Proposals appropriate for submission to this topic area include those that focus on all aspects of hearing, balance, and tinnitus from diagnostics to intervention in adults. Submissions may include (a) basic and translational research in human and animals using behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging approaches, (b) assessment, intervention, rehabilitation, and communication strategies to improve outcomes, (c) relevant artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and technological innovations, and (d) professional education and hearing health practices. Interprofessional education, practice, and/or research that addresses the implementation of interprofessional competencies within curricular or practice models or the evaluation of collaborative care outcomes specific to hearing, balance, and tinnitus in adults should also be included in this topic area.

Research

• Basic and translational research in hearing, balance, and tinnitus
• Basic, translational, applied, and implementation research related to hearing, balance, and tinnitus
• Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of auditory function, balance, and tinnitus as they apply to assessment and intervention
• Computational and neuroimaging tools to study hearing, balance, and tinnitus (e.g., PET, fMRI, fNIRS)
• Physiologic and electrophysiologic approach to study hearing, balance, and tinnitus (Evoked potentials, otoacoustic emissions)
• Intraoperative monitoring of auditory, cranial nerves, somatosensory, and motor systems’ function
• Animal studies related to hearing, balance, and tinnitus
• Assessment and intervention strategies
• Models of auditory function, tinnitus, and hyperacusis as they apply to assessment and intervention
• Assessment/intervention for balance disorders
• Selection, evaluation, orientation, and follow-up with assistive listening devices (ALDs), hearing protection devices, OTCs, hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other implantable devices for adults
• Intervention/rehabilitation for hearing loss among adults, including surgical and medical management
• Rehabilitation strategies for hearing, balance, and tinnitus
• Surgical and medical management for hearing, balance, and tinnitus
• Age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline
• Emerging gene therapy and pharmaceutical interventions
• Ototoxic monitoring programs
• Hearing loss prevention and occupational/industrial hearing conservation programs
• Rehabilitation and communication strategies
• Novel rehabilitation strategies related to hearing, balance, and tinnitus
• Counseling adults with hearing loss, balance, and tinnitus and their families
• Communication strategies, adaptive and alternative communication systems for adults with hearing loss and their families
• Technology and engineering innovations
• Computer-based and other technologies for differential diagnosis, intervention, and rehabilitation related to hearing, balance, and tinnitus
• Engineering/technological innovations related to hearing loss, balance, and tinnitus
• Acoustic calibration and national/international standards for clinical and research applications
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data related to hearing loss, balance, and tinnitus

Professional Education & Hearing Health Practices

• Effect of listening efforts
• Accessibility of hearing health care
• Cultural, linguistic, and interprofessional factors for quality hearing health practices
• Psychosocial, vocational, and functional impacts of hearing loss, balance, and tinnitus
• Cerumen management in adults

Related Topics

Proposals involving this population but with a primary focus on:

• Hearing/tinnitus/vestibular science should be submitted to the Hearing, Tinnitus and Vestibular Science topic area.
• The use of telepractice in the delivery of service that include technology-based approaches and outcomes at the system level should be submitted to the Telepractice topic area.
• Topics on clinical and research approaches and methods for cochlear implants and implantable devices should be submitted to the Audiology Implantables and Neuroprosthetics topic area.