOfSound2020, a campaign by NIOSH and the Acoustical Society of America to improve Wikipedia articles related to sound. IYS 2020 highlights the importance of sound in all aspects of life and aims to improve public awareness of sound-related issues at an international level. One can participate by promoting the project, suggesting a topic that should be a Wikipedia article and improving or translating existing articles.Educational programs can count on Wiki Education Foundation tools to train students to contribute high-quality content to Wikipedia as a course assignment. The Wikimedia outreach dashboard allows anyone to contribute and monitor progress. Workshop attendees will learn the basics of Wikipedia editing, make substantive changes to Wikipedia articles within their area of expertise, and find out more about the Wiki Education Foundation's classroom program. ***Please create a Wikipedia account in advance of the event and bring your computer to the workshop. ***
Speakers
avatar for Thais Morata, PhD

Thais Morata, PhD

Research Audiologist, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Thais C. Morata is a Research Audiologist at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Cincinnati, OH, USA). Her pioneering work in the area of noise interactions in the workplace has influenced national and international occupational safety and health policies.She... Read More →

20 0800 Morata pdf
Thursday February 20, 2020 8:00am - 11:00am MST
Terrace Room 2 & 3
  Thursday Workshop

8:00am MST

*Selecting Hearing Protection Devices Using New and Updated Standards
Hearing is a critical sense for individuals engaged in many occupations, occupational settings, and related activities. However, noise can interfere with their ability to communicate and to detect, identify, and localize sounds that may be crucial to work performance. Instituting noise controls is the primary method to reduce exposure and allow critical sounds to be heard, though administrative controls and personal protective equipment are often necessary. Hearing protection devices (HPDs) with newer technologies have been introduced with sound localization capabilities.Hearing conservation programs need to know what criteria to use to assess HPD capabilities and when to select newer HPDs.Participants in this course will learn (1) how to identify hearing critical tasks (HCT) in the workplace, (2) how HPDs differ in their abilities to suppress different types of noise, (3) what assessment methods can be used to determine localization, and (4) how to select hearing protection based upon all available information.Participants will also learn how to instruct hearing protection users in the selection of HPDs appropriate for specific tasks.
Speakers
avatar for Kari Buchanan

Kari Buchanan

zCore Business/DOD Hearing Ctr of Excellence
Kari Buchanan, M.P.H., M.A. is a retired U.S. Navy Industrial Hygiene Officer providing contract support through zCore Business Solutions to the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence. Ms. Buchanan is currently managing efforts on developing a hearing protective device evaluated products... Read More →

2020 NHCA Workshop Part 4 Localization pdf
2020 NHCA Workshop Part 3 Attenuation V2 pdf
Selecting HPDs 2020 INTRO pdf
2020 NHCA Workshop Part 5 guidebook, poster, exercises pdf
2020 NHCA Workshop Part 2 HCTs pdf
Thursday February 20, 2020 8:00am - 11:00am MST
Linkside D
  Thursday Workshop

8:00am MST

Basics Workshop
8:00 am - 9:15 am
Noise Measurement and Control
Presented By: James Jerome, MA, CCC-A
This presentation provides an overview of the principles of noise measurement. Topics discussed include acoustical instrumentation, types of noise surveys, noise exposure criteria, how to conduct a noise survey, and overview of the principles of noise control.

9:15 am - 10:00 am
The Audiogram and How To Use It.
Presented By: Timothy Swisher, MA, CCC-a, FFFA
The audiogram is the tool used to record hearing test results. It is the primary vehicle used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hearing Conservation Program. As such, it is necessarily implemented to monitor the hearing sensitivity of noise affected employees. This presentation will discuss the employment of the audiogram, and hearing testing, in Hearing Conservation Programs. The basis for valid audiograms, the different styles of audiograms, purposes for hearing testing, and examples of audiometric results will be shown and deliberated. Standard Threshold Shift (STS) determination will be presented and age correction calculation and influence examined. STS follow-up procedures, to include baseline revision, will be reviewed. The NHCA guidelines for baseline audiogram revision will be examined. In summary, the audiogram will be discussed as an invaluable asset for the Hearing Conservationist during employee education and training.

10:30 am - 11:00 am
Hearing Loss Recordability Issues
Presented By: Theresa Small, AuD
This section will focus on the basic requirements of MSHA, OSHA and FRA recordkeeping regulations, as well as implications for professional review of audiograms and determination of work-relatedness. Although compliance with recordkeeping rules are important to the ultimate goal of tracking incidence of work-related hearing loss, emphasis will also be placed on best practices for an effective hearing loss prevention program.
Speakers
avatar for James Jerome, MA, CCC-A

James Jerome, MA, CCC-A

Senior Occupational Audiologist, Workplace Integra- Midwest, Inc
Jim has been an active member of the NHCA since 1999. He served as Secretary on the NHCA Scholarship Foundation (NHCASF), Secretary/Treasurer on the NHCA Executive Council, Program Chair for the 2012 and 2015 Annual NHCA Conferences, President of NHCA, and currently President of the... Read More →
TS

Timothy Swisher, MA, CCC-a, FFFA

Audiologist, President, Hearing Safety
Tim is an occupational audiologist and president of Hearing Safety. He received his B.S. at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his M.A. in Audiology at Western Illinois University. He began his audiological career as an Army audiologist, retiring as a major after 20 years service... Read More →
avatar for Theresa Small, AuD

Theresa Small, AuD

Audiologist, Associates In Audiology, Inc.
Theresa H. Small, Au.D., CPS/A is an occupational audiologist consultant, CAOHC certified professional supervisor and course director and owner of Associates In Audiology, Inc., a professional consulting firm specializing in occupational audiology, and hearing loss prevention. Dr... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2020 8:00am - 11:00am MST
Linkside B
  Thursday Workshop

8:00am MST

Impulsive Noise: Understanding, Measuring, and Mitigating the Risk of Noise Induced Hearing Loss
This half-day workshop will provide current information to attendees regarding the effects of impulsive noise, ways to measure it, techniques to mitigate the exposure, and how to assess impulsive noise exposures.Exposure to high-level impulse noises such as firearms and explosions is significant risk factor for noise induced hearing loss.When peak exposure levels exceed 140 dB SPL, the risk of permanent hearing loss increases rapidly.Although Impulse and impact noise are generated through different processes, they are often grouped into impulsive noise.When measuring impulsive, sound level meters may not be the best choice.In many cases, recordings are more beneficial to understand the exposure and to mitigate the risk.Hearing protection devices are not the only tool in the hearing-loss prevention toolbox.Level dependent passive or electronic protectors, mufflers and noise suppressors can provide a range of noise level reductions and improve communication in critical jobs.Estimating the risk of hearing loss has been challenging due to the range of damage risk criteria (DRC) available to the occupational safety and health professional.The advantages and disadvantages of several DRCs will be presented.By attending this workshop, should help the safety and health professional to understand, measure, and mitigate the risk of noise exposure to high-level impulsive noise.
Speakers
avatar for William Murphy, PhD

William Murphy, PhD

Captain, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
William J. Murphy is a Captain in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and is coordinator for the Hearing Loss Prevention cross sector for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.He is an active member of the National Hearing Conservation Association... Read More →
avatar for Gregory Flamme

Gregory Flamme

Senior Scientist, SASRAC
Gregory A. Flamme, Ph.D. is a Senior Scientist with Stephenson and Stephenson Research and Consulting (SASRAC). Prior to joining SASRAC, Dr. Flamme held faculty positions at Western Michigan University and The University of Iowa. He completed his Ph.D. in Audiology at The University... Read More →
DK
MS

Thursday February 20, 2020 8:00am - 11:00am MST
Linkside C
  Thursday Workshop

1:00pm MST

*Basics Workshop
1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
The Basics: Effective Hearing Protection
Presented By: Frank Wartinger, AuD
Hearing Protection Devices (HPD) are one of the most visible portions of a hearing conservation program, but they are generally considered the last resort intervention after administrative and engineering controls have been implemented and have failed to reduce noise exposures sufficiently. Effective HPD implementation will be reviewed, including proper device selection, fitting strategies, and motivation. Available fit verification methods will be discussed.

