AAA 2018: Is Normal Hearing Really Normal? A Protocol for Adults with Subjective Hearing Difficulties (0.1 CEUs)

Presented by Christina Roup, PhD; Gail Whitelaw, PhD; Jodi Baxter, AuD

CEUs: 0.1

Instructional Level: Intermediate

The audiogram is used to define a patient’s auditory status, yet fails to capture real-world auditory abilities. In fact, 3-10% of the general population and 58% of adults with a history of head injury report experiencing substantial difficulties understanding speech in background noise, yet have a “normal” audiogram. These individuals require audiologic assessment and treatment to appropriately address their functional communication needs. This learning module will address an assessment protocol and treatment options including hearing aid fitting.

Learning Objectives:

Identify patients who present with subjective HD and provide a differential diagnosis.
Assess HD based on audiometric protocols and case history information.
Explain treatment options to address HD, including use of advanced signal processing hearing aids and digitally modulated (DM) systems.

Christina Roup

Associate Professor, The Ohio State University

Christina Roup received a B.A. and M.A. in Communicative Disorders from California State University Long Beach, and completed a predoctoral fellowship at the Mt. Home VAMC in TN. She received her Ph.D. in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2002). Christina worked as a Research Audiologist at the Martinez VA OPC in Martinez, CA, coordinating amplification research. She joined Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor in 2004 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2011. Christina is the director of the Speech Recognition and Aging Laboratory and studies age-related changes in binaural speech recognition. She teaches courses on basic audiology, hearing disorders and adult aural rehabilitation, and is the Chair of the Audiology Oversight committee.

Gail M. Whitelaw

Associate Clinical Professor, The Ohio State University

Gail M. Whitelaw, Ph.D. Director of Clinical Instruction and Research and Audiologist, Department of Speech and Hearing Science, The Ohio State University. She directs the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at Ohio State, is a clinical preceptor for AuD students, and teaches a number of courses in the AuD curriculum, including coursework on auditory processing disorders. She is also the audiology faculty member on the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Disorders (LEND) grant at the Nisonger Center at Ohio State. One of her most significant clinical interests is in the assessment and management of both children and adults with auditory processing disorders. She is Board Certified with a Specialty Certification in Pediatric Audiology.

Jodi Baxter

Audiologist & Clinical Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University

Jodi Baxter, AuD, is an audiologist and clinical faculty member at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Jodi primarily serves as a clinical preceptor for AuD graduate students, teaches as part of the AuD curriculum at OSU, and assists with research. Jodi is the chair of the AAA Government Relations Committee and also active in the Ohio Academy of Audiology and Women in STEMM professions Alumni Society at OSU. Jodi's primary interest areas include the latest advancements in hearing technology, aural rehabilitation, geriatrics, advocacy, and clinical education.