DATE: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 – 1 PM ET
SPEAKER: Lori Leibold, Ph.D. Director, Center for Hearing Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital
Abstract:
Rates of conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss are higher for individuals living with Down syndrome relative to individuals who are neurotypical. However, individuals living with Down syndrome have been underrepresented in hearing research studies, which has in turn contributed to hearing health care disparities such as reduced use of amplification.
This webinar will provide an overview of scientists at Boys Town National Research Hospital to characterize how speech, language, and hearing develop across the lifespan for individuals living with Down syndrome. Results from studies designed to characterize the audiological profile of school-age children and adults living with Down syndrome will be discussed, including age-related changes in conventional and extended high-frequency audiometric thresholds. Speech perception data in competing noise and in competing speech will be presented, considering the influence of listener factors such as age, language skills, executive function, and audibility. Finally, considerations for working with individuals living with Down syndrome and their families will be discussed.
Key learning points
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to:
- Describe the unique hearing and speech perception challenges faced by individuals living with Down syndrome across the lifespan.
- Discuss considerations for audiological assessment of individuals living with Down syndrome.
- Consider barriers that limit communication outcomes for individuals living with Down syndrome.
SPEAKER BIO: Lori Leibold, Ph.D. Director, Center for Hearing Research, Boys Town National Research Hospital
Lori Leibold is the Director of the Center for Hearing Research and leads the Human Auditory Development Laboratory at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. She reviewed her B.S. from McMaster University, M.Sc. in Audiology from the University of Western Ontario, and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington. Her background is in audiology and developmental psychoacoustics. Her research is focused on understanding how and when hearing and speech perception develop across infancy and childhood, which includes studies evaluating the speech perception and auditory abilities of infants, children, and adults living with Down syndrome. Working with a team of scientists, clinicians, and community engagement specialists, she is involved in multiple efforts to increase participation rates, promote programmatic longevity, and improve hearing health outcomes for individuals living with Down syndrome. These efforts include coordination of a community advisory board and travel to rural and/or underserved communities to conduct research in our mobile research vehicle.
