Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology 

The 2021 ARA Institute is now a Hybrid Event!

We are looking forward to welcoming you in person this year to the 2021 Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology (ARA) Institute. We know there are some ARA members and guests who will not find it safe or are limited by travel restrictions and will be unable to attend in person this October. Therefore, we have shifted our face-to-face meeting to a hybrid meeting so that there are options for you. That way, those who are interested in attending in person can do so and those wanting to join the meeting remotely (synchronously and asynchronously) can do so as well.

We look forward to seeing you in Durham in 2021. ARA is proud to host the ARA Institute! It is a wonderful conference held every other year where professionals from around the country come together to hear the latest cutting-edge research on aural rehabilitation and the newest trends and approaches to the clinical management of hearing loss. 

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The theme of our meeting is “Triangulating Inter-Professional Approaches to Hearing Rehabilitation”  We could not have the theme in a better place!  Durham, NC is considered to the Research Triangle!  We cannot wait to share research and information on AR in such a fantastic location!

We are excited to announce our Key Note Speaker Kathy Pichora-Fuller, PhD.  Who will be presenting during our opening Lecture dedicated in honor of Patricia Kricos

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The ARA Institute offers an environment rich with education, discussion, and debate all centered on the provision of the highest quality rehabilitation services for persons with hearing loss and their families.

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In-Person ARA Institute in Durham, NC

The In-Person ARA Institute will be held October 17 (6 PM for our opening reception) through October 19 (12 PM), 2021 at the Durham Convention Center in downtown Durham, North Carolina. We will be featuring national and international speakers who will be presenting in-person and remotely on cutting-edge clinical research. This in-person option will allow for intimate networking with colleagues and exhibitors. Proof of vaccination will be required. Use of facemasks also will be required during the meeting. Hand sanitizer will be available.  

Vaccination Requirement

ARA takes public safety and health very seriously. After careful consideration, we feel compelled to proceed with our in-person option for our Institute following current best practice. It is our primary goal to make our learning environment the safest possible. As such, ARA has made the decision that all participants attending the in-person ARA Institute will be required to be fully vaccinated. This requirement is true for any presenter, attendee, exhibitor, staff, guest, or vendor. All participants must provide proof of vaccination. If a participant is unable to be to be vaccinated due to disability or a religious belief, then that will be handled on a case-by-case basis (ara@audrehab.org). There is currently a local masking requirement for all indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, except when actively eating or drinking.

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When registering for the meeting, you will be asked to provide your proof of full vaccination. Once you register, then we will send you an email to ask for your proof of vaccination. If you have already registered and plan to attend in person, then we will send you an email requesting your proof of full vaccination.  

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Hotel Accommodations (Group Rate) for In-Person Attendees

A limited number of rooms are available at a group rate at the Durham Marriott City Center, which is physically (and conveniently) connected to the Durham Convention Center. The room rate will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis and will be available for booking through 09/24/2021. Reserve your room today if you are planning on attending in person. The following link should take you to the site to get your room rate using the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology group code. Should you have trouble securing a room using the group code, then please reach out to the hotel group representative KEncarnacion@shanercorp.com for assistance.

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Institute Raffle

A historical tradition of ARA is a fun-filled raffle that also served as our major fund-raising effort for ARA. This was a time where individuals would bring an item from home to raffle off during the meeting. Regular attendees would share stories of items received from prior raffles, including hand-painted works of art from talented ARA members or a new textbook published by a member. This year, we are saddened to cancel this fun and traditional event, but felt that it was in the