2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Shaping Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors
Presented By: Laurie Wells, Au.D. 
Regulations specify that workers in hearing conservation programs must be trained and what content must be covered. However, there is great latitude for how training is done and more importantly, how training can be effective. Hearing conservationists have the opportunity to strengthen the educational impact on workers by adopting public health approaches in shaping knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. This section will address the science and art of enhancing hearing conservation training and education with the goal of motivating noise-exposed workers toward better hearing health care. It will include some theory, practical “ears-on” interactive techniques, and highlight hearing protection fit testing as a best practice in hearing loss prevention.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
In Search of "Best Practices Hearing Conservation" - A World-Wide Review of Regulations
Presented By: Richard L Stepkin, MS, CCC-A
Exactly what is a "Best Practice Hearing Conservation Program". The intent of a Regulation is to protect hearing - isn't it? Regulations & Criteria within U.S. vary significantly among Govt, Military, Construction, Railroads, other trades - why so? Aside from the many variances within our own Country, how do other Countries from Asia to the EU handle the issue of protecting hearing? If we are "engaged" in protecting hearing why are we so "disengaged" - It's confusing! Employer's are confused because OSHA (and others) view work related hearing loss and Log 300 "differently" than Workers Compensation and AAO. Employers comply with Regulations feeling good about their program but then get surprised on Workers Compensation. I thought we were protecting our employees hearing - yes? NO! The intent of this presentation is to review all these issues and propose a Best Practices HC Program designed to protect hearing and liabilities.
Speakers
avatar for Frank Wartinger, AuD

Frank Wartinger, AuD

Earmark Hearing Conservation
Frank Wartinger is a clinical audiologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a certified CAOHC course director, and owner of Earmark Hearing Conservation, a private practice serving musicians in Philadelphia. He is an active member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and... Read More →
avatar for Laurie Wells, AuD

Laurie Wells, AuD

Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist, 3M Personal Safety Division
Laurie Wells, Au.D., is a Doctor of Audiology and Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist for 3M Personal Safety Division.  Laurie works with hearing protection and hearing conservation program regulatory issues, such as developing evidenced based standards, around the globe. Laurie... Read More →
RL

Richard L Stepkin, MS, CCC-A

Occupational Audiologist, NoNoys II Inc.
Eagle Scout; U.S. Naval Submarine Service 1964 – 1967; Florida State University, Audiology MS,1972  ASHA Certs 1973;  U.S. Army Medical Service Corps 1972-1975  Major, Military Audiologist Initiating and Maintaining Hearing Conservation Programs at Ft. Devens  MA and Ft. Drum... Read More →

NHCA Basics 2020 Education and Motivation Wells 2020 02 03 HANDOUT pdf
20 1300 Wartinger pdf
20th 8am 4pm Stepkin Best Practices pdf
Thursday February 20, 2020 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Linkside B
  Thursday Workshop

1:00pm MST

Boothless Audiometry Workshop
A sound booth has long been the gold standard of equipment needed to conduct hearing conservation and audiological examinations.Within the past 10-years, several companies have worked to develop novel approaches to enable hearing assessment outside of the sound booth, to make services more accessible and increase efficiencies.Acceptable solutions must include specialized capabilities to meet additional requirements for specialty populations and markets, including foreign and domestic militaries as well as U.S. Veterans.It can be challenging to keep up with current technological advancements in boothless audiometry products.This workshop will present an overview of boothless audiometry technologies currently available to the hearing conservation professional.In the first part of the session, participants will learn about the military, Veteran, and civilian requirements, including a current summary of technologies available to meet them.It will also include overview presentations from participating boothless audiometry representatives.The second part of the session will include hands-on demonstrations of individual devices, allowing participants to become familiar with each device and how it can be used for hearing conservation services.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Gates, AuD

Kathy Gates, AuD

Prevention Audiologist, DoD Hearing Center of Excellence
Kathy Gates, Department of Defense (DoD) Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE): Dr. Gates supports the Prevention and Surveillance Branch for the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE).Her primary role is to promote hearing loss prevention initiatives and total worker hearing health... Read More →
LP
avatar for Jameel Muzaffar

Jameel Muzaffar

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Jameel Muzaffar is a Royal College of Surgeons Research Fellow at the UK Military Hearing Research Collaboration. His clinical background is in ENT and alongside this he is currently in the final year of a PhD in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge... Read More →
RL
DK

Thursday February 20, 2020 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Linkside A
  Thursday Workshop

1:00pm MST

Considering Models and Approaches to Health Behavior Change in the Prevention of Auditory Dysfunction
"Exposure to loud noise has the potential to cause auditory dysfunction. Preventing or limiting this exposure could prevent (or at least minimize) noise-induced auditory dysfunction. Researchers and clinicians, therefore, have tried educating the public about noise exposure and hearing conservation practices. Despite these efforts, there remain individuals who do not follow through with these recommendations. Why is that? What can we be doing better to enhance awareness and compliance?

These are good questions. The challenge, however, is not unique to hearing conservation efforts. The literature is full of examples of patients who have failed to start or maintain a recommended behavior change (e.g., exercising, quitting smoking).

Recognizing this issue, other fields have evaluated models to understand the behavior change process and have recommended approaches to help support patients in making behavior changes. Researchers have explored the potential applicability of some of these models and approaches, such as the Transtheoretical Stages-of-Change Model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) and the Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991), to hearing healthcare, and to hearing conservation practices, specifically. This workshop will review these models and approaches and discuss potential strategies for improving hearing conservation efforts."
Speakers
avatar for M. Samantha Lewis

M. Samantha Lewis

Pacific University
M. Samantha Lewis, PhD, is an associate professor in the School of Audiology at Pacific University located in Hillsboro, Oregon. She joined the School of Audiology in 2017, after a 15-year career as a research investigator/audiologist at VA Rehabilitation Research and Development... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2020 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Terrace Room 2 & 3
  Thursday Workshop

1:00pm MST

Noise Exposure Risk Assessment in Various Workplace Environments
"Worker sound exposure risk assessment is the cornerstone for a successful occupation hearing loss prevention program.Besides being the primary mechanism for determining the nature and degree of sound exposure risk, it can also interrelate with other program elements including tracking progress of a noise control program.

Issues that can govern an effective assessment procedure include sufficiency, reliability, utility and cost-effectiveness.Above all, the strategy chosen for exposure assessment must also be failsafe.

This workshop will reference specific paragraphs of the OSHA regulation covering monitoring and discuss in detail the methodologies covered in ANSI S12.19-1996 (R2016) and evaluation methods contained in other reference books and documents.It will cover monitoring criteria, instrumentation, and the potential impact of both on monitoring results. The workshop will also include examples of multiple work environments ranging in complexity and discuss how different monitoring strategies can lead to varying results.The object is to provide a more complete understanding of how to approach the important process of assessing noise exposure risk.

Attendees of the workshop will be given access to a software application useful in computing sound exposures."
Speakers
avatar for Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson Group, Inc.
Robert Anderson is Principal and Co-Founder of Anderson Consulting Associates, a noise control consulting firm in Lansing, Michigan. He has been actively involved in the field of noise control for over 40 years, supervising and participating in projects related to control of occupational... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2020 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Linkside C
  Thursday Workshop

1:00pm MST

What You Don't Hear Can Kill You - The Conundrum of Balancing Hearing Protection and Auditory Situation Awareness:Guidance for the Hearing Conservationist
Hearing is a critical sense for maintaining vigilance to events in our realm and a keen realization of our surroundings, essentially providing a state of "auditory situation awareness" or "ASA."Protection against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) via the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) or Tactical Communications & Protective Systems (TCAPS),together with concomitant preservation of one's ASA to the surrounding environment, is critical in many dynamic civilian work situations as well as in the military.Devices designed toward this objective should aim to be as auditorially "transparent" as possible to the wearer, with minimal impact of attenuation, occlusion, gain compression and pass-through frequency response on the wearer's auditory perception.This workshop will review and demonstrate various "augmented" HPDs and TCAPS that are intended (but are not always successful) to provide ASA while protecting the wearer. Products which provide either passive or active (battery-electronic) level-dependent attenuation and pass-through of certain sound frequencies will be included.The ASA impacts of these products will be covered, relying on evidence from 14 experiments at Virginia Tech, as well as surveys from elsewhere, that show the sometimes deleterious effects on wearer's detection, recognition/identification, localization and communications abilities, as compared to performance with the open (i.e., natural) ear.Live auditory demonstrations of HPD and TCAPS effects on ASA tasks, including localization, will be provided where possible.The importance and potential effectiveness of training HPD users for ASA skills acquisition, prior to being deployed with the products, will be covered.Guidance for selecting HPDs given certain ASA needs to accommodate given operational tasks will be offered.Examples of actual accidents that stemmed from the loss of ASA, resulting in injury, death and sometimes litigation, will be covered briefly.
Speakers
avatar for John Casali, PhD

John Casali, PhD

Grado Chaired Professor and Director, Auditory Systems Lab, Virginia Tech & HEAR LLC
Dr. John Casali is the Grado Chaired Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech and Director of the Auditory Systems Lab.He also is Founder of Hearing, Ergonomics and Acoustics Resources (HEAR) LLC, a product design, testing, and litigation support company. A Fellow... Read More →
avatar for Kichol Lee, Ph.D.

