Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Rocky the Bull and CSD go to ASHA
The ASHA convention in Atlanta (November 14- 17, 2012) was bursting with USF Bull Spirit.
16 graduate SLP students, 6 faculty members, and 3 doctoral students attended the many sessions offered. It was a time to meet with USF alums, network, learn and enjoy Atlanta.
Au.D. Student Wins Three Awards
CSD Doctoral Student Investigates Effects of Exercise in Individuals with ALS
First year doctoral student Stephanie Watts (Randall) presented research from the Plowman Lab at the 11th Annual North Eastern Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Consortium (NEALS) which took place October 25th at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Stephanie presented research that she is conducting under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Plowman titled “The effects of exercise on bulbar dysfunction in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” to some of the leading ALS and motor neuron disease scientists. This work represents a collaborative effort between the departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Neurology and Gastroenterology at the University of South Florida.
Dr. Stefan Frisch Receives Medal of Recognition
Dr. Michelle Arnold Integrates Ida University Practices into New Adult Aural Rehabilitation Course
Research Audiologist and Ida fellow, Dr. Michelle Arnold, integrated the Ida University course materials into the summer semester, 'Adult Aural Rehabilitation' 10 wk course, she usually undertakes at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, with significant results.
In addition to incorporating the Ida tools and ethnographic films into the class, she designed the course to reflect an Ida Seminar where open minds and brainstorming to problem-solve difficult cases were key! After each session, the 2nd year Audiology students would share/reflect their clinical experiences that day and would discuss as a group ‘reflection after action’ what could have been done differently, how they could incorporate reflection before action and reflection in action in future encounters. Dr. Arnold believed this helped them a great deal with their clinical patients.
Every student enthused over the materials and thoroughly enjoyed utilizing the Ida ethnographic videos, in addition to re-enacting the role-playing activities. The students were broken into groups and each group was given a different dilemma card to re-enact throughout the semester.
"Material was very interesting. Great class!" said one of the students.
"Every class [is] interesting. I feel like I am actively instead of passively learning, and it helps me remember what we've learned when I feel engaged."
For 3 meetings, Dr. Arnold used real patients with hearing loss. The class was broken down into small groups and each group was assigned a different patient. They spent the first meeting completing a full case history using the Patient Motivation and Communication Partners tools and then they came up with an action plan. They then introduced the action plan to the patient, and assisted with any hearing aid adjustments, accessories and at-home auditory training for patients where applicable. Each case was different.
“I truly believe that I was able to change the perspectives of some pretty tough students towards a more holistic and patient-centered approach to hearing healthcare and rehabilitation .The same group of students gave me much better reviews for this course than for a different course I taught them the previous semester, and I believe that was largely due to my incorporation of the Ida course materials in the class. I will also say that I did not receive a single negative comment about the course. All were 100% positive.”
“The Ladies (student audiologists) have been very professional and very caring. Thank them for me. They are great and will make very capable doctors,” emailed Ruth, one of the patients. “Patty enjoyed it very much. She learned a lot. Understanding my side and how hard it is to have a loss of hearing. “
Michelle Arnold, Research Audiologist at the University of Florida,along with Department Chair, Dr. Terry Chisolm Ph.D., will be expanding the course into a more intensive AR practicum next summer, due to the great success and positive comments from both students and patients.
In addition to incorporating the Ida tools and ethnographic films into the class, she designed the course to reflect an Ida Seminar where open minds and brainstorming to problem-solve difficult cases were key! After each session, the 2nd year Audiology students would share/reflect their clinical experiences that day and would discuss as a group ‘reflection after action’ what could have been done differently, how they could incorporate reflection before action and reflection in action in future encounters. Dr. Arnold believed this helped them a great deal with their clinical patients.
Every student enthused over the materials and thoroughly enjoyed utilizing the Ida ethnographic videos, in addition to re-enacting the role-playing activities. The students were broken into groups and each group was given a different dilemma card to re-enact throughout the semester.
"Material was very interesting. Great class!" said one of the students.
"Every class [is] interesting. I feel like I am actively instead of passively learning, and it helps me remember what we've learned when I feel engaged."
For 3 meetings, Dr. Arnold used real patients with hearing loss. The class was broken down into small groups and each group was assigned a different patient. They spent the first meeting completing a full case history using the Patient Motivation and Communication Partners tools and then they came up with an action plan. They then introduced the action plan to the patient, and assisted with any hearing aid adjustments, accessories and at-home auditory training for patients where applicable. Each case was different.
“I truly believe that I was able to change the perspectives of some pretty tough students towards a more holistic and patient-centered approach to hearing healthcare and rehabilitation .The same group of students gave me much better reviews for this course than for a different course I taught them the previous semester, and I believe that was largely due to my incorporation of the Ida course materials in the class. I will also say that I did not receive a single negative comment about the course. All were 100% positive.”
