2015 Fall Convention
Our annual convention was held on Friday, October 2, 2015 at the Hampton Inn Executive Conference Center in Natick, MA. Our guest speakers for the day included Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins, Todd Ricketts, Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and Laurel Christensen from ReSound.
A BIG thank you to ReSound, our 2015 Platinum sponsor!
Thank you to our Gold sponsors!
Thank you to our Silver sponsors!
Convention Photos
Guest Speakers & Conference Presentations
Frank R. Lin, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, Geriatric Medicine, Mental Health, and Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Lin completed his medical education, residency in Otolaryngology, and Ph.D. in Clinical Investigation, all at Johns Hopkins. He completed further otologic fellowship training in Lucerne, Switzerland. Dr. Lin’s clinical practice is dedicated to otology and the medical and surgical management of hearing loss. His epidemiologic research focuses on how hearing loss impacts the health and functioning of older adults and the role of hearing rehabilitative strategies in potentially mitigating these effects. In particular, his research group has demonstrated that hearing loss in older adults is strongly and independently associated with the risk of cognitive decline, incident dementia, impairments in physical functioning and mobility, and greater health care resource utilization in multiple epidemiologic studies. He collaborates extensively with researchers across multiple fields including gerontology, cognitive neuroscience, audiology, and epidemiology, and he has collaborative working relationships with individuals in industry, government, and non-profit advocacy organizations. In January 2014, he co-chaired for the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council a two-day workshop on hearing loss and healthy aging in Washington DC. His research has been extensively covered in the media including the New York Times and the BBC, and he has appeared on CBS This Morning and the Charlie Rose show.
Hearing Loss in Older Adults – A Public Health Perspective by Frank R. Lin, M.D., Ph.D. Departments of Otolaryngology-HNS, Geriatric Medicine, Mental Health, and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Download the Slideshow: Hearing Loss in Older Adults (pdf)
Age-related hearing loss in older adults is often perceived as being an unfortunate but relatively inconsequential part of aging. However, the broader implications of hearing loss for the health and functioning of older adults are now beginning to surface in epidemiologic studies. I will discuss recent epidemiologic research demonstrating that hearing loss is independently associated with accelerated cognitive decline, incident dementia, and poorer physical functioning. Current and planned studies to investigate the impact of hearing rehabilitative interventions on reducing cognitive decline and the risk of dementia in older adults will be discussed. Finally, I will provide some thoughts on future trends in addressing hearing loss as a public health problem discussing the role of technology and community health workers.
Todd A. Ricketts, Ph.D, CCC-A, is a professor and the director of Graduate Studies at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, and the Director of the Dan Maddox Hearing Aid Research Laboratory. He has published more than 100 articles and book chapters and provided over 300 presentations both nationally and internationally. He continues to pursue a very active federally and industry funded research program studying various aspects of hearing, hearing aids and cochlear implants. He was named a Fellow of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association in 2006 and received an editor’s award from the American Journal of Audiology in 2008. He is a past editor-in-chief of the quarterly journal Trends in Amplification and the past chair of the Vanderbilt Institutional Review Board. He is a current associate editor for the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research and currently serves on the board of directors of the American Academy of Audiology.
Hearing Aid Features Across Manufacturers: What Really Works and Clinical Implications by Todd Ricketts, Ph.D., CCC-A Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center
Download the Presentation: Hearing Aid Features Across Manufacturers (pdf)
The benefits and limitations of several current hearing aid technologies including advanced gain processing, digital feedback suppression, digital noise reduction, and frequency lowering will be discussed. Both the effectiveness of the technology in the laboratory and what we know about the impact of the technology on user benefit and satisfaction in the real world will be considered. Challenges and limitations in relating laboratory data to real world benefit and defining “real world benefit” will also be presented from the standpoint of adopting an evidence based approach to appropriate selection hearing aid technology and counseling. Clinical tips and a few implications for selection, adjustment and counseling related to specific features will be discussed. Probe microphone techniques for the verification of a few specific features will also be considered.
Wireless communication: Changing how hearing aids interact with each other and the world by Todd Ricketts, Ph.D., CCC-A Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center
Wireless technologies are changing the ways hearing aids work. From advanced directional microphones including bilateral beamforming, to geo-tagging remote controls, to bilateral processing control, to wireless streaming. The potential benefits and limitations of these technologies, what they really mean for our patients and some tips for selection and fine tuning will be discussed.
Laurel A. Christensen, Ph.D. is the Chief Audiology Officer for GN ReSound Group. In this role she leads a global team of audiologists that is responsible for all aspects of audiology for the company including new product trials, audiology input to marketing, and global audiology relations which encompasses training and product support to subsidiaries world-wide. Prior to joining GN ReSound, she was a researcher and Director of Sales and Marketing at Etymotic Research in Elk Grove Village, IL. Prior to this position, she was a tenured professor at Louisiana State University Medical Center and part of the Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Christensen holds adjunct faculty appointments at Northwestern and Rush Universities. She served as an Associate Editor for both Trends in Amplification and the Journal of Speech and Hearing Research. She is a member of the advisory board for the Au.D. program at Rush University.
Update on Amplification: Current Trends by Dr. Laurel Christensen, Ph.D. Chief Audiology Officer at GN ReSound
Download the PowerPoint talk: Current Trends in Amplification
The hearing aid landscape has been quickly changing from hearing aids alone to wireless hearing systems that can provide more benefit to end users than ever before. At the same time, signal processing in hearing aids has become more feature-rich and complicated. This course will overview the current landscape of amplification with a specific focus on features that have documented end-user benefits. Verification of these features will be emphasized. Details about how signal processing works and practical advice will help dispensers improve the fittings for their patients. A look into the future of amplification will also be part of the course.