National Centre for Audiology
Excellence in hearing science and
audiologic research at Western
The NCA
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Largest audiology research centre in Canada, one of the
largest internationally
Over 29 Researchers and Support staff
 5 faculties represented
 Large graduate training program
Shared and dedicated laboratories support collaborative
research in both basic and applied research
Funding from provincial and federal governments, Private
Sector Partners, and the Community
NCA Laboratories
Link clinical practice and research
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Hearing Research Clinic
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Fully functioning audiology clinic allows us to ask
research questions in a clinical environment
Assistive Devices Laboratory
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Introduces new assistive technologies to hearing
impaired persons
NCA Laboratories
Enable research in simulated
3-d environments
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Anechoic Chamber
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One of largest chambers in Canada
Software controlled 64 speaker array
Enables research in binaural hearing & functioning of
assistive devices in a 3-d world
Reverberation Chamber
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Simulation of reverberant environments
Similarly equipped to Anechoic chamber making
protocols portable between environments
NCA Laboratories
Facilitate technology transfer and industrial
partnerships
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Knowledge Translation Lab
 Video
conferencing facilities
 Networking with audiologists around Canada and
the world
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Translational Research Unit
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industry supported contract research
 Fee for service research available to industry
partners in assistive listening and other
communication devices
NCA Laboratories
Promote advances in diagnosis of pediatric
hearing loss
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Child Hearing Research Laboratory
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Perceptual development
Advanced methods for testing complex sound
processing
Improved diagnosis of auditory processing disorders
MEG Analysis Laboratory
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Cortical auditory function in children with Autism,
Language Disorders
NCA Laboratories
Promote advances in rehabilitation
of pediatric hearing loss
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Child Amplification Laboratory
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Early identification and amplification in children’s
hearing loss
Development of DSL i/o® for hearing aid fitting
NCA Laboratories
Support research with hearing impaired
adults
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Hearing Science Laboratory
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Hearing in aging
Noise exposure & hearing conservation
Aural Rehabilitation Laboratory
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Enhancing communication in the elderly,
Improving hearing accessibility
Stigma of hearing loss
NCA Laboratories
Make possible the development and
evaluation of hearing technologies
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Device Development Lab
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Design of hand held device for auditory testing
Methods for assessing sound quality
Reverberation and Acoustics in
Performance Studio
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Acoustic quality in musical performance settings
NCA Laboratories
Bring new knowledge in auditory
neuroscience
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Electrophysiology Laboratory
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Auditory Biophysics Laboratory
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Basis of hearing and hearing loss using OAE’s and
evoked potentials
Modeling middle ear mechanics
Developing surgical simulation tools
Cortical Plasticity Laboratory
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Animal models of cortical plasticity & cochlear implants
research
Affiliated clinical laboratories
Facilitate translation of research to clinical
practice
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University Hospital Cochlear Implant
Program
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Victoria Hospital Audiology Dept.; Leeper
Speech & Hearing Clinic & Local audiology
partners
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Studying the relative benefits of bilateral cochlear
implantation
Refining protocols for APD evaluation in children
Ontario Infant Hearing Program
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Improving early intervention and assessment of
children with hearing impairments
NCA Research in
Pediatric Assessment
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Early detection of
hearing loss
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Ontario Infant Hearing
Program
Perceptual
development
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Normal hearing
children
Children with auditory
processing and
attentional disorders
NCA Research in
Pediatric Amplification
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Development of fitting algorithms
for infants and children
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DSL i/o®
Evaluation of existing signal
processing strategies
New developments in signal
processing
NCA Research in
Hearing and Aging
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Auditory psychophysics
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Effect of hearing impairment on
suprathreshold hearing abilities
Adult aural rehabilitation
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Barriers and Facilitators to assistive
device use
Self advocacy
Stigma associated with hearing loss