Kichol Lee, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech & HEAR LLC
Dr. Lee is a research assistant professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. As the manager of the Auditory Systems Lab at Virginia Tech, he conducts various projects related to product design and human audition.  His research interests include human auditory... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2020 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Linkside D
  Thursday Workshop

2:00pm MST

Exhibitor Set-Up
Thursday February 20, 2020 2:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Exhibit Hall

5:30pm MST

Opening Reception
Thursday February 20, 2020 5:30pm - 8:30pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Meals and Networking
 
Friday, February 21
 

7:00am MST

Breakfast
Friday February 21, 2020 7:00am - 8:00am MST
Bayside Ballroom
  Meals and Networking

7:00am MST

Exhibit Hall
Friday February 21, 2020 7:00am - 5:30pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Exhibit Hall

7:00am MST

Registration
Friday February 21, 2020 7:00am - 5:30pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Registration

8:00am MST

General Session: Opening Remarks
Friday February 21, 2020 8:00am - 8:15am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  General Session

8:15am MST

Hearing, Aging, and Public Health - From Epidemiology to Public Policy
"Medicine and public health have evolved through three eras over the past century. Beginning in the first half of the 20th century, infectious diseases were controlled for the first time in human history through vaccinations, antibiotics, and other strategies. Subsequently, throughout the 20th century, chronic diseases of middle and later life (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancers) became the leading causes of mortality but have also increasingly been better controlled. These successes of public health have led to a rapidly increasing population of older adults living longer than ever before. In this third era of public health and medicine, we are now confronting the challenges of aging and how to best optimize the health and functioning of a growing population of older adults. In this era, hearing and our ability to engage effectively with the environment around us are critically important but not yet priorities in the spheres of public health and public policy.

I will discuss research over the past several years that has demonstrated the broad implications of hearing loss for the health and functioning of older adults, particularly with respect to cognitive functioning, brain aging, and dementia. I will then discuss how this epidemiologic research has directly informed and led to current national initiatives in the United States focused on hearing loss and public health. These initiatives include the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) randomized controlled trial and recent passage of the bipartisan Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act in 2017. This federal law overturns over 40 years of regulatory precedent around hearing aids in the U.S. in order to directly improve the accessibility and affordability of hearing care for older adults."
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Deal

Jennifer Deal

Johns Hopkins University
Jennifer A. Deal is an epidemiologist and gerontologist with expertise in hearing loss and cognitive aging.She is an Assistant Scientist of Epidemiology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University and Core Faculty and Associate Director for Academic Training... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2020 8:15am - 8:45am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Keynote

8:45am MST

*Healthy Hearing, Healthy Aging: Initial Results
"Progressive and permanent sensorineural hearing loss associated with noise exposure (NIHL) is a chronic health condition in agricultural workers. In addition to the impact of hearing loss on communication, hearing loss and exposure to noise have negative impacts on balance, cardiovascular health, mental health, and cognitive skills. Recent large-scale public health studies among elderly and middle-aged persons indicated hearing loss presents a significant and independent risk factor for the development of dementia. This project will examine the hearing status and cognitive skills of aging farmers and ranchers over the age of 50. The research proposal was previously presented at the 2019 NCHA annual conference.This presentation will report the initial findings of data collected since that time including audiological and cognitive screening results. The following screening tests have been used for the first phase of this study: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), Stroop Color and Word Test (STROOP), and the Digit Symbol Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSS). Our data will provide novel information on the impact of long-term hearing loss on the cognitive status in older agricultural workers."
Speakers
avatar for Jan Moore

Jan Moore

Professor, University of Nebraska Kearney
Jan Allison Moore received graduate degrees from the University of Illinois (Ph.D.) and Purdue University (M.S.) and her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas.She also completed a graduate certificate program in Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical... Read More →

NHCA 2020 Moore Friday AM pptx
Moore NHCA handouts pdf
Friday February 21, 2020 8:45am - 9:15am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

9:15am MST

*University of Michigan/Apple Hearing Health Study
Presented By: Richard Neitzel, PhD, CIH, FAIHA
Co-Author: Lauren Smith, MPH
"The impacts of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) resulting from excessive noise exposure are extensive, severe, and widespread.However, there is little information available about music exposure levels and listening patterns among adults in the United States.As a result, we do not have a good understanding ofthe relationship between listening to music and risk of hearing loss. The introduction of new technology and software into mobile devices has created exciting new opportunities for us to learn more about these issues.The University of Michigan School of Public Health has partnered with Apple to take advantage of these opportunities in a new research study.This presentation will provide an overview of the study, and also identify ways in which the results of the study will be useful to hearing conservation practitioners.

As part of this study, we will evaluate the levels of sound at which iPhone users listen to music and other media on their mobile devices, as well as how long and how often they listen.We will also measure environmental noise levels, and deliver several different types of hearing tests to participants.We will collect this information from tens of thousands (or more!) of volunteer adults who use iPhones or iPods, and from the subset of volunteers who also use Apple Watches.This unique dataset will allow us to create something the United States has never had: national-level estimates of exposures to music and environmental sound.It will also give us a better understanding of the relationship between these exposures and hearing health.Collectively, this information will help give us a clearer picture of hearing health in America, and will increase our knowledge about the impacts of our daily exposures to music and noise.This information is critical for us to address and reduce the major public health impacts of hearing loss in the United States."
Speakers
avatar for Richard Neitzel, PhD, CIH, FAIHA

Richard Neitzel, PhD, CIH, FAIHA

University of Michigan
Richard L. Neitzel, PhD, CIH is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan (UM) School of Public Health.He has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts focused on exposures to, and impacts of, noise... Read More →

NHCA Apple Study Neitzel 2020 Read Only pdf
Friday February 21, 2020 9:15am - 9:45am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

9:45am MST

Break
Friday February 21, 2020 9:45am - 10:15am MST
Linkside Foyer
  Meals and Networking

10:15am MST

*Building an Effective Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) and the Value of Prevention
This presentation will be a DoD Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE) panel/discussion on building effective Hearing Conservation Programs and the value of prevention of hearing loss.Background information will be presented through a case analysis example of the following:In 2013, the HCE led efforts to standardize accession (entry onto active duty) and separation audiometric testing standards across the DoD.Because of this effort, the USAF (US Air Force), through HCE funds set up accession testing using Defense Occupational Environmental Hearing Readiness System-Hearing Conservation (DOEHRS-HC) at Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB TX and Officer Training School (OTS) at Maxwell AFB AL.Prior to implementation, a Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) was conducted to identify gaps in the process in the USAF.Past and current data will be presented that validates the effectiveness of the program.This led to the AF taking over financial and manning responsibility for testing in 2018.Additionally the USAF adopted the Separation History and Physical Examination (SHPE) process.This was the first time, every Airman in the USAF would receive an initial DOEHRS-HC exam and separation exam.Policy change became effective in Feb 2016 with AFI 48-127 including requirements for accession and separation hearing tests.Cost savings and return of investment data of the DoD/AF accession hearing test program will be presented.Discussion of the value of audiometric monitoring as a component of an effective HCP will follow.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Gates, AuD

Kathy Gates, AuD

Prevention Audiologist, DoD Hearing Center of Excellence
Kathy Gates, Department of Defense (DoD) Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE): Dr. Gates supports the Prevention and Surveillance Branch for the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE).Her primary role is to promote hearing loss prevention initiatives and total worker hearing health... Read More →
avatar for Theresa Schulz, Ph.D.

Theresa Schulz, Ph.D.

Prevention & Surveillance Branch Chief, DoD Hearing Center of Excellence
Theresa Y. Schulz, PhD, LtCol, USAF (ret.)  Dr Theresa Schulz is Prevention & Surveillance Branch Chief at the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence.  With graduate degrees from the University of Texas and the Ohio State University, as well as over 30 years of experience, Dr Schulz provides... Read More →
avatar for Malisha Martukovich, AuD

Malisha Martukovich, AuD

USAF
Major Malisha Martukovich serves as the Air Force Audiology Liaison to the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.As an advocate for hearing health issues within the DOD, she works on outreach activities, prevention branch initiatives and is... Read More →

HCE NHCA 20 Panel Presentation MM TYSedits 7 Jan 20[1] Read Only Compatibility Mode pdf
Friday February 21, 2020 10:15am - 10:40am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

10:40am MST

UK Military Hearing Collaboration - An Overview of Progress Across Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Prevention, detection and treatment of NIHL and tinnitus are the core mission of the UK Military Hearing Research Collaboration (UK-MHRC). The UK-MHRC brings together partners across government, academia, industry and NATO allies with the aim of coordinating and stimulating research activity in this area. This presentation will provide an overview of current UK-MHRC activities including studies of a new model of occupational hearing screening incorporating telemedicine and endoscopic examination of the ear, investigation of boothless audiometry, studies of hidden hearing loss in blast and acutely noise exposed personnel, efforts to understand the anatomical site of lesion in sensorineural hearing loss and drug treatments for tinnitus and acute acoustic trauma.The second part of the presentation will identify near and medium term goals across all three key areas for the UK-MHRC and discuss projected steps to meet these.
Speakers
avatar for Linda Orr

