THE NATIONAL ACOUSTIC LABORATORIES
Historical background
The National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) grew from an organization known as the Acoustic Testing Laboratories (ATL) which was established by the National Health and Medical Research Council in 1943 and became the Acoustic Research Laboratory (ARL) in 1944. This small, wartime organization was replaced in 1948 by the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories (CAL) which had an extended research function and a new services function of providing hearing services to children and war veterans. During the 1950s and 1960s, CAL’s hearing services were extended to several other groups, notably age pensioners who had an entitlement to free medical services. The name of the organization was changed to National Acoustic Laboratories in 1973.
Becoming a statutory body
On 1 July 1992, NAL became a Statutory Authority with its General Manager reporting through a Board of Directors to the Minister for Aged, Family and Health Services. At this time, the organization was renamed Australian Hearing Services (AHS). The organization now operates under the name of Australian Hearing but NAL has been retained to designate the research and development division.
Our role
NAL undertakes scientific investigations into hearing, hearing habilitation and rehabilitation, and the effects of noise on people, including the prevention of hearing loss. NAL performs the vast majority of its work in the public good as a Community Service Obligation of Australian Hearing and the Department of Health and Family Services, using funding from the Australian Government. The results of this work are published in leading peer-reviewed journals and are available at no cost or at nominal cost to clinicians and other users of the research. Some additional research is performed in collaboration with commercial organisations from the hearing rehabilitation and hearing protection industries. This work is also generally published, with appropriate safeguards to the companies sponsoring the research.
Projects at NAL fall into the following four areas:
Hearing Rehabilitation Devices
Hearing Rehabilitation Procedures
NAL also undertakes acoustical tests for businesses and industries. To read more about this service, click at "acoustic test" at the navigation bar, or the link here.
Click here to see a slide presentation about NAL and its people at work.
Our staff
There are about 40 staff members at NAL. Click here to view by the staff list by surname.
Special tribute to Dr Denis John Byrne
| Dr Denis Byrne passed away on 23 March 2000. His 41 years with National Acoustic Laboratories, 11 of which in the position of Director of Research, had brought tremendous contributions to hearing aid research. To read more about him, click here. |
Our Library is accessible, by appointment, to professional colleagues, research workers and post-graduate students in audiology . The Librarian's contact details are -
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Phone no. (+61) 2-9412 6801
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Fax no. (+61) 2-9413 3855
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Email <library@nal.gov.au>
To view the library catalogue, click here, or access <www.library.hearing.com.au> directly.
Our relationship with the CRC
The National Acoustic Laboratories, under the name of Australian Hearing, is one of the 4 core parties that form the Cooperative Research Centre for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation (CRC). The other three core parties are the Bionic Ear Institute, University of Melbourne and Cochlear Ltd. Many of NAL's research projects are carried out as part of its commitment to the CRC.
Back to NAL Home Page
Link to Australian Hearing website