Transcript Karen Iler Kirk - Purdue University

Robert E. Novak Ph.D., CCC-A
• Clinical ProfessorDepartment of Speech,
Language and Hearing
Sciences
• Director of Clinical
Education in Audiology
and Interim Department
Head
• B.A., M.A., Ph.D.University of Iowa
Current Research Areas
Effects of Noise on Hearing- particular
emphasis on personal listening systems
(e.g.; iPods, MP-3 players, etc)
Effects of Noise on Patients/Residents in
Health Care and Retirement Community
Settings
Rehabilitation of Hearing Loss in Adults and
Elderly Adults
Technology Development (personal noise
exposure monitor, hearing aids, virtual
learning tools)
Methodologies
Pure tone air/bone/speech psychoacoustic testing, probe
tube real ear microphone measurements, subjective
client report instruments
Sound level meters and personal dosimeters,
patient/resident report instruments,
communication/health care outcomes measures
Group adult auditory rehabilitation program development in
support of effective use of hearing aid/implant
technology
Collaboration with EPICS engineering students and
industrial partners to create analogue and digital
technologies: “sound exposure meter”, “virtual
audiologist”, etc)
Recent Results
iPod levels in a simulated real-ear coupler have
been recorded in excess of 115 dB SPL
(damage can occur at 90dBA and above); study
now being done to document hearing differences
in “high” versus “low/non” iPod users and actual
real-ear SPL levels at typical iPod use settings
Sound Exposure Meter (“SEM”): personal noise
monitoring device (combines continuous;
integrated & impulse noise measurements) won
2005 I2P competition with circuits/casing now in
development/testing (EPICS SLAC team project)
Future Directions
• Continue research of personal listening systems:
input/output characteristics, listener use patterns, related
hearing changes, hearing conservation education
• Research on SEM functionality and use
• Application of psychoacoustic masking level difference
(MLD) phenomenon to hearing aid design
• Research on noise mitigation in health care and
retirement settings and effects on functional
patient/resident outcome measurements
• Research on improving hearing aid benefit and
communication outcomes in geriatric clients
with hearing loss