Linda Orr

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Lt Col Linda E Orr BSc(Hons) MB ChB DM FRCS(Eng) FRCS (ORL-HNS) is a serving Ear, Nose and Throat - Head and Neck Surgeon in the British Royal Army Medical Corps. She has served operationally over the last 30 years initially as a doctor within the infantry and SF and more latterly... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2020 10:40am - 11:05am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

11:05am MST

*Developments in Artificial Intelligence to Prevent and Mitigate Hearing Loss
AI holds promise for empowering the lay individual and trained clinicians to better prevent hearing loss and mitigate its effects. However, despite the substantial press AI has received, it is often unclear how it may shape one's own field. This overview will provide a description of the AI space, the technologies that have driven its recent success in multiple domains, and future AI trends and challenges in a manner accessible to working professionals in audiology, engineering, and healthcare. We will then show examples of how work at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and other research centers are harnessing AI for hearing conservation and for reducing the debilitating effects of hearing loss. These examples include fast, efficient feedback on hearing protection status and re-imagining (and making real) the "hearable" of the future.
Speakers
avatar for Gregory Ciccarelli

Gregory Ciccarelli

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gregory Ciccarelli performed his doctoral research in electrical engineering and computer science at the intersection of speech, neuroscience, and computational modeling at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since joining the Human Health and Performance Systems group at MIT... Read More →

21 1105 Ciccarelli 6slides pdf
Friday February 21, 2020 11:05am - 11:30am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

11:30am MST

General Session: Business Meeting
Friday February 21, 2020 11:30am - 12:00pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  General Session

12:00pm MST

Luncheon Keynote: The Fifth Sense
Our world is dominated by the five senses, but why does hearing get the short straw? Everything around us is designed for sight, touch, taste, and smell—but when it comes to hearing, intentionality goes in one ear and out the other.

Sound so often gets overlooked. We tend to address a smelly shoe or indulge in that tasty piece of pie but we tend to ignore that squeaky door or the loud hum of a refrigerator. Taking it even further, what are the possibilities if we begin to address sound in more intentional ways? Sound is the next frontier in wellness and luxury. It has the ability to influence your mind in ways we never thought possible and our culture is just beginning to harness it.

Dallas explore these ideas and share some of the most impactful moments from his podcast, Twenty Thousand Hertz.
Speakers
avatar for Dallas Taylor

Dallas Taylor

Host, Twenty Thousand Hertz
Dallas Taylor is the host of Twenty Thousand Hertz, a podcast revealing the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds. Each show draws 100,000 listeners and since it’s start in 2016, more than 7 million people have downloaded the podcast. It also won last year’s Webby... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2020 12:00pm - 1:30pm MST
Bayside Ballroom
  Meals and Networking

1:30pm MST

*Poster Session
SpEAR: A Speech Database for the Advancement of Hearing Protection Devices Equipped with In-Ear Microphones
Presenter: Rachel Bouseral

A 10th Anniversary Look at the NIOSH Noise Twitter Account
Presenter: Ursula Brogan

Too Loud! An Analysis of Community Noise Ordinances
Presenter: Yulia Carroll, MD, PhD

Distinguishing Between Middle Ear Muscle Contractions and the Eye-Blink Startle Response: A Preliminary Study
Presenter: Kristy Deiters, Au.D.

Correlations Between Headphones Output in Decibel and Electronic Devices Volume
Presenter: Bankole Fasanya, PhD

Impacts of HPDs on Ear Canal Acoustics During Music Performance
Presenter: Brendan Fitzgerald, M.M. (Master of Music)

Patient and Public Involvement in Research for Hearing and Balance
Presenter: Amy Gosling, BSc(Hons) MSc

Relationship Between Noise Exposure, Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus Among Service Members and Veterans Using the Lifetime Exposure to Noise and Solvents Questionnaire (LENS-Q)
Presenter: Susan Griest, MPH

A Hearing Conservation Education Program for Early Career Music Professionals
Presenter: Jiong Hu, PhD, Au.D.

Evaluating Effects of Insertion and Measurement Techniques on Attenuation Characteristics of Industrial Earplugs
Presenter: Sridhar Krishnamurti, PhD

Prevalence of Hearing Loss among Noise-Exposed Workers within the Services Sector, 2006-2015
Presenter: Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, CPH, COHC

Assessing the Need for Hearing Conservation Programs in Agriculture-Based Organizations to Improve Self-Awareness of Purdue University Students
Presenter: Abby Maurer, B.S

Distributed Leaning Hearing Technician Training - A Joint Incentive Fund Initiative
Presenter: John Merkley, AuD

Comparison of Hearing Protector Test Results
Presenter: William Murphy, PhD

Optimized Passive Hearing Protection
Presenter: Kirk Ohnstad, B.S. Physics

Exploring the Prevalence of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Children and Youths. A Literature Review
Presenter: Jenny Rajan, AuD

Military Operational Medicine Research Program: Current and Future Needs of Auditory Injury Prevention Research
Presenter: Richard Shoge, PhD

Does Knowledge of an Impending Impulse Elicit Early Middle Ear Muscle Contractions?
Presenter: Madeline Smith, BS

Prevalence of Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss: Data from U.S. Health Surveys
Presenter: Christa Themann, MA, CCC-A

Agreement Across Different Measures of Noise Exposure in College Students
Presenter: Jennifer Tufts, PhD

Predictors for Hearing Protection Attenuation Among Miners
Presenter: Elon Ullman, B.A.

The Connected Protected Worker at the Age of IoT
Presenter: Jérémie Voix, PhD

Prev of HL in Services Masterson NHCA 2020 Poster final pdf
Jeremie Voix Poster pdf
Maurer, A 2020 NHCA Conference Poster pdf
Rachel Poster pdf
NHCA POSTER pdf
Friday February 21, 2020 1:30pm - 2:30pm MST
Bayview Room
  Poster Sessions

2:30pm MST

Break
Friday February 21, 2020 2:30pm - 3:00pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Meals and Networking

3:00pm MST

How Do We Know it Works? Evaluating Hearing Loss Interventions for Effectiveness
Presented By: Hannah Speaks, MSPH, NIOSH
Co-Author: Thais Morata, PhD
Hearing conservation by nature is a preventative field, rooted in implementing behavioral and technical interventions. Although epidemiological outcomes have been monitored for hearing loss, those statistics have not been tied to interventions for promoting behavior change or reducing noise exposure. This presents a dilemma for the field, as many classic interventions, such as hearing protection devices or educational efforts, have yet to be proven as widespread, effective preventative measures. Attempts to implement new research and controls have become complex, as there is no current model for comparison. However, with combined efforts from the multiple professions involved in the field, the quest for effective hearing conservation can be achieved. This review covers generalized strategies for evaluating interventions for various facets of hearing conservation including: how to set up programs to collect meaningful data, how to interpret and analyze outcomes, how to collaborate to continue to enhance intervention effectiveness, and how to continue to monitor effectiveness over time. Moving forward, hearing conservationists should not only work towards developing solutions for hearing loss prevention but also focus on evaluating interventions for long and mid-term impacts on behavior and hearing health outcomes.
Speakers
HS

Hannah Speaks, MSPH

NIOSH
Hannah Speaks is currently an ORISE research fellow on the Noise and Bioacoustics team at the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). She holds a MSPH from the University of Miami and a BS in chemistry and industrial hygiene from the University of North Alabama... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2020 3:00pm - 3:25pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

3:25pm MST

*Middle Ear Muscle Contractions do not Provide Dependable Protection: Implications for Impulsive Noise Damage Risk Criteria
Presented By: Gregory Flamme, PhD
Co-Authors: Stephen Tasko, PhD, Kristy Deiters, AuD, Madeline Smith, B.A., William Murphy and Heath Jones, PhD
Numerous damage-risk criteria (DRC) for impulsive noise have assumed a protective role for middle ear muscle contractions (MEMC).  However, there is scant empirical evidence to support MEMC inclusion in DRC.  The aim of this presentation is to summarize the results of a multi-year, multi-site, multi-method series of laboratory and field studies involving live fire of military rifles.  Studies included epidemiological estimates of acoustic reflexes, identification of reflexive responses to brief tones, noise, and recorded gunshots, attempts to condition an early/warned contraction, and assessments of MEMC status among soldiers while firing military rifles.  Results indicate that MEMC are not dependable, either in anticipation of, or in response to an impulsive noise.  Therefore, MEMC should not be included in DRC for impulsive noise.
Speakers
avatar for Gregory Flamme