Research in
Noise and Hearing Conservation
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Noise exposure
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Effects of leisure noise in hearing in children and
young adults
Noise exposure in the NICU
Hearing accessibility
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Communication and listening quality in the classroom
Impact of noise on academic performance in children
Communication in vehicles
Research in
Auditory Neuroscience
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Middle Ear Mechanics
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Measurement of Middle Ear
Transduction using FIR methods
Development of simulations for
surgical interventions and surgical
training
Cortical plasticity
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Impact of cochlear implants and
other assistive devices on the
auditory cortex
Research in
Auditory Neuroscience cont’d…
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Auditory electrophysiology
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Objective measures of auditory
system integrity and function using
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Auditory Evoked potentials,
MEG analysis and
Otoacoustic Emissions
Acoustic reflexes
Behavioral correlates
Genetics of hearing
impairment
Research in
Hearing in 3-D Environments
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Function of assistive devices in 3-D anechoic,
competing noise, and reverberant environments
Perception of signals in simulated real-world
environments by children
Binaural hearing in children with auditory
processing disorders
Binaural hearing with assistive listening devices
such as hearing aids and cochlear implants
Research
Acoustic Signal Processing
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Sound quality and its measurement
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Impact of hearing aid technologies on speech and
audio quality.
Perception of sound quality by hearing impaired
listeners and its prediction.
Evaluation of amplified telephones, assistive listening
devices, and telecommunication technologies with
hearing impaired listeners.
Technology Transfer
Pediatric amplification
 Pediatric diagnostics
 Hand held signal processing devices for
auditory assessment
 Evaluation of existing hearing devices
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Knowledge Utilization
Laboratory for Knowledge Exchange
 Scientific Advisory Boards
 Workshops – Ontario Infant Hearing Program,
Beyond the Audiogram, Evidence based practice
in Audiology
 Professional outreach: Canadian Academy of
Audiology
 Industrial partnerships
 Scientist exchanges
Opportunities for
Student Research Training
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Masters of Clinical Science in Audiology
Health and Rehabilitation Science, Hearing
Science Field - Masters and doctoral training
International student experiences
Research Symposia
 Phonak Symposium Series in Pediatric
Audiology
 Siemens Symposium in Audiology
 Bi-weekly in-house Research Seminars
Financial Support:
Granting Councils and Foundations
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Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council
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Canadian Institutes of Health
Research
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Networks of Centres of Excellence
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Canada Foundation for Innovation
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Ontario Research Fund
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Hearing Foundation of Canada
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Hospital for Sick Children Foundation
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Masonic Foundation of Ontario
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Oticon Foundation
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Health Technology Exchange
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National Science Foundation
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National Institute of Health
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WSIB
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Masonic Foundation
Industrial supporters
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Phonak
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Siemens
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Oticon
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Unitron
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Starkey
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Etymonic Design
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Beltone
 Bernafon
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GN Otometrics
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Interacoustics
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Dspfactory
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Unitron
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Bruel and Kjaer
 Research in Motion
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Vivosonic
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Med-El
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Medtronics
The People
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Sumit Agrawal, MD
Chris Allan, MSc
Prudence Allen, PhD
Marlene Bagatto, AuD
Stephen Beaulac, BScEng
Christine Brown, MClSc
Janis Oram Cardy, PhD
Margaret Cheesman, PhD
Ioan Curca, Ph.D.
Paula Folkeard, AuD
David Grainger, BScEng
Mary Beth Jennings, PhD
Donald Jamieson, PhD
Lucy Kieffer, BA
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Hanif Ladak, PhD
David Lee, P.Eng.
James McKay, MA
Stephen Lomber, PhD
Ewan Macpherson, PhD
Shane Moodie, MSc
Sheila Moodie, MClSc
Lorne Parnes, MD
Vijay Parsa, PhD
David Purcell, PhD
Frances Richert, MSc
Susan Scollie, PhD
Richard Seewald, PhD
Susan Stanton, PhD
Kim Zimmerman, MSc
Thank you !