National Centre for Audiology Excellence in hearing science and audiologic research at Western.

National Centre for AudiologyExcellence in hearing science and

audiologic research at Western

The NCA Largest audiology research centre in Canada, one of the

largest internationally Over 29 Researchers and Support staff

5 faculties represented Large graduate training program

Shared and dedicated laboratories support collaborative research in both basic and applied research

Funding from provincial and federal governments, Private Sector Partners, and the Community

NCA LaboratoriesLink clinical practice and research

Hearing Research Clinic Fully functioning audiology clinic allows us to ask

research questions in a clinical environment Assistive Devices Laboratory

Introduces new assistive technologies to hearing impaired persons

NCA LaboratoriesEnable research in simulated

3-d environments Anechoic Chamber

One of largest chambers in Canada Software controlled 64 speaker array Enables research in binaural hearing & functioning of

assistive devices in a 3-d world Reverberation Chamber

Simulation of reverberant environments Similarly equipped to Anechoic chamber making

protocols portable between environments

NCA LaboratoriesFacilitate technology transfer and industrial

partnershipsKnowledge Translation Lab

Video conferencing facilitiesNetworking with audiologists around Canada and

the worldTranslational Research Unit

Enables industry supported contract researchFee for service research available to industry

partners in assistive listening and other communication devices

NCA LaboratoriesPromote advances in diagnosis of pediatric

hearing loss

Child Hearing Research Laboratory Perceptual development Advanced methods for testing complex sound

processing Improved diagnosis of auditory processing disorders

MEG Analysis Laboratory Cortical auditory function in children with Autism,

Language Disorders

NCA LaboratoriesPromote advances in rehabilitation

of pediatric hearing loss

Child Amplification Laboratory Early identification and amplification in children’s

hearing loss Development of DSL i/o® for hearing aid fitting

NCA LaboratoriesSupport research with hearing impaired

adults

Hearing Science Laboratory Hearing in aging Noise exposure & hearing conservation

Aural Rehabilitation Laboratory Enhancing communication in the elderly, Improving hearing accessibility Stigma of hearing loss

NCA Laboratories Make possible the development and evaluation of hearing technologies

Device Development Lab Design of hand held device for auditory testing Methods for assessing sound quality

Reverberation and Acoustics in Performance Studio Acoustic quality in musical performance settings

NCA LaboratoriesBring new knowledge in auditory

neuroscience Electrophysiology Laboratory

Basis of hearing and hearing loss using OAE’s and evoked potentials

Auditory Biophysics Laboratory Modeling middle ear mechanics Developing surgical simulation tools

Cortical Plasticity Laboratory Animal models of cortical plasticity & cochlear implants

research

Affiliated clinical laboratoriesFacilitate translation of research to clinical

practice University Hospital Cochlear Implant

Program Studying the relative benefits of bilateral cochlear

implantation Victoria Hospital Audiology Dept.; Leeper

Speech & Hearing Clinic & Local audiology partners Refining protocols for APD evaluation in children

Ontario Infant Hearing Program Improving early intervention and assessment of

children with hearing impairments

NCA Research inPediatric Assessment

Early detection of hearing loss Ontario Infant Hearing

Program Perceptual

development Normal hearing

children Children with auditory

processing and attentional disorders

NCA Research inPediatric Amplification

Development of fitting algorithms for infants and children

DSL i/o®

Evaluation of existing signal processing strategies

New developments in signal processing

NCA Research inHearing and Aging

Auditory psychophysics Effect of hearing impairment on

suprathreshold hearing abilities Adult aural rehabilitation

Barriers and Facilitators to assistive device use

Self advocacy Stigma associated with hearing loss

Research inNoise and Hearing Conservation

Noise exposure Effects of leisure noise in hearing in children and

young adults Noise exposure in the NICU

Hearing accessibility Communication and listening quality in the classroom Impact of noise on academic performance in children Communication in vehicles

Research inAuditory Neuroscience

Middle Ear Mechanics Measurement of Middle Ear

Transduction using FIR methods Development of simulations for

surgical interventions and surgical training

Cortical plasticity Impact of cochlear implants and

other assistive devices on the auditory cortex

Research inAuditory Neuroscience cont’d…

Auditory electrophysiology Objective measures of auditory

system integrity and function using Auditory Evoked potentials, MEG analysis and Otoacoustic Emissions Acoustic reflexes Behavioral correlates

Genetics of hearing impairment

Research inHearing in 3-D Environments

Function of assistive devices in 3-D anechoic, competing noise, and reverberant environments

Perception of signals in simulated real-world environments by children

Binaural hearing in children with auditory processing disorders

Binaural hearing with assistive listening devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants

ResearchAcoustic Signal Processing

Sound quality and its measurement Impact of hearing aid technologies on speech and

audio quality. Perception of sound quality by hearing impaired

listeners and its prediction. Evaluation of amplified telephones, assistive listening

devices, and telecommunication technologies with hearing impaired listeners.

Technology Transfer

Pediatric amplificationPediatric diagnosticsHand held signal processing devices for

auditory assessmentEvaluation of existing hearing devices

Knowledge UtilizationLaboratory for Knowledge Exchange Scientific Advisory Boards Workshops – Ontario Infant Hearing Program,

Beyond the Audiogram, Evidence based practice in Audiology

Professional outreach: Canadian Academy of Audiology

Industrial partnerships Scientist exchanges

Opportunities for Student Research Training

Masters of Clinical Science in Audiology Health and Rehabilitation Science, Hearing

Science Field - Masters and doctoral training International student experiences Research Symposia

Phonak Symposium Series in Pediatric Audiology

Siemens Symposium in AudiologyBi-weekly in-house Research Seminars

Financial Support:Granting Councils and Foundations Natural Sciences and Engineering

Research Council Canadian Institutes of Health

Research Networks of Centres of Excellence Canada Foundation for Innovation Ontario Research Fund Hearing Foundation of Canada Hospital for Sick Children Foundation Masonic Foundation of Ontario Oticon Foundation Health Technology Exchange National Science Foundation National Institute of Health WSIB Masonic Foundation

Industrial supporters Phonak Siemens Oticon Unitron Starkey Etymonic Design Beltone Bernafon GN Otometrics Interacoustics Dspfactory Unitron Bruel and Kjaer Research in Motion Vivosonic Med-El Medtronics

The People Sumit Agrawal, MD Chris Allan, MSc Prudence Allen, PhD Marlene Bagatto, AuD Stephen Beaulac, BScEng Christine Brown, MClSc Janis Oram Cardy, PhD Margaret Cheesman, PhD Ioan Curca, Ph.D. Paula Folkeard, AuD David Grainger, BScEng Mary Beth Jennings, PhD Donald Jamieson, PhD Lucy Kieffer, BA

Hanif Ladak, PhD David Lee, P.Eng. James McKay, MA Stephen Lomber, PhD Ewan Macpherson, PhD Shane Moodie, MSc Sheila Moodie, MClSc Lorne Parnes, MD Vijay Parsa, PhD David Purcell, PhD Frances Richert, MSc Susan Scollie, PhD Richard Seewald, PhD Susan Stanton, PhD Kim Zimmerman, MSc

Thank you !