“The Ladies (student audiologists) have been very professional and very caring. Thank them for me. They are great and will make very capable doctors,” emailed Ruth, one of the patients. “Patty enjoyed it very much. She learned a lot. Understanding my side and how hard it is to have a loss of hearing. “
USF Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Old Age Hearing Loss
University of South Florida researchers have identified a genetic biomarker for age-related hearing loss, a major breakthrough in understanding and preventing a condition of aging that affects 30 million Americans and greatly diminishes their quality of life.
In a nine-year study that was a collaboration between USF’s Global Center for Hearing & Speech Research and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology, researchers were able to identify the first genetic biomarker for presbycusis. The genetic mutation carried by those who ultimately suffer from age-related hearing loss is linked to speech processing abilities in older people.
Their findings are published in the journal Hearing Research. The study was authored by USF College of Engineering professors Robert Frisina Jr. and Robert Frisina Sr., the founders of the Global Center for Hearing & Speech Research, and David Eddins, a USF associate professor of communication sciences and disorders and chemical and biological engineering.
In collaboration with the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, the researchers discovered a gene that produces a key protein in the inner ear – the cochlea – called glutamate receptor metabotropic 7 (GRM7). The GRM7 protein is intimately involved in converting sound into the code of the nervous system, in the cochlea, which is then sent to the parts of the brain used for hearing and speech processing.
Now having identified the gene, the researchers said people can be tested and takes steps earlier in life – such as avoiding loud noises, wearing ear protection and avoiding certain medicines known to damage hearing – to protect their hearing.
“This gene is the first genetic biomarker for human age related hearing loss, meaning if you had certain configurations of this gene you would know that you are probably going to lose your hearing faster than someone who might have another configuration,” said Robert Frisina Jr.
The Frisinas launched their study of genetics’ role in hearing loss nine years ago in hopes of identifying the cause of one of the most common forms of permanent hearing loss. Clinically, age-related hearing loss has been defined as a progressive loss of sensitivity to sound, starting at the high frequencies, inability to understand speech, the lengthening of the minimum discernible temporal gap in sounds, and a decrease in the ability to filter out background noise. Researchers now know the causes of presbycusis are likely a combination of multiple environmental and genetic factors.
“Age-related hearing loss is a very prevalent problem in our society. It costs billions of dollars every year to manage and deal with it. It’s right up there with heart disease and arthritis as far as being one of the top three chronic medical conditions of the aged,” said Robert Frisina Jr.
DNA analyses were conducted and completed at the University of Rochester Medical School and the Rochester Institute of Technology.
The study involved 687 people who underwent three hours of extensive examination of their hearing capabilities, including genetic analyses and testing of speech processing.
Interestingly, the gene mutation played out differently in women than in men, the researchers found. While the variation had a negative impact for men, it did the opposite for women, who actually had better than average hearing in their elder years. That discovery supports a 2006 finding by the Frisina research group that the hormone aldosterone plays a role in hearing capabilities.
In a nine-year study that was a collaboration between USF’s Global Center for Hearing & Speech Research and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology, researchers were able to identify the first genetic biomarker for presbycusis. The genetic mutation carried by those who ultimately suffer from age-related hearing loss is linked to speech processing abilities in older people.
Their findings are published in the journal Hearing Research. The study was authored by USF College of Engineering professors Robert Frisina Jr. and Robert Frisina Sr., the founders of the Global Center for Hearing & Speech Research, and David Eddins, a USF associate professor of communication sciences and disorders and chemical and biological engineering.
In collaboration with the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, the researchers discovered a gene that produces a key protein in the inner ear – the cochlea – called glutamate receptor metabotropic 7 (GRM7). The GRM7 protein is intimately involved in converting sound into the code of the nervous system, in the cochlea, which is then sent to the parts of the brain used for hearing and speech processing.
Now having identified the gene, the researchers said people can be tested and takes steps earlier in life – such as avoiding loud noises, wearing ear protection and avoiding certain medicines known to damage hearing – to protect their hearing.
“This gene is the first genetic biomarker for human age related hearing loss, meaning if you had certain configurations of this gene you would know that you are probably going to lose your hearing faster than someone who might have another configuration,” said Robert Frisina Jr.
The Frisinas launched their study of genetics’ role in hearing loss nine years ago in hopes of identifying the cause of one of the most common forms of permanent hearing loss. Clinically, age-related hearing loss has been defined as a progressive loss of sensitivity to sound, starting at the high frequencies, inability to understand speech, the lengthening of the minimum discernible temporal gap in sounds, and a decrease in the ability to filter out background noise. Researchers now know the causes of presbycusis are likely a combination of multiple environmental and genetic factors.
“Age-related hearing loss is a very prevalent problem in our society. It costs billions of dollars every year to manage and deal with it. It’s right up there with heart disease and arthritis as far as being one of the top three chronic medical conditions of the aged,” said Robert Frisina Jr.
DNA analyses were conducted and completed at the University of Rochester Medical School and the Rochester Institute of Technology.
The study involved 687 people who underwent three hours of extensive examination of their hearing capabilities, including genetic analyses and testing of speech processing.
CSD Student Awarded Scholarship, Presents Treatment Strategies for Selective Mutism
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