Gregory Flamme

Senior Scientist, SASRAC
Gregory A. Flamme, Ph.D. is a Senior Scientist with Stephenson and Stephenson Research and Consulting (SASRAC). Prior to joining SASRAC, Dr. Flamme held faculty positions at Western Michigan University and The University of Iowa. He completed his Ph.D. in Audiology at The University... Read More →

21 unknown Flamme pdf
Friday February 21, 2020 3:25pm - 3:50pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

3:50pm MST

Subjective Evaluation of Hearing Protection Devices in a Military Population
Presented By: Douglas Brungart, PhD
Co-Authors: Julieta Scalo and Rob Williams
To assess their experiences with and attitudes toward different types of hearing protection devices (HPDs), Service members were asked to complete a brief survey either 1) at the time of training for using a Tactical Communication and Protection Device (TCAP); 2) at their annual hearing-conservation auditory exam; or 3) after a recent deployment during which HPDs were used. In addition to answering questions about job duties, noise exposure, and type of hearing protection currently used, participants rated their satisfaction with their HPDs in several dimensions, including comfort, protection, communication, and localization. Participants were also asked to indicate their willingness to accept some degradation in certain HPD features in exchange for improvement in other features. Analyses to be presented will include regression modeling to evaluate relationships between satisfaction and type of hearing protection used, while controlling for location, experience, and other covariates.In preliminary evaluations, satisfaction scores were higher for electronic hearing protectors than for passive hearing protection devices, particularly with regard to factors related to situation awareness.[The views expressed in this abstract are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.]
Speakers
avatar for Douglas Brungart, PhD

Douglas Brungart, PhD

Chief Scientist, Walter Reed NMMC
Douglas S. Brungart, PhD, is the Chief Scientist of the National Military Audiology and Speech Pathology Center at Walter Reed and is currently also serving as the Chief Scientist for the Department of Defense Hearing Center of Excellence.From 1993 to 2009, he was a research engineer... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2020 3:50pm - 4:15pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

4:15pm MST

*Effectiveness of a Smartphone-Based Hearing Conservation Intervention Among Farm Youth
Presented By: Khalid Khan, PhD and Marjorie McCullagh, PhD
Co-Authors: Marjorie McCullagh, PhD and Jayna Kozlowski
Farm and rural youth experience noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) from a very young age. Interventions using technologies such as smartphone applications and text messaging, and other Internet-based resources have been conducted among youth in various community settings. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of these approaches is weak due to multiple methodological shortcomings of studies. Furthermore, it is unclear whether these interventions are feasible in hard-to-reach rural and agricultural populations. To address these gaps in knowledge, we will compare the effectiveness of a novel intervention (i.e., smartphone apps plus printed NIHL prevention leaflets and a control intervention (printed NIHL prevention leaflets only) in changing hearing conservation knowledge and behavior. Students from six high schools in rural Indiana are participating is this intervention study. We will report on preliminary data of this study, in progress.
Speakers
avatar for Khalid Khan, PhD

Khalid Khan, PhD

Assistant Professor, Indiana University, Bloomington
Khalid Khan is an Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Indiana University School of Public Health at Bloomington. His research interests are centered on the broad area of environmental epidemiology with specific emphasis on prevention of environmental... Read More →
avatar for Marjorie McCullagh, PhD

Marjorie McCullagh, PhD

Director, Occupational Health Nursing Program, University of Michigan School of Nursing

21 0415 Khan pdf
Friday February 21, 2020 4:15pm - 4:40pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

4:40pm MST

Safe-in-Sound Awards
Friday February 21, 2020 4:40pm - 5:15pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  General Session

6:30pm MST

Friday Night Networking Event
Join us from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm at the Margaritaville Restaurant for some food, drinks and fun with your NHCA peers.

  • Busses will be on a rotation starting at 6:00 pm, picking up from the front of the Grand Complex, for the group to start arriving at the restaurant by 6:30 pm. If you don't catch one of the first busses, don't worry, you can hop on the next!
  • Food and drinks will be available at the restaurant in a private space for our group to enjoy together
  • At 8:30 pm, Tanisha Hammill, Program Chair, will explain a fun networking event around the Harborwalk Village to wrap the night up, stay the whole time for a chance to win some prizes!

Friday February 21, 2020 6:30pm - 9:30pm MST
Margaritaville at Harbor Walk
  Meals and Networking
 
Saturday, February 22
 

7:00am MST

Vendor Appreciation Breakfast with Attendees and Exhibitors
Saturday February 22, 2020 7:00am - 8:00am MST
Bayside Ballroom
  Meals and Networking

7:00am MST

Exhibit Hall
Saturday February 22, 2020 7:00am - 4:30pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Exhibit Hall

7:00am MST

Registration
Saturday February 22, 2020 7:00am - 5:00pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Registration

8:10am MST

*Comic Books to Scientific Guidelines: Effective Strategies in the Fight Against Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
"The CDC National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) developed a strategic program plan to support the reduction of hearing loss, tinnitus and other non-auditory health effects resulting from non-occupational noise exposure. NCEH has developed a suite of materials using creative formats (interactive infographic, fact sheets, and graphics) and communication channels (twitter, Facebook, Instagram) to engage individuals, organizations, and communities in prevention efforts. To ensure that these important messages reached teens and young adults, NCEH developed partner advisories and a promotional toolkit to support partners and intermediaries in disseminating these materials. Sharing these materials during national health observances, e.g., World Hearing Day, allows NCEH to capitalize on the momentum of these events.
NCEH is gathering information on current evidence, methods and practical approaches for development of a public health guideline(s) on exposure to excessive sound levels outside of a working environment-at home, recreational venues and in the community. NCEH is seeking collaborative relationships with subject matter experts and potential representatives from public health partner organizations, industry, academic institutions, and other relevant Federal agencies."
Speakers
avatar for John Eichwald, M.A.

John Eichwald, M.A.

John Eichwald is an audiologist within the Office of Science in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health, working on non-occupational noise induced hearing loss.John has over 40 years' experience in the field of Audiology.He has... Read More →

22 0810 Eichwald pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 8:10am - 8:35am MST
Linkside D
  Saturday Breakout Session

8:10am MST

*Evaluation of Hearing Protection Device Effectiveness for Musicians
Hearing protection devices (HPD) may offer protection to musicians, including some designed to provide uniform attenuation across frequencies. Even though these are available, studies find that musicians, especially students and instructors, do not wear them.  Additionally, there is evidence indicating that many users do not achieve good fit and adequate sound reduction with HPD, which has led to recommendations for fit-testing in the workplace. Understanding the effectiveness of different HPD in combination with musicians’ opinions about wearing them, we can make better recommendations for which types may be the most effective options for reducing excessive sound exposures. Twenty-four musicians were recruited and provided with three HPD: formable foam, non-custom uniform attenuation earplugs (UAE), and custom UAE.  Audiometric testing was used to obtain personal attenuation levels at nine frequencies (125-8000 Hz) for each HPD which were compared to manufacturer ratings.  The coefficient of variation of attenuation across frequencies was used to determine the uniformity of attenuation.  Participants completed surveys over six months regarding HPD use, and perceptions regarding the positive and negatives aspects of wearing HPD.
Speakers
avatar for Kathryn Crawford, MS, COHC

Kathryn Crawford, MS, COHC

PhD candidate, University of Iowa
Kate Crawford is a PhD candidate in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) at the University of Iowa.  Kate received a BA in Literature and a BS in Environmental Health from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. After interning with the Environmental Health... Read More →

22 0810 Crawford pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 8:10am - 8:35am MST
Terrace Room 2 & 3
  Saturday Breakout Session

8:10am MST

*Field Validation Assessment of a Portable Auditory Localization Training System for Instilling Azimuthal Localization Skills With and Without Electronic Hearing Protectors
Presented By: Kara Cave, PhD and  Brandon Thompson, M.S.
Co-Authors: John Casali, PhD and Kichol Lee, PhD
This study assessed training transfer from azimuth localization training conducted in-lab to a field localization test.Specifically, the studies evaluated the sensitivity of in-lab training, using a broadband tonal complex, and in-field testing, using live blank gunshots, to differences among three listening conditions.The listening conditions included two currently-fielded military Tactical Communication and Protective Systems (TCAPS) and the open ear.Localization performance was compared between trained and untrained participants using an in-lab pretest with the dissonant signal and a field-conducted posttest using gunshots.Participants assigned to the training group underwent training under each listening condition.Participants in the untrained group only underwent the pretest and posttest.Results showed a statistically-significant effect for listening condition.Open ear localization accuracy was significantly better than either TCAPS condition.No significant effect existed in localization accuracy between the two TCAPS conditions.At posttest, the trained group performed significantly better than the untrained group.The open ear showed significantly fewer front-back reversals compared to either TCAPS condition.Implications for military and worker populations will be discussed.
Speakers
avatar for Kara Cave

