How do Hearing Test Apps and Questionnaires Compare to Audiological Assessments?
Hearing loss is common and can affect health and quality of life. Formal audiological assessments are the gold standard but may not always be accessible. Hearing test apps and questionnaires may help identify individuals who could benefit from further testing. This study compared the accuracy and reliability of two apps (hearWHO, SHOEBOX) and two questionnaires […]
Seeing with Two Eyes – Collaborative Approaches to Improving Hearing and Speech Language Pathology Access in First Nation Communities in Nova Scotia
Ensuring equitable access to hearing and speech services for First Nations communities requires health systems to rethink where and how care is delivered. Moving beyond traditional clinic-based models, collaborative partnerships with communities can transform access, trust, and health outcomes. This session explores collaborative service delivery between Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) and Mi’kmaq communities, […]
Otalgia: Overview and Clinical Considerations
This will be a comprehensive review of ear pain. It will begin with a review of the anatomy of the ear, the skull base, and surrounding head & neck structures. It will briefly cover the physiology and management principles of pain. This will be followed by a subsite-based overview of clinical otalgia, covering pathophysiology and […]
What Have We Been Missing? Understanding Hidden and Not-So-Hidden Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
A growing body of evidence suggests that the auditory impacts of over-exposure to loud sounds are often underestimated or undetected. While some noise-induced impacts lead to clear audiometric patterns, others are likely to remain hidden from standard audiometric measures. Given that such damage may underlie many hearing issues and play an important role in age-related […]
Patient Perspectives on Adult Hearing Loss: Challenges and Opportunities for Healthcare Partnerships in Ontario
This study explored patient perspectives on adult hearing loss in Ontario, focusing on challenges in accessing and navigating care. Fourteen adults over 50 with hearing loss completed questionnaires and interviews. Findings revealed that hearing loss is often de-prioritized by both patients and primary care providers, with participants reporting frustration over fragmented services, limited guidance, and […]
Co-Designing Family-Centred Virtual Audiology Care: Implementation Strategies, Participation, and Policy Implications
Family-centred approaches are essential to the successful delivery of virtual audiology care, ensuring that caregivers are active partners in decision-making and service planning. This presentation outlines the co-design of implementation strategies for family-centred virtual audiology, developed through online workshops with caregivers and clinicians, and guided by the Virtual Caregiver Participation Framework. Practical guidance around preparation, […]
Multidimensional Insights into Tinnitus: Extended High Frequency Audiometry, Mental Health, and Machine Learning Analysis
The talk emphasizes key take-home messages derived from results based on a Canadian dataset and the available quality evidence. First, we report findings from a meta-analysis of Extended High Frequency Audiometry (EHFA) in adults with normal audiograms and chronic tinnitus. We found significantly elevated EHF thresholds in the tinnitus group compared with the control group, […]
Language Access and Collaboration: Key Strategies with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
This presentation emphasizes that the primary goal of Aural (re)Habilitation should be language access, not sound access. Early conversations with families are crucial, and strong collaboration among professionals supports the best outcomes. Families need accurate information about how the brain develops with language, regardless of whether it is spoken or signed. This understanding then empowers […]
When Small Sounds Elicit Big Reactions: Understanding and Managing Misophonia in Clinical Practice
Misophonia is a complex disorder characterized by strong negative emotional and physiological responses to specific sounds, most commonly human-generated sounds like chewing, breathing, or repetitive noises. While the condition was first formally described in 2001, it remains underrecognized in clinical practice despite significant overlap with patients seeking care for tinnitus, hyperacusis, and other auditory processing […]
Beyond Auditory Amplification: Assessing the Features, Benefits, and Limitations of Modern DTC Hearing Devices
Over the past decade, direct-to-consumer (DTC) hearing devices have emerged as a promising pathway to broaden access to hearing care. These technologies—generally purchased without the involvement of a hearing care professional—span a wide range of products, including personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), hearables, over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, and active hearing protection devices (HPDs). While these […]