Contact Details
| Organization: | Otolaryngology Eye and Ear Hospital |
| Position: | SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW |
| Email: |
Biography
I qualified as an audiologist in 1988, and worked as a full-time Research Assistant from 1989 to 1992. In this time I was employed by The University of Melbourne’s Department of Otolaryngology and/or The Bionic Ear Institute (a private research institute associated with The University of Melbourne). From 1992 to 1997 I continued my research work and also held a 0.5EFT clinical position in the Eye and Ear Hospital/The University of Melbourne Cochlear Implant Clinic. In 1992 I enrolled in a part-time PhD evaluating the use of tactile speech perception devices, and this degree was awarded in 2000.
Research
My research has centered on the development of devices to improve the communication of adults and children with impaired hearing.
Early work: 1989-2001
From 1989 I worked on a project focusing on the use of the speech processing strategy developed for the cochlear implant (bionic ear) in an alternative electrotactile speech perception device for people who could not benefit from the implant. The leaders of this project Professor Peter Blamey and Associate Professor Robert Cowan. The provision of speech perception and speech production training for users of this tactile device was the topic of my PhD. My key contributions to this tactile device project were to develop, in collaboration with Dr Sarant, a training program for the device, to fit and program the device for each individual user, and to train and evaluate adults and children using the device. I was also responsible for the day-to-day management of studies comparing the device with commercially-available tactile devices. These collaborative studies were conducted with the Commonwealth Government’s hearing service provider Australian Hearing.
In 1999 I joined the ADRO (Adaptive Dynamic Range Optimisation) Project led by Professor Peter Blamey, Dr Lois Martin and Dr Chris James. The project developed a new algorithm for application in cochlear implants and hearing aids. A business plan written by the team won the inaugural 2000 Melbourne Business School Entrepreneurs’ Challenge. The outcome of this win was venture capital funding for the establishment of the spin-off company Dynamic Hearing, which commercialised the ADRO algorithm for use in hearing aids.
October 2002 onwards
In late 2002 I began investigating bilateral cochlear implants for children, and have since established a research team (Ms Kathryn Hughes, Ms Mansze Mok, Ms Leonie Fewster, Ms Alexandra Tomov and Ms Meredith Prain) and gained funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. There are now over 70 infants, children and young adults participating in this study. Initial investigation has focussed on speech detection or closed-set speech recognition in noise and basic tests of lateralisation or localisation of sound sources. The team is also evaluating long-term bilateral implant users and document the development of second implant alone listening skills for children receiving sequential implants. More recently, a grant has been received from the Australian Research Council (Chief Investigator Dr Julia Sarant) to investigate the broader outcomes of bilateral implants for children.
Research
My research has centered on the development of devices to improve the communication of adults and children with impaired hearing.
Early work: 1989-2001
From 1989 I worked on a project focusing on the use of the speech processing strategy developed for the cochlear implant (bionic ear) in an alternative electrotactile speech perception device for people who could not benefit from the implant. The leaders of this project Professor Peter Blamey and Associate Professor Robert Cowan. The provision of speech perception and speech production training for users of this tactile device was the topic of my PhD. My key contributions to this tactile device project were to develop, in collaboration with Dr Sarant, a training program for the device, to fit and program the device for each individual user, and to train and evaluate adults and children using the device. I was also responsible for the day-to-day management of studies comparing the device with commercially-available tactile devices. These collaborative studies were conducted with the Commonwealth Government’s hearing service provider Australian Hearing.
In 1999 I joined the ADRO (Adaptive Dynamic Range Optimisation) Project led by Professor Peter Blamey, Dr Lois Martin and Dr Chris James. The project developed a new algorithm for application in cochlear implants and hearing aids. A business plan written by the team won the inaugural 2000 Melbourne Business School Entrepreneurs’ Challenge. The outcome of this win was venture capital funding for the establishment of the spin-off company Dynamic Hearing, which commercialised the ADRO algorithm for use in hearing aids.
October 2002 onwards
In late 2002 I began investigating bilateral cochlear implants for children, and have since established a research team (Ms Kathryn Hughes, Ms Mansze Mok, Ms Leonie Fewster, Ms Alexandra Tomov and Ms Meredith Prain) and gained funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. There are now over 70 infants, children and young adults participating in this study. Initial investigation has focussed on speech detection or closed-set speech recognition in noise and basic tests of lateralisation or localisation of sound sources. The team is also evaluating long-term bilateral implant users and document the development of second implant alone listening skills for children receiving sequential implants. More recently, a grant has been received from the Australian Research Council (Chief Investigator Dr Julia Sarant) to investigate the broader outcomes of bilateral implants for children.
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest | Key Words | Country of Expertise |
|---|---|---|
| bilateral cochlear implants | pediatric | Australia |
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards
Qualifications
| Title | Institution | Date Awarded | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science | University of Melbourne | 09-Mar-1988 | |
| Graduate Diploma in Audiology | University of Melbourne | 29-Jul-1989 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy - Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences | University of Melbourne | 11-May-2000 |
Memberships
| Membership Type | Membership Body | Description | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Audiological Society of Australia | MAudSA(CCP) | 01-Mar-1989 |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
- Otorhinolaryngology (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321018)
- Rehabilitation and Therapy: Occupational and Physical (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321024)
- Rehabilitation and Therapy: Hearing and Speech (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321025)
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Scheme | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improving listening performance for young hearing-impaired children using two cochlear implants | Chief Investigator | NHMRC | Project Grants | 01/01/2007 |
| Bilateral Cochlear Implants for Children: Does a Second Implant Improve Language, Psychosocial and Other Outcomes? | Chief Investigator | AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL | Linkage Projects | 01/01/2009 |
| A comparison of listening effort with unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants in children and young adults | Chief Investigator | RNID | Flexi Grants | 05/01/2009 |
Additional Grant and Contract Information
2008: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital $5 000
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital $8 700
Royal National Insititue for the Deaf $7 646
2004: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital $5 000
2002: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital $4 000
2003: William Angliss Foundation $4 000
2002: William Angliss Foundation $10 000
2002: Collier Fund $9 000
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.