20Q With Gus Mueller CEU Courses

This course provides a discussion of common comorbidities with hearing loss, with implications for audiology clinical practice. This text-based course is written in an engaging Q & A format.

New insights from animal studies of noise-induced and age-related hearing loss suggest that the most vulnerable elements in the inner ear are the synaptic connections between the sensory inner hair cells (IHCs) and the afferent neurons that communicate the information they receive to higher centers. When less than total, IHC synapse loss does not elevate thresholds. This means that it can be widespread in ears with intact hair cell populations and normal audiograms, where it has been called “hidden hearing loss”. Cochlear synapse loss is a likely contributor to difficulties understanding speech in a noisy environment and may be an instigating factor in the generation of tinnitus and hyperacusis, even when thresholds are normal. Beyond noise and aging, cochlear synaptopathy may be widespread in acquired sensorineural hearing loss of other etiologies and degrees of hair cell damage and loss. Normal thresholds or not, this loss of IHC – neural communication is expected to have significant perceptual consequences.

This course provides an overview of the advancements in hybrid cochlear implant systems, which combine electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS). This course is written in an engaging Q & A format.

This course provides an overview of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), its relevance to audiology research and practice, a review of key studies using this methodology, and a look at potential future applications. This course is written in an engaging Q & A format.

This course provides a discussion of common acoustics terms, principles and phenomena and their relationship to audiology clinical practice, in an engaging Q & A format.

This course discusses preschool hearing screening in an engaging Q & A format. Topics covered include: universal newborn screening, and why some children are not screened or lost to follow up; types of assessments for preschool hearing screenings; evidence-based protocols for preschool hearing screening and follow up.

Please note: You may earn ABA Tier 1 credits for this course if you complete it as part of the course 29608, "Audiological Test Battery Series." Course 29608 contains recordings of all three events from our 2017 series on Audiological Test Batteries. ABA Tier 1 CEUs can be earned only when all modules are completed as part of course 29608.

This engaging Q & A discussion looks at recreational firearm use and the risk of hearing loss. Topics covered include who may be at risk for hearing loss from leisure shooting activities, measures of noise from firearms, strategies to reduce risk of hearing loss in shooters, considerations for fitting hearing protection devices, and highlights of key research in this area.

This course provides general considerations for clinical education for audiology students, and is written in an engaging Q & A format.

Due to changes in birth rates and increased longevity, there are increasing numbers of people with age-associated conditions like dementia. This article is an engaging Q & A with neuropsychologist Dr. Piers Dawes regarding the relationship between hearing loss, dementia, and cognition, with implications for audiology clinical practice.

This course, written in an engaging Q & A format, discusses how providing audiologic rehabilitation services can contribute to better outcomes and help audiologists differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive hearing care market.