Kara Cave

US Army
MAJ Kara Cave is currently assigned to the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Lab at Fort Rucker, AL. Currently, her research interests include human factors issues involved in tactical communication and protective systems use, auditory localization, blast related noise-induced hearing... Read More →
BT

NHCA presentation 2020 without video Cave pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 8:10am - 8:35am MST
Linkside C
  Saturday Breakout Session

8:10am MST

Characterization of Firearms Suppressor Performance with a Microphone Array
In 2017, firearm suppressors were evaluated with several rifles and pistols firing low- and high-velocity ammunition.Peak-impulse level reductions, ΔLPeak, ranged between 13 and 31 dB at the ear for low-velocity ammunition and 13 to 29 dB for high-velocity ammunition.Integrated-energy levels reductions at the ear, ΔLAeq, were between 10 and 31 dB and 9 and 25 dB for low- and high-velocity ammunition.The noise reductions at twelve microphone locations on a 3-m ring are compared with the muzzle microphone (1-m left) and microphones 15 cm from the shooter's right and left ears.The between correlations of the one-third octave band noise reduction spectra suggested that positions behind the shooter provided the best agreement with the microphones at the shooter's left and right ears.The microphone at 3 meters, and 15 degrees in front of the firing line to the right of the shooter in front of the firing line was better than the 3-m microphones to the left of the shooter 15 degrees in front and behind the firing line.
Speakers
avatar for William Murphy, PhD

William Murphy, PhD

Captain, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
William J. Murphy is a Captain in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and is coordinator for the Hearing Loss Prevention cross sector for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.He is an active member of the National Hearing Conservation Association... Read More →

Saturday February 22, 2020 8:10am - 8:35am MST
Linkside A
  Saturday Breakout Session

8:40am MST

*Effects of Written Instructions on Field Real Ear Attenuation at Threshold Measurements
Presented By: Katherine Steffen, BA
Co-Authors: Deanna Meinke, Ph.D. CCC-A, Kathryn Bright, PhD and Tina Stoody, PhD
Hearing protector fit-testing is an essential part of a hearing conservation program to ensure that hearing protection devices are effectively protecting the wearer from hazardous noise. The NIOSH HPD Well-Fit™ device was used to measure the personal attenuation rating for each individual's 3M EAR Classic hearing protection device. The NIOSH HPD Well-Fit™ does not have official instructions for finding the personal attenuation rating. The purpose of this capstone research project was to investigate if there was a difference between Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) scores utilizing different methods of instruction (Ascending, Descending, or Békésy). Each method required the participant to go through different steps to obtain a threshold at each octave from 125-8000 Hz to calculate a PAR score. Three different written instruction methods were used to obtain PAR scores on 29 participants. A repeated measures analysis of variance showed there was not a significant difference for PAR scores based on instruction method (F = 2.46286 , p < .05). These results suggested that no method of instruction used in this study produces a different PAR score than another and that any of these methods of instruction would be appropriate to complete fit-testing. These results may be used to help simplify the process for completing fit-testing in real-world situations and streamlining hearing conservation programs.
Speakers
avatar for Katherine Steffen, BA

Katherine Steffen, BA

University of Northern Colorado
Katherine Steffen, B.A., is a 4th year audiology doctoral student/research assistant and will graduate from the University of Northern Colorado in May 2020 with her Au.D. She is currently completing her externship at Denver Hearing Specialists in Lone Tree, Colorado. Katies's interests... Read More →

Steffen NHCA EFFECTS OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS ON FIELD REAL EAR PDF pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 8:40am - 9:05am MST
Linkside C
  Saturday Breakout Session

8:40am MST

*Glucocorticoid Therapy for Acute Acoustic Trauma: Current and emerging evidence from the UK Military Hearing Research Program
Presented By: Jameel Muzaffar, BA(Hons) MBBS(Hons) MSc FRCS(ORL-HNS)
Co-Author: Linda Orr, MB ChB DM FRCS(Eng) FRCS (ORL-HNS)
Acute Acoustic Trauma remains an ever lurking hazard for military populations amongst other high risk occupational groups. Whilst a number of therapeutic options have been suggested for the treatment of AAT the evidence base for their effectiveness is limited. This has resulted in a wide variety of strategies currently in place across NATO partners, ranging from watchful waiting through oral, intratympanic and intravenous treatments. This presentation will describe the historical context of AAT before describing UK efforts to mitigate acute acoustic trauma illustrated by data from a series of >30 patients treated with steroid therapy, including by intratympanic injection. The presentation will include discussion of the challenges involved in early identification, access and treatment and measures taken to expedite this process.
Speakers
avatar for Jameel Muzaffar

Jameel Muzaffar

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Jameel Muzaffar is a Royal College of Surgeons Research Fellow at the UK Military Hearing Research Collaboration. His clinical background is in ENT and alongside this he is currently in the final year of a PhD in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge... Read More →

AAT Treatment for NHCA 2020 Final 17 02 20 pptx
Saturday February 22, 2020 8:40am - 9:05am MST
Linkside A
  Saturday Breakout Session

8:40am MST

*Just-In-Time Learning and Hearing Conservation
Learners today expect to get information quickly and in a format that is easy to access, easy to understand, available at a time and place of the learner's choice, and relevant to what the learner needs to know at the moment.Training no longer needs to take place just once every month, quarter, or even year.Effective learning can take place throughout the workday, workweek, or even work year.In fact, even one minute of effective just-in-time learning delivered weekly to a worker on any particular subject can be as effective or even more effective than a one-time 52-minute-long training event on the subject.This presentation will introduce learners to the just-in-time learning theory and how it can be effectively applied to the required hearing conservation program training as explained in OSHA, MSHA, FRA, DoD, and a variety of other regulations.Tips for developing just-in-time learning events will be discussed including training that is being developed and used by the Army Hearing Program and DoD Hearing Center of Excellence.
Speakers
avatar for John Merkley

John Merkley

US Army
LTC John 'Andy' Merkley is an Army Audiologist currently serving as the Army Hearing Division Chief at the Army Public Health Center in Aberdeen, Maryland. He holds a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from Utah State University and a Doctor of Audiology from Central Michigan... Read More →

Just In Time Training Presentation slides pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 8:40am - 9:05am MST
Linkside D
  Saturday Breakout Session

8:40am MST

Preventing Hearing Injury in the Music Industry
Presented By: Siobhan McGinnity, BSc, MClindAud, PhD and Robert Cowen, BSc(Hons), MSc, MBA, PhD, DipAud, FAudA, FICRA, FAAA, GAICD
Co-Authors: Elizabeth Beach, BA(Hons), PHD and Johannes Mulder, FHEA, PhD, MA
Sound levels in the live music industry have been demonstrated to reach levels capable of causing harm to the auditory system. This research investigated approaches to reducing the incidence of hearing injury in the Australian music industry. Methods: Four studies were conducted. Study 1: Audiologists and manufacturers completed surveys investigating the delivery of clinical care for musicians; 2: Musicians rated satisfaction with audiological services as delivered across four treatment conditions;  3: A hearing assessment was completed by  27 live-music sound engineers (LMSEs); and 4: Use of a commercial sound level management (SLM) system in six indoor live-music venues was trialled. Results:  there was a high incidence of reporting of hearing loss and tinnitus in musicians. Inconsistencies in clinical procedures were found for both audiological care for musicians, and recommendations made by manufacturers for fitting musicians’ hearing protectors. For LMSEs, a substantial proportion reported constant tinnitus and reduced sound tolerance. No reduction in mean sound level (LAeq,T) was found with use of SLM software in live music venues, however the number of nights on which extreme volume levels were recorded was reduced. Conclusions: The results confirm the risks of hearing injury for patrons and staff attending live music venues in Australia.
Speakers
avatar for Siobhan McGinnity, BSc, MClinAud, PhD

Siobhan McGinnity, BSc, MClinAud, PhD

Research Audiologist, The University of Melbourne & The HEARing CRC
Dr Siobhan McGinnity is a research audiologist at the University of Melbourne. She lectures, tutors and provides clinical supervision to the Master of Clinical Audiology program students. Her clinical areas of specialty include musicians’ hearing care, tinnitus management and aural... Read More →

Saturday February 22, 2020 8:40am - 9:05am MST
Terrace Room 2 & 3
  Saturday Breakout Session

