This exciting new session highlights innovative early-career and doctoral research in audiology through fast-paced, 8-minute presentations. Selected presenters share original projects, receive constructive feedback from leading research audiologists, and engage attendees in voting for the most compelling study.
Earn .1 CEUs for attending—no additional cost required.
Presenter: Lora M. Charles, Doctor of Audiology Student, Louisiana Tech University
This study compared speech intelligibility in noise performance when using a Bluetooth microphone versus an FM/DM system. Sixteen English speaking, adult hearing aid users with symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss completed speech in noise testing under the following conditions: (1) HA only, (2) HA + Bluetooth, and (3) HA + FM/DM. Preliminary data suggests speech intelligibility performance in noise is significantly greater utilizing FM/DM, as compared to using HA + Bluetooth or HAs alone; however, no significant difference was seen between HA only and HA + Bluetooth. Clinical implications will be discussed.
Presenter: Emma Ingalls, Doctoral Student, Central Michigan University
We tested the hypothesis that a majority of normal-hearing young adults who self-report speech-in-noise (SiN) difficulty do not genuinely perceive their hearing as impaired. This would indicate poor sensitivity of audiology’s common screening question for detecting subclinical deficits. Among 31 participants (18–25 years), 21 reported they “have difficulty following a conversation in a noisy place.” Yet, half (10) judged themselves as having equal or less difficulty than peers, suggesting the question only correctly identified self-perceived hearing abnormality 50% of the time. Interestingly, Words-in-Noise (WIN) thresholds did not differ significantly between those reporting more versus less SiN difficulty than their peers.
Presenter: Amelia Saccomandi, AuD, Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This study investigated the ability of normal hearing participants to perceive a target melody interleaved with distractor melodies varied by frequency overlap while listening in quiet and via a cochlear implant simulator. The results indicated that in quiet, frequency separation between the target and distractor melodies led to more accurate and faster identification compared to conditions with frequency overlap. With the cochlear implant simulator, target melody identification remained consistent across all frequencies, with only minor differences between overlapping and separated frequencies, and overall performance was significantly poorer than in quiet. Notably, participants with formal musical training outperformed participants without training.
Presenter: Carlos Alberto C. Santana Júnior, MS, PhD Student, University of São Paulo
Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHS) effectively treat conductive and mixed hearing loss, but follow-up typically requires in-person visits at specialized centers, limiting access. This student-led study develops and validates a synchronous teleaudiology protocol using Cochlear Remote Assist and Oticon RemoteCare. Phase 1 tests feasibility and audiological outcomes of remote programming under controlled conditions with a local facilitator. Phase 2 applies the Delphi method with expert audiologists to refine and validate content. Remote sessions are expected to achieve outcomes equivalent to in-person care, expanding access to rehabilitation and training future clinicians in innovative service models.
