This presentation will review and evaluate recent public health research that demonstrates the implications of hearing loss for the health and functioning of older adults, particularly with respect to cognitive functioning, brain aging, and dementia. It will focus on the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic research in order to provide practicing audiologists with some basic tools needed to interpret and apply epidemiologic research in the clinical setting, as well as to define priorities for future research.

Hearing well and being well is a multi-dimensional topic – research in this area has been gaining momentum. This course will discuss the current research and findings in the areas of cognition, listening effort and cognitive load, well-being, emotion and social aspects of health and hearing.

Hearing loss is associated with decreased health-related quality of life, accelerated cognitive decline, and dementia. Cognition may be amenable to comprehensive hearing rehabilitative treatment consisting of the use of hearing technologies (hearing aids, Osseointegrated devices, and other assistive devices) and rehabilitative training. However, there are no randomized controlled trials to definitely show that hearing intervention can reduce the rate of cognitive decline. Furthermore, little is known about the different types, degrees, and configurations of hearing loss and how that may influence cognitive outcomes. A review of evidence and current studies will be provided.

Research has linked physical health to the prevalence of hearing loss, and the prevalence of hearing loss to cognitive health. As hearing healthcare professionals, it is important to understand these relationships from the aspect of counseling patients on the impact of lifestyle on hearing and the benefit of hearing aids on listening lifestyle and satisfaction.

This course seeks to demonstrate the utilization of the Central Test Battery/Buffalo Model therapy as a viable and innovative means to diagnose and treat Auditory Processing Disorders (APD). This session will help clinicians interpret information from assessment results in the hope of furthering earlier identification, intervention and remediation.

This course features clinicians from the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children presenting actual case studies on amplification and assessment with a range of audiological and medical diagnoses represented.

This course addresses the increased interest in cannabidiol (CBD) oil for hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders in addition to addressing the use of essential oils for the same auditory/vestibular issues. Patient counseling strategies are discussed.

The majority of hearing aid users are older adults and, thus, it is incumbent to understand the nature of their perceptual difficulties. In this seminar, the effects of aging in combination with hearing loss on spoken language understanding will be examined.

This course will review middle ear mechanics and conductive hearing loss. A highlight of differences and similarities between conditions will be discussed. A review of audiological and otological work-up will be covered and as well as a brief introduction to surgical and non-surgical treatments.

This presentation will examine the pathophysiology of diabetes on hearing and balance as well as audiology medical management of diabetes associated hearing and balance issues. The course will look at the research we know and do not know, patient care and interprofessional collaboration around diabetes care.