9:10am MST

*Characterizing the Effects of Occupational Noise Exposure Using Otoacoustic Emissions
Presented By: Sridhar Krishnamurti, PhD and Katie Wells, B.S.
Co-Author: Shabnam Habibi, B.S.
Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs) may provide a more direct and reliable measurement than audiometric testing to investigate early changes in inner ear function. EOAEs can detect outer hair cell damage related to Noise Induced Hearing Loss in manufacturing workers, even when audiometric thresholds are not affected (Helleman et al., 2010). In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic effectiveness of two types of OAEs: 1) Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAEs) in 192 exposed and 120 control ears and 2) Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) in 128 exposed and 80 control ears. The Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) was used as the criterion to evaluate the effectiveness of OAEs; optimal SNR was defined as 6 dB (TEOAE amplitude-Noise Floor>6 dB; DPOAE amplitude-Noise Floor>6 dB). Statistical Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences in SNR between ears in the exposure group versus control group for both: a) DPOAEs (dF=1, 288; F=61.54; p
Speakers
avatar for Sridhar Krishnamurti

Sridhar Krishnamurti

East Carolina University
Dr. Sridhar Krishnamurti is Professor of Audiology in the Department of Communication Disorder and also serves as Graduate program coordinator. Prior to his appointment as ssistant professor at Auburn in 1996, Sridhar Krishnamurti completed a clinical fellowship in audiology at the... Read More →
KW

NHCA 2020 OAEs pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 9:10am - 9:35am MST
Linkside C
  Saturday Breakout Session

9:10am MST

*Musical Acoustics and Health: A Hands-On Approach to Learning and Applying
Presented By: Donald Finan, PhD
Co-Author: Deanna Meinke, PhD
Learning fundamental knowledge is typically approached as a gauntlet to be run instead of an opportunity to generalize and connect related concepts.However, the ability to apply knowledge to complex and new situations, "transfer of learning", is critically important in the real world.To that end, we have developed a novel interdisciplinary undergraduate course: Musical Acoustics and Health Issues.The course covers biophysics of sound production and reception and associated hearing and vocal health issues by utilizing a hands-on project-based approach to teaching and learning in the context of music.The overarching theme of course topics is "sound as energy".Issues related to auditory and vocal mechanism health are presented from preventative perspectives.This active learning class is structured on the 5e pedagogical model, with principles of Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.Real-world activities are utilized so as to maximize transfer of learning. Projects include building musical instruments (cigar box guitars & PVC pipe didgeridoos), researching and interpreting parameters of sound capture and playback systems, sound level measurement (including dosimetry), hearing protector use, and acoustic voice assessment and interpretation.The course design will be presented, and projects will be described and linked to the 5e pedagogical model.
Speakers
avatar for Don Finan

Don Finan

University of Northern Colorado
Don Finan is a Professor of Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. His research interests include measurement of noise and associated auditory exposure, normal speech motor control, technology use in clinical and research settings, and developing... Read More →

Musical Acoustics and Health A Hands On Approach FinanMeinke FINAL pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 9:10am - 9:35am MST
Linkside D
  Saturday Breakout Session

9:10am MST

*Noise Exposures in a Meat Processing Facility
Presented By: Chandran Achutan, PhD
Co-Authors: Abolore Idris, MPH, Tika Nepal, MPH, Elizabeth Lyden, MS, Marissa Pepper and Olakunle Olarenwaju, MS
We evaluated personal noise exposures at a meat processing facility, where a majority of workers did not speak English. We collected full-shift personal dosimetry on thirty-six production floor employees, one quality control employee, and four maintenance employees. We also collected point source noise measurement at eight workstations from precook. We administered a questionnaire to assess  employees’ hearing loss perception and non-occupational source of noise exposure. We also documented how well employees inserted earplugs. Thirty-three of the measured personal noise level exceeded the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit. The point source noise levels ranged from 81.5 dBA to 97.5 dBA. Only 15% of the workers inserted earplugs correctly. Thirteen reported they experience ringing in the ear, and of these nine reported improvements in the ear over time. There was a significant association (p-value 0.002) between employees’ use of hearing protection device (HPD) outside of work around loud noise and the way they inserted earplugs. Production floor employees and maintenance employees are exposed to excessive loud noise level, and they are at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss. Better training on the proper use of earplugs, and provision of varieties of earplug may increase employees’ compliance with the proper use of hearing protectors.
Speakers
avatar for Chandran Achutan, PhD

Chandran Achutan, PhD

Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Dr. Chandran Achutan is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health.

21 910 Achutan pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 9:10am - 9:35am MST
Terrace Room 2 & 3
  Saturday Breakout Session

9:10am MST

Evaluation of Extended Wear Earplugs: Lessons for Hearing Conservation
Presented By: Douglas Brungart, PhD
Co-Author: Nathaniel Spencer, PhD
The extended-wear hearing aid is a commercially-available linear amplification device that is inserted deeply in the ear canal by an audiologist and can be worn continuously for extended periods lasting 60 days or more.The device has two potential advantages that have major implications for hearing conservation.First, the device fits deeply enough that it does not require venting to avoid issues with the occlusion effect.This means the device provides substantial attenuation when it is inserted in the ear in the "off" mode, and substantial protection from impulse or blast exposure when it is inserting in the ear in Active mode.Second, the device fits deeply enough in the ear canal that it has no effect on the directional characteristics of the head-related transfer function.This means that the device should be capable of providing attenuation without having an effect on localization accuracy.We have just completed a multi-year evaluation of these devices to determine their suitability as hearing protection devices, and the results show that the devices have the potential to provide persistent protection from intermittent noise exposure with only a minimal impact on situation awareness.The evaluation also has provided some valuable insights with broad implications in many areas with relevance to hearing protection.[The views expressed in this abstract are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army/Navy/Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.]
Speakers
avatar for Douglas Brungart, PhD

Douglas Brungart, PhD

Chief Scientist, Walter Reed NMMC
Douglas S. Brungart, PhD, is the Chief Scientist of the National Military Audiology and Speech Pathology Center at Walter Reed and is currently also serving as the Chief Scientist for the Department of Defense Hearing Center of Excellence.From 1993 to 2009, he was a research engineer... Read More →

Saturday February 22, 2020 9:10am - 9:35am MST
Linkside A
  Saturday Breakout Session

9:35am MST

Break
Saturday February 22, 2020 9:35am - 10:05am MST
Linkside Foyer
  Meals and Networking

10:05am MST

*Music Audiology: Updates and Best Practices
"Music Induced Hearing Disorders (MIHD) are pervasive among music industry professionals as well as the music-listening public. Hearing impairment which results from music and noise exposure can lead to communication difficulties and health related quality of life degradation in the general population. To professionals in the music industry, hearing disorders can pose a severe threat to their career stability, artistic performance, and personal satisfaction from involvement in music. These risks are generally not well appreciated by the at-risk individuals, and best practice guidance from professional organizations has been sparse.

This session will introduce best practice and position statement documents pertaining to the Music Audiology, namely the NHCA 2018 Position Statement on ""Recreational Music Exposure"" and the AAA ""Guidelines for Audiological Treatment of Musicians and Music Industry Personnel"" (pending publication). A panel of co-authors of the papers will highlight clinical recommendations and considerations for the care of those who experience occupational and recreational music exposures. Further research directions and needs will be emphasized in an effort to promote the field of Music Audiology. Additional resources will be discussed, including the NHCA ""Hearing Wellness for Musicians and Music Industry Professionals"" educational brochure (2019)."
Speakers
avatar for Frank Wartinger, AuD

Frank Wartinger, AuD

Earmark Hearing Conservation
Frank Wartinger is a clinical audiologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a certified CAOHC course director, and owner of Earmark Hearing Conservation, a private practice serving musicians in Philadelphia. He is an active member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and... Read More →
avatar for Cory Portnuff, AuD PhD

Cory Portnuff, AuD PhD

Assistant Clinical Professor, Otolaryngology, University of Colorado Hospital
avatar for Colleen Le Prell, PhD

Colleen Le Prell, PhD

Professor of Audiology
avatar for Heather Malyuk, AuD

Heather Malyuk, AuD

Soundcheck Audiology
avatar for Michael Santucci, AuD

NHCA 2020 Music Audiology Panel 2 3up pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 10:05am - 11:05am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

11:05am MST

*Stand-off, Photograph-Based Estimation of Hearing Protection Attenuation and Fit
Presented By: Christopher Smalt, PhD
Co-Authors: William Murphy, PhD and Gregory Ciccarelli, PhD
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for noise exposure require protecting workers for noise levels over 90 dBA based on a worker's time weighted average over an 8-hour day(29 CFR 1910.95) while the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends hearing protection for noise levels over 85 dBA averaged over an 8-hour workday.Industrial and military noise environments are frequently above these sound levels, so in addition to other noise controls, hearing protection devices (HPDs) are often used to prevent permanent, non-reversible hearing damage.One challenge with the use of hearing protection is training and maintaining compliance, particularly in industrial settings.In this study, we estimated the adequacy of fit of a foam hearing protector using only a photograph of the inserted foam plug.An image-based classifier was trained with 200 photographs and associated attenuation data and tested with 40 additional images.The classifier, which predicted either "good or "bad" fit, achieved 73% accuracy for earplugs that had an average of 35 dB attenuation across frequencies.This algorithm could be incorporated in an application for training as well as for automated compliance monitoring in noisy environments for preventing hearing loss.
Speakers
avatar for Christopher Smalt, PhD

