CEU Courses

This article examines the development, validation, and clinical application of the Vanderbilt Fatigue Scales (VFS), a suite of measurement tools designed to assess listening-related fatigue in adults and children with hearing loss, including adult scales (VFS-A-40 and VFS-A-10) and pediatric scales (VFS-C, VFS-P, and VFS-T). Hearing healthcare professionals will gain practical knowledge of how to administer, score, and interpret VFS results using qualitative and quantitative cut-points, apply findings to guide patient counseling, and identify evidence-informed intervention strategies to reduce listening-related fatigue.

This session offers case studies highlighting unique patient presentations. These cases were selected to provide an opportunity to think beyond standard audiologic information to best meet patients' needs.

This course examines the gap between normal audiometric test results and patients' real-world hearing difficulties, drawing on research into diagnostic guidelines, patient perceptions, and clinician decision-making. It aims to identify where patient and provider experiences diverge in order to improve person-centered care for those with unexplained hearing concerns.

Functional hearing difficulties (FHD), or self-reported hearing challenges despite a normal pure-tone audiogram, affect millions of adults and remain a source of clinical uncertainty among hearing healthcare professionals. This session presents real-world clinical data from a clinic actively assessing and managing FHD. Attendees will gain insight into patient demographics, common complaints, comorbidities, assessment results, and outcomes, with practical strategies for integrating FHD care into existing workflows. Join us to explore emerging clinical patterns, reflect on current practices, and engage in a data-driven conversation about evolving care models for this diagnostically complex and underserved population.

This grand rounds presentation features audiologists from Phoenix Children's Hospital sharing case studies of five pediatric patients with auditory concerns. Collaboration, counseling, and cross-check principles are used to obtain best outcomes.

Vestibular disorders in animals may present with head tilt, ataxia, nystagmus, and other signs that can mimic central or peripheral pathology. This session explores comparative vestibular anatomy across species, emphasizing variations that influence clinical presentation. Common etiologies include congenital syndromes, otitis media/interna, infections, and idiopathic syndromes. Epidemiologic data and breed predispositions will be highlighted alongside diagnostic approaches including neurologic exam, imaging, and laboratory evaluation. Case studies from companion animals and exotic species illustrate real-world patterns. Participants will gain insight into differential diagnosis, treatment strategies, and prognosis to improve recognition and management of vestibular disorders

This course examines how cochlear implant (CI) candidacy and outcome assessment have evolved as speech perception performance has improved among implant users. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that word recognition may be a better metric for determining performance, but little research focuses on the relationship between phonemic recognition and sentence recognition.

Veterans without measured hearing loss presenting to VA audiology clinics for self-perceived listening difficulties represent a small, yet unique patient population. Approximately 10% of patients seeking audiological services for perceived listening difficulties will not have any measurable hearing loss. This session highlights two studies which evaluated audiological and non-audiological test measures in this population, as well as outcomes in a group of Veterans with self-perceived listening difficulties without measured hearing loss who were provided low gain amplification as a treatment strategy.

This course examines stigma as a social process for adults with acquired hearing loss, exploring the identity threat model, how stigma-induced identity threats are experienced and responded to in daily life, and the relationship between stigma, disclosure, and hearing aid uptake. Hearing healthcare professionals will gain evidence-based insights and practical clinical strategies for identifying and addressing stigma with patients and their significant others.

Typically, audiologists perform pure tone audiometry in a sound-treated room. Automated pure tone audiometry offers an opportunity for accurate hearing assessment of diverse patient populations outside of traditional clinical audiology settings. Accuracy and validity of pure tone audiometry in any setting is predicated on a test environment meeting ANSI standard for maximum permissible ambient noise levels. This session includes a review of the rationale for hearing assessment outside of the traditional sound-treated environment, and a description of ambient noise data recorded prior to automated pure tone audiometry from a sizable sample of service members and veterans. Findings and clinical implications are discussed.