Evaluating The Active Communication Education Program For Older People With Hearing Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$240,550.00
Summary
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent disabilities in older people and as the Australian population ages, the number of people with hearing loss will also increase. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation and depression and has a profound effect on quality of life. Hearing aids are often seen as the panacea for hearing loss in older people but approximately 35% of people who have obtained a hearing aid use it infrequently or not at all. Even those who do use the hearing aid frequently may ....Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent disabilities in older people and as the Australian population ages, the number of people with hearing loss will also increase. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation and depression and has a profound effect on quality of life. Hearing aids are often seen as the panacea for hearing loss in older people but approximately 35% of people who have obtained a hearing aid use it infrequently or not at all. Even those who do use the hearing aid frequently may still have difficulty hearing in everyday situations. In addition, there are many older people with a hearing impairment who do not want a hearing aid. Cost is often cited as a factor but reasons such as cosmetic appearance and attitude towards hearing loss are also major reasons for not using hearing aids. Hearing is just one element of successful communication. The ability to communicate despite the presence of a hearing impairment is the focus of a new intervention, the Active Communication Education (ACE) program. Participants develop problem-solving strategies to help with communication in everyday life. The program uses a positive approach aimed at enabling older people themselves to try new solutions to old problems. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of ACE for a range of older people with hearing impairment: those who are already using hearing aids, and those who have not sought a hearing aid. Some of the questions answered in this study are: Does the ACE program improve communication and quality of life for older people with hearing impairment? Do some people respond better to ACE , and if so, why? Are there long term effects of ACE? A simple low cost and effective program such as ACEwill have a major impact on the social and psychological health of older people.Read moreRead less
Developing Service Policies For Australians With Dual Sensory Impairment: An Integrated, Collaborative Pilot Project
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$324,313.00
Summary
The burden from hearing and vision impairments, greatest for people with dual sensory impairment (DSI), will rise with population ageing. Targeted rehabilitation and support for DSI may improve health and quality of life. This project will pilot an integrated, collaborative service model for assessment and rehabilitation of DSI in older people. The knowledge gained will inform policy development and optimise use of resources to provide the best possible care for older Australians with DSI.
Development Of The Listening In Spatialized Noise - Tonal Test (or LiSN-T)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,136.00
Summary
In this project a novel listening test software will be developed for diagnosing spatial processing disorder in children. These children often have difficulties in understanding teachers in classrooms, which can significantly impact their ability to learn. The developed software will be specifically designed for diagnosing 5-year old children, before they enter primary school, and in contrast to existing tests will be independent of their language background.
Occupational Hearing Loss Induced By Solvents And Noise: Development Of New Strategies For Hearing Loss Prevention Programs In The Workplace
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,088.00
Summary
There are no guidelines on how to prevent and monitor the effects of solvents on hearing. There is an urgent need of an audiological test battery capable of detecting early signs of occupational solvent-induced hearing loss (OSIHL). It is the aim of this research to a) investigate the influence of solvent and noise exposure on the function of the auditory system, and b) determine the tests with the highest discriminatory power to detect early signs of OSIHL that can be used in the workplace.
The Role Of Mitochondrial DNA In Age-related Hearing Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,475.00
Summary
Hearing loss is an extremely common and under-studied age-related disability, affecting 39% of Australians aged 50 years or older. Both genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the development of age-related hearing loss. Human genetic material (DNA) resides in two places in body cells; the nucleus and in organelles called mitochondria. This is due to the fact that mitochondria were derived from bacteria that were engulfed by the cell back in primordial life. Although this genetic mat ....Hearing loss is an extremely common and under-studied age-related disability, affecting 39% of Australians aged 50 years or older. Both genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the development of age-related hearing loss. Human genetic material (DNA) resides in two places in body cells; the nucleus and in organelles called mitochondria. This is due to the fact that mitochondria were derived from bacteria that were engulfed by the cell back in primordial life. Although this genetic material is different to nuclear DNA, it has an essential role in helping to provide energy for the cell. Genetic mutations in the DNA residing in the mitochondria have been associated with a number of conditions, usually affecting tissues that require large amounts of energy, such as the brain, muscle, heart, retina and the cochlea of the ear. The commonest clinical manifestation of mitochondrial disease is thought to be hearing loss. This project investigates the role that abnormal mitochondrial DNA plays in the development of hearing impairment by studying subjects from a representative Australian community who participated in a large population study of hearing loss. We will assess whether different sectors of mitochondrial DNA predispose particular individuals to the development of hearing loss or accelerate its onset. The Blue Mountains Hearing Study is able to take into account other factors known to be associated with hearing loss (industrial noise exposure, diabetes, smoking).Read moreRead less
Early Detection Of Hearing Damage In Children Receiving Anticancer Chemotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$197,500.00
Summary
Children surviving cancer are often left with a severe permanent hearing loss. However, very little progress has been made to minimize hearing damage in this special population. Early detection of hearing damage is not possible using traditional assessment tools. The present research seeks to investigate the use of innovative testing techniques to identify hearing damage in the early stages of the disease with high accuracy. If successful, the research will alter standard audiometric practice in ....Children surviving cancer are often left with a severe permanent hearing loss. However, very little progress has been made to minimize hearing damage in this special population. Early detection of hearing damage is not possible using traditional assessment tools. The present research seeks to investigate the use of innovative testing techniques to identify hearing damage in the early stages of the disease with high accuracy. If successful, the research will alter standard audiometric practice in hospital clinics around Australia, hence improving the standard of hearing health care for this group. The early diagnosis of hearing impairment will not only provide a chance for doctors to balance the therapeutic effects of anticancer drugs against the danger of a permanent hearing loss, but also enable allied health professionals and educational specialist to provide timely management strategies. The determination of the rate and extent of hearing dysfunction progression in children receiving chemotherapy, as proposed in this research, enables the ototoxic effects of existing drugs to be compared. With this approach, the ototoxic side effects of new drugs can also be evaluated. In summary, the proposed study will improve the quality and efficiency of audiological service delivery to young children undergoing chemotherapy in Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less