Christopher Smalt, PhD

MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Christopher J. Smalt is a technical staff member in the Human Health and Performance Systems Group at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.His current work focuses on computational modeling of hearing damage mechanisms and the effect of noise exposure on hearing and cognitive performance.As... Read More →

NHCA 20200220 HPDPhoto v3compressed pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 11:05am - 11:35am MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

11:35am MST

Luncheon Awards
Saturday February 22, 2020 11:35am - 1:05pm MST
Bayside Ballroom
  Meals and Networking

1:15pm MST

Gasaway Lecture: Prevention at the 3
The Army has achieved remarkable success in hearing conservation (HC) metrics over the last 10 years, success demonstrated by an overall  downward trend in hearing injury rates. Its HC strategy (i.e., doctrine) was completely re-written by audiology leadership between 2004 and 2008, providing the officer on the ground with a foundation for establishing effective programs.  Individual success, however, has been mixed for a variety of reasons.  In many cases, the intent and motivation is present but as the guidance is necessarily broad, the audiologist is often left guessing at the best approach.   By breaking down my career into specific pieces that contributed to successes, I hope to pull out common threads that will translate not only to different military settings, but also to the much bigger civilian sector. Can we stand shoulder to shoulder?  Yes, I believe so.  I'm standing at your 3.
Speakers
JC

Saturday February 22, 2020 1:15pm - 1:45pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

1:45pm MST

Words-in-Noise Performance in Normal-Hearing Young Adults with Isolated or Frequent Firearm Exposure
Presented By: Sarah Grinn, PhD, AuD
Co-Author: Colleen Le Prell, PhD
Audiology’s greatest present-day mystery concerns real-world, auditory performance deficits observed in patients who meet “normal-hearing” criteria for audiometric examination.  As such, the audiogram, which detects peripheral auditory dysfunction, is under intense scrutiny as researchers and practitioners look past explanations of peripheral-auditory injury in favor of possible central-auditory injury.  Of specific interest is the site of synaptic connectivity (or disconnectivity) between hair cells and the auditory nerve, following a dangerous noise-exposure.   Studies of severely noise-exposed animals (mice, guinea pig, non-human primates) provide evidence that such an injury can occur at this site without affecting the peripheral-auditory system; however, attempts at human translational studies have yielded highly inconsistent conclusions and heated controversy.  The last decade of literature surrounding the search for evidence of this disconnectivity - a noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy (NICS) (“hidden hearing loss”) - in humans suggests that subsequent investigations should be reasonably limited to populations who endure severe isolated or frequent temporary threshold shift (TTS).  Firearm discharge is the most similar, real-world noise-exposure that would be able to induce the severe degree of TTS that is necessary to observe NICS in animal science.  Studying central-auditory injury in firearm users presents a challenge in that many already exhibit peripheral-auditory injury (i.e., overt hearing loss) from frequent firearm use, which masks the present ability to reveal any central-auditory injury that may have preceded it.  Therefore, a young, normal-hearing, firearm-using population constitutes the highest potential for identifying an “at-risk” NICS population.  We conducted a retrospective study enrolling 92 normal-hearing adults (.5-8 kHz thresholds <15 dB-HL, 18-25 years), including frequent and infrequent firearm users, and non-firearm users as a control measure.  We analyzed correlations between participant’s noise-exposure history, hearing protection use, audiometric thresholds .5-18 kHz, otoacoustic emission amplitude 1-12 kHz, 90 dB-nHL cochlear nerve response to click, 1 and 4 kHz tone-burst stimuli,  ear-level and free-field Words-in-Noise objective performance, and self-reported speech-in-noise subjective performance.  These correlations contribute important developments towards a damage-risk criteria for human synaptopathic injury.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Grinn

Sarah Grinn

Professor, Central Michigan University
Dr. Sarah K. Grinn is an assistant professor in the Division of Audiology at Central Michigan University. Dr. Grinn's research lab is focused on improving the accuracy of a model that predicts individual noise-induced hearing loss susceptibility by examining the role of external-ear... Read More →

Saturday February 22, 2020 1:45pm - 2:15pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

2:15pm MST

*An Approach to Identification of Middle Ear Muscle Contractions that Controls for the Effect of Incidental Motor Activity
Presented By: Stephen Tasko, PhD
Co-Authors: Gregory Flamme, PhD, Kristy Deiters, AuD, Madeline Smith, B.A., William Murphy and Heath Jones, PhD
Evidence that motor activity can reliably elicit middle ear muscle contractions (MEMC) is increasing. This observation complicates the interpretation of experiments that focus on acoustically elicited MEMC. For example, is a given MEMC due to the acoustic elicitor, concomitant motor activity or both? This question is particularly relevant since some damage risk criteria (DRC) for impulsive sound suggest a protective role of MEMC. Recently, our research team described a multiple regression approach to quantify associations between electromyographic (EMG) activity recorded from muscles in the head, neck and upper extremity and middle ear activity. For a substantial minority of participants, 20-60 percent of the variance in middle ear activity was predicted by EMG activity in the head, neck and upper extremity. The current study expands these methods to the detection of MEMC in response to brief acoustic elicitors that controls for possible EMG-related contributions. The results suggest that facial muscle activity may inflate estimates of the prevalence of MEMC for brief sounds. Results will be discussed in the context of DRC for impulsive noise that include MEMC as a protective mechanism
Speakers
avatar for Stephen Tasko, Ph.D.

Stephen Tasko, Ph.D.

SASRAC
Stephen Tasko, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at Western Michigan University and Research Consultant with Stephenson and Stephenson Research and Consulting (SASRAC).Dr. Tasko earned his Ph.D. in Communication Disorders from... Read More →

22 0215 Tasko pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 2:15pm - 2:45pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

2:45pm MST

Break
Saturday February 22, 2020 2:45pm - 3:15pm MST
Linkside Foyer
  Meals and Networking

3:15pm MST

Understanding Audio Through Audiology and Hearing Conservation
The HearTomorrow “Audio of Hearing Workshop” will explore audio systems theory in the context of hearing physiology, disorders and conservation. Attendees will learn about basic audio systems and principles of sound engineering as well as gain new perspectives on the hearing mechanism. The ear IS and audio system and we are using modern audio technologies in the development of hearing assist and conservation products. The language and mindset of each informs the other. The workshop will cover the following topics pertinent to these areas: microphones & loudspeakers, analog and digital signals and circuits, and signal processing in the spectral and dynamic domains. Wherever possible, audio principles will be explained using the language and theories of hearing physiology, psychoacoustics and cognition.  
Speakers
avatar for S Benjamin Kanters, MM

S Benjamin Kanters, MM

Associate Professor, Columbia College Chicago
Benj has been a professor at Columbia College since 1993, after 20 years in the audio and music industries, including 14 years teaching audio at Northwestern University. Through the 70s, he was partner and sound engineer with the Chicago area concert club, Amazingrace. During the... Read More →

Saturday February 22, 2020 3:15pm - 3:45pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

3:45pm MST

*Auditory Deficits Associated with Exposure to High-Intensity Blast Waves: Evidence from Military Veterans
Military Veterans who have been exposed to high-intensity blast waves often experience auditory difficulties that persist long after the blast incident, even in the absence of hearing loss.  The unprecedented use of improvised explosive devices in ongoing military conflicts has helped to fuel a substantial increase in the number of Veterans seeking help for auditory processing difficulties, as well as growing interest among VA audiologists in clinical assessment and management strategies for this population.  Research in our labs and others reveals that many different types of processing deficits may arise following blast exposure, and that additional comorbid health factors are very common in this patient population.    This presentation will review the unique nature of blast-exposure injuries and the complex factors that may underlie auditory processing deficits in the Veteran population, including potential associations with other comorbid health factors such as post-traumatic stress disorder.  We will discuss the findings from previous research studies exploring hearing-related outcomes following blast exposure as well as the current state of clinical care for these patients.
Speakers
avatar for Melissa Papesh

Melissa Papesh

Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Papesh is a research investigator at the VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research in Portland, OR.Her research focuses on diagnosis and rehabilitation of Veterans and Service Members with auditory processing disorders (APD).Her credentials include a clinical... Read More →

Papesh NHCA Slides[1] pdf
Saturday February 22, 2020 3:45pm - 4:15pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  Plenary Platform

4:15pm MST

General Session: Closing Remarks
Saturday February 22, 2020 4:15pm - 4:30pm MST
Linkside Ballroom
  General Session
 
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