Commercial Research
The Sponsored Research Unit at the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) in Australia has an ever expanding catalogue of research conducted for companies in the hearing industry.
The Sponsored Research Unit offers commercial bodies the possibility to conduct contracted studies at a world-renowned independent institution, with negotiable terms relating to intellectual property and rights to its use, as well as publication of results.
The unit is comprised of a stable team of experienced research audiologists who work closely with the Senior Research Scientist at NAL with the most experience in the field of research relevant for each project as a “floating consultant”. Such a structure allows us to take advantage of the extensive accumulated knowledge at NAL and tailor the expertise in the team for each assignment.
In addition to access to a large database of potential test participants, NAL has a wide repertoire of facilities and test materials including:
- Spatial testing using a 360° horizontal array of 20 loudspeakers
- Controlled low-noise wind conditions
- Testing in anechoic or highly reverberant conditions
- Objective measurements of device performance
- Speech testing in diffuse noise
- Speech tracking
- Established diaries for evaluations in the field
- Double-blind data collection
In addition to the testing that can be provided on-site, the unit also has scope to obtain feedback on clinical issues from a large number of audiologists in the Australian Hearing network.
The Sponsored Research Unit has already completed studies for several organisations (listed alphabetically):
Arnang Pty Ltd, Australia
Australian Hearing
Bernafon AG, Switzerland
Commercial Television Australia
GN ReSound, Denmark
CTO through HörCentrum, Germany
Office of Hearing Services, Australia
Siemens Hearing Instruments, Germany
VAST Audio Pty Ltd, Australia
As evidenced by the large number of publications and presentations listed below, the researchers may also take an active role disseminating the results to an international audience.
Inquiries regarding the Sponsored Research Unit should be directed to:
Anna O’Brien
National Acoustic Laboratories
126 Greville St
Chatswood 2067
Ph: +61 2 9412 6800
Fax: +61 2 9411 8273
Email: Anna.O’Brien@nal.gov.au
List of publications:
Keidser G, O’Brien A, Carter L, McLelland M, Yeend I. (In review). The effect of experience on the gain preferred by hearing aid wearers.
Convery E, Keidser G, Carter L. (In review). Transitioning hearing aid users with severe or profound hearing loss from linear to nonlinear amplification: Three case studies
Keidser G, Hartley D, Carter L. (In review). Long-term usage of modern signal processing by listeners with severe or profound hearing loss: A retrospective survey.
Keidser G, Carter L, Chalupper J, Dillon H. (2007). Effect of low-frequency gain and venting effects on the benefit derived from directionality and noise reduction in hearing aids. International Journal of Audiology 46(10): 554-568.
Keidser G, O’Brien A, Latzel M, Convery E. (2007). Evaluation of a transient noise reduction algorithm. Hearing Journal 60(2): 29,32,34,38-39.
Keidser G, Dillon H, Dyrlund O, Carter L, Hartley D. (2007) Preferred compression ratios in the low and high frequencies by the moderately severe to severe-profound population. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology 18(1):17-33.
Keidser G, Rohrseitz K, Dillon H, Hamacher V, Carter L, Rass U, Convery E. (2006). The effect of multi-channel wide dynamic range compression, noise reduction, and directional microphone on horizontal localisation performance in hearing aid wearers. International Journal of Audiology 45(10):563-579.
Keidser G, Carter L, Dillon H. (2006) The effect of advanced signal processing strategies in hearing aids on user performance and preference. In Rasmussen AN, Osterhammel PA, Andersen T, and Poulsen T (Ed.), Hearing Aid Fitting, 21st Danavox Symposium. (pp. 307-320).
Dillon H, Keidser G, O’Brien A, Silberstein H. (2003) Sound quality comparisons of advanced hearing aids. Hearing Journal 56(4): 30-40.
List of presentations:
O’Brien A, Keidser G Yeend I, McLelland M, Hain J Froehlich M. The effect of frequency-dependent directionality on front-back localisation.
Abstract submitted for ICA, Hong Kong. June 2008.
Keidser G, Carter L, Harley D, Dillon H. Benefits of advanced hearing aid technology for people with severe to profound hearing loss.
SCIC seminar on Future management of severe to profound hearing loss. Sydney. May 2007.
Keidser G, O’Brien A, Carter L. New Hearing aid users prefer less gain than experienced hearing aid users: Fact or fiction?
Siemens e-Lecture (Webinar). April 2007.
Keidser G, O’Brien A, Carter L, Froehlich M, Dillon H. Do new hearing aid users prefer less low-frequency, high-frequency, or overall gain than experienced users?
Poster at the International Hearing Aid Research Conference. Lake Tahoe. August 2006.
O’Brien A, Keidser G, Carter L, Froehlich M, Dillon H. Gain Acclimatisation in New Hearing Aid Users: Fact or Fiction?
17th National Conference of the Audiological Society of Australia. Perth. May 2006.
Convery E, Keidser G, Rohrseitz K, Dillon H, Hamacher V, Carter L. How Adaptive Directionality Affects Horizontal Localisation Performance in Bilaterally Fitted Hearing Aid Wearers.
17th National Conference of the Audiological Society of Australia. Perth. May 2006.
Carter L, Keidser G, Dillon H, Dyrlund O. Hearing Aid Fitting/Prescribing Multi-channel compression to Severe Hearing Loss, Take Two.
17th National Conference of the Audiological Society of Australia. Perth. May 2006.
Dillon H, Keidser G, Carteer L, Chalupper J. Hearing Aid Fitting/Should Vent Effects be compensated for When Fitting Clients with Directional Microphones and Noise Reduction?
17th National Conference of the Audiological Society of Australia. Perth. May 2006.
Keidser G, Carter L, O’Brien A, Dillon H. The effect of advanced signal processing strategies in hearing aids on user performance and preference.
ASA Victorian Branch, Continuing Professional Development. Melbourne. April 2006.
Keidser G, Carter L, Dillon H. The effect of advanced signal processing strategies in hearing aids on user performance and preference.
21st Danavox Symposium. Kolding. September 2005.
Carter L, Keidser G, Dillon H, Dyrlund O. Fitting multi-channel compression to severe hearing loss.
17th Annual American Academy of Audiology Convention. Washington DC. April 2005.
Keidser G, Rohrseitz K, Dillon H, Hamacher V, Carter L, Convery E. The effect of adaptive signal processing in hearing aids on horizontal localisation performance.
5th Biennial ACAud Congress. Gold Coast. March 2005.
Carter L, Keidser G, Dillon H, Dyrlund O. Prescribing advanced multi-channel compression devices to severe hearing loss.
5th Biennial ACAud Congress. Gold Coast. March 2005.
Keidser G, Rohrseitz K, Dillon H, Hamacher V, Carter L, Convery E. The effect of signal processing features in hearing aids on horizontal localization accuracy.
ASA Victorian Branch, Continuing Professional Development. Melbourne. November 2004.
Keidser G, Rohrseitz K, Dillon H, Hamacher V, Carter L, Convery E. The effect of signal processing features in hearing aids on horizontal localization accuracy.
International Hearing Aid Research Conference. Lake Tahoe. August 2004.
Carter L, Keidser G, Dillon H, Dyrlund O. Prescribing multi-channel compression to severe hearing loss.
16th National Conference of the Audiological Society of Australia. Brisbane. May 2004.
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