1) Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder – putting the ‘spectrum’ into perspective.

Presented by Dr Kirsty Gardner-Berry (Endorsement by Audiology Australia has expired)

Whilst auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is known to result in a wide range of outcomes with both hearing aids and cochlear implants it’s not always easy to decipher from the literature which of the key elements are at play and how to best counsel clients and families about the most appropriate management pathway for their specific presentation. In this webinar a combination of age-of-onset and diagnostic assessment tools will be presented to help clinicians categorize different ANSD sub-groups, explain the variation in outcomes seen, and guide the clinical management pathway moving forward.

2) Introducing the PLUM and HATS tools.

Presented by Meagan Ward, Carmen Kung and Samantha Harkus. (Endorsement by Audiology Australia has expired)

You may have come across new tools available from the National Acoustics Laboratories called PLUM and HATS. They are checklists designed to guide conversations with parents of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children aged 6 months to five years, to explore their child’s listening and communication skills development. Originally designed with the primary health workforce in mind to assist with triaging for referrals, they can also guide decision making across the continuum of care. Come and learn what they are, why they were developed, and how they are being used, and our hopes for how they may play a role in closing the gap around child development.

3) Shifting the Goal Posts. Hearing loss & Cochlear implantation in the Australian Landscape.

Presented by Emma Ramsay. (Endorsement by Audiology Australia has expired)

Australian Professor Graeme Clark AC was inspired by his deaf father to help deaf people hear. The ground breaking research he led in Australia began in the late 1960s, when almost all auditory neurophysiologists believed that providing useful hearing through electrical stimulation would be impossible.

When cochlear implants were first commercialised most potential candidates and health care professionals hoped the device would be an aid to lip reading. Forty years later the goal posts have shifted considerably and expectations include the ability to swim wearing the device, cell phone connectivity, hearing in noise and much, much more. Cochlear has continued with global clinical research and technology development programs, integrating new findings into products with enhanced performance and usability to meet these growing and ever changing expectations.

In this session you will hear Cochlear Australia New Zealand’s Clinical Director Emma Ramsay , discuss the improvements the Cochlear implant industry has seen over the last 20 years, how the Australian landscape has changed and improvements still needed and learn about ways Cochlear’s technology can maximise hearing and lifestyle outcomes.

4) Introduction to the Oticon Medical Neuro Cochlear Implant System

Presented by Stacey Butler

This presentation provides an opportunity for hearing care professionals to receive an overview of the Neuro cochlear implant system from Oticon Medical, which includes the Neuro Zti implant, Neuro 2 sound processor and Genie Medical Cochlear Implant Software. Learn about what makes the Neuro system unique.

5) Supporting Ponto Bone Anchored Hearing Solutions

Presented by Stephanie Carrick

Ponto has brought superior speech understanding and comfortable listening into the lives of tens of thousands of adults and children around the world — giving them the hearing confidence they need to take part in school, work and social situations. This presentation will provide hearing care professionals and educators an understanding of key components of the Ponto system: sound processing strategies, connectivity and support resources. Learn what makes Ponto unique and how you can best support bone anchored hearing users.

6) MED-EL: 20 Innovations in 20 Minutes (and then some more)

Presented by Robyn Shakes

MEDEL is a world leader in hearing implant technology, having the world first multi-channel cochlear implant in 1977. Renowned for innovation, research & development, MED-EL is constantly pushing technological boundaries.

This presentation will discuss 20 recent innovations available in the latest MED-EL cochlear implant systems and how they improve clinical practice and user benefit. Design philosophy and future direction will also be explored.

7) Cochlear Technology and Research Update

Presented by Frank Risi and Esti Nel

Since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 600,000 implantable devices, helping recipients of all ages, to hear and live full and active lives. Throughout this time Cochlear’s continual focus on research and development, has resulted in delivering new technologies that benefit all recipients, whether they are being implanted today or many years ago. This session will bring you up to date on the most recent advancements in implant and processing technology.

First, Frank Risi Group Product Manager of Surgical & Implants will take you through the unique design of Cochlear’s latest generation implant, Nucleus Profile™ Plus, which enables recipients to have MRI’s up to 3T without the need for splinting or magnet removal. Then Esti Nel, Cochlear’s Principal Research Audiologist will provide an overview of SmartSound IQ, Cochlear’s suite of sound processing technologies, and will share evidence on how these innovations enhance hearing performance in even challenging listening environments.

8) Advanced Bionics

Presented by Jade Dornan, Victoria Tse and Rosanne Fava

Advanced Bionics is a global leader in developing the most advanced cochlear implant systems in the world, offering a range of unique benefits to users of cochlear implants (CI). This session will give a summary of some of the unique technologies developed by Advanced Bionics. Some areas covered will include the use of Current Steering to increase spectral resolution, the first truly made for CI bimodal system eliciting better performance in everyday life situations, and an introduction to AB’s new cochlear implant- setting a new benchmark for standard of care in CI and MRI.

Ticket Information: The AHH free tickets are for staff from the Australian Hearing Hub who are not seeking accreditation.

This event addresses the following Standards from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: 1.1.2, 1.2.2, 1.3.2, 1.4.2, 1.5.2, 1.6.2, 2.6.2, 3.2.2, 3.3.2, 3.4.2, 3.6.2, 4.1.2, 4.4.2, 4.5.2, 5.1.2, 5.2.2, 5.3.2, 5.4.2, 6.2.2, 6.2.6, 6.3.2, 6.4.2, 7.4.2. It fits within the Priority Area of Children/ Student with Disabilities. This event is evidence and research based.