Featured Sessions and Grand Rounds

Wednesday, March 26, 12:45—1:45 pm

Presenter: Ali A. Danesh, PhD

Hyperacusis is one of the major complaints associated with the auditory system.  The underlying etiology for hyperacusis not only includes some sort of insult to the auditory system but also the psychological impact that influences the sufferer’s quality of life. This presentation will explore neurologic, psychologic, and oto-audiologic contributing causes for this condition. The therapeutic approaches for hyperacusis including addressing the factors of sensation, emotion and cognition will be addressed. These include use of sound therapy, extensive counseling and application of CBT in the intervention program. Our research on hyperacusis in the autism population will be shared with the audience.

Wednesday, March 26, 2:15—3:45 pm

Moderator: Noël Crosby, AuD

Panelists: Lindsey Koble, AuD; Erica Person, AuD; John Hartman AuD; Cliff Olson, AuD; Cristi Moore, AuD; Ashlee H. Vandiver, AuD; and Kellye St Claire, MHA

The increasing popularity of Medicare Advantage plans that provide hearing aid benefits managed by third-party companies pose significant challenges and opportunities. Despite the limitations set by these third parties on fitting fees and other service charges, there are several factors to consider when deciding whether to participate in these plans. This presentation will provide a balanced evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of participating with these third-party plans and feature a panel discussion with presenters who have successfully embraced managed care and others who have devised strategies to serve managed care patients without relying on third-party companies.

Thursday, March 27, 8:15—9:15 am

Presenter: Carla Smiley, AuD

This session will explore key barriers to audiology care, including socioeconomic, cultural, geographic, and systemic factors that limit patient access. Participants will learn to identify these challenges and develop evidence-based strategies to improve equitable access through approaches such as mobile audiology, tele-audiology, community outreach, and enhanced cultural competence. Additionally, the session will cover how hearing healthcare professionals can advocate for policy reforms and institutional changes to address disparities in hearing healthcare, promoting equitable service delivery for all patients. This intermediate-level session will equip hearing healthcare professionals with practical tools to make meaningful changes in their practices and communities.

Thursday, March 27, 4:00—5:00 pm

Presenter: Nicholas Reed, AuD, PhD

Driven largely by research in the last decade linking hearing and cognition among older adults, hearing loss has been prominently featured in mainstream media more so than ever before. Whether supported by evidence or not, claims regarding hearing aids to mitigate this association have accompanied most pieces. This session will present an in-depth review and assess the methodologic rigor of the epidemiologic literature on hearing and cognition, describe the summary of the current body of literature within an epidemiologic causal framework,  deconstruct the interpretation of recent clinical trial findings on whether hearing aids delay cognitive decline, and, lastly,  consider differences in population versus individual-level interpretation of the entire body of research. The overarching aim of this session is for attendees to walk away prepared and comfortable discussing the nuances of evidence on hearing, hearing aids, and cognition with their patients.

Friday, March 28, 8:00—9:00 am

Presenter: Joshua Alexander, PhD

This presentation examines the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing hearing aid technology. It highlights how AI enhances sound processing, adapts to user preferences, and enables real-time adjustments to improve listening experiences in diverse environments. The discussion will cover AI’s ability to personalize users’ listening experiences through predictive algorithms and continuous learning from user feedback. Additionally, the presentation emphasizes the ongoing importance of audiologists in guiding AI-driven solutions, ensuring that technology complements human expertise to optimize patient outcomes.

Sponsored by William Demant Foundation.

Friday, March 28, 9:30—11:00 am

Presenters: Margaret Kenna, MD, MPH; Shelby Redfield, MS

Pediatric sensorineural hearing loss is a common diagnosis and most often can be attributed to a single underlying genetic etiology. Understanding and diagnosing the specific etiology has important implications for children and families. This becomes increasingly relevant in the context of potential targeted gene therapy for hearing loss. Early and accurate diagnosis can have critical implications, and audiology professionals are often the first clinicians to interact with a pediatric SNHL patient. Establishing strong and collaborative relationships between genetics professionals, otolaryngologists and audiologists can increase positive outcomes and experiences for families.

Friday, March 28, 2:30—4:00 pm

Presenters: Catherine Palmer, PhD; Gus Mueller, PhD; Ryan McCreery, PhD

The session will be a moderated panel discussion of the current evidence-base in amplification spanning the range of selection, fitting, verification, and outcome assessment across the lifespan. The three presenters review the literature from the previous year (2024) that focused on amplification and present the articles they believe will impact your practice on Monday morning.

Friday, March 28, 4:15—5:15 pm

Presenter: Peter M. Skip Scheifele, PhD

Animal hearing and sound production have the potential to teach us about ourselves and the environment.  In addition to being the key to translational research in audiology and speech-language pathology functionality, anatomy, neurology and pathology. This has never more true than in studies of hearing loss, noise impacts (especially in working animals), and communication. As an example, hearing loss in dogs has a profound effect on working ability, cognition and can occur for many reasons including noise-induced loss, conductive loss, presbycusis, and PTSI. In this presentation, the first animal audiology research center and clinic known as FETCHLAB USA will be introduced as well as how to obtain a certification as an animal audiologist.