national centre for audiology excellence in hearing science and audiologic research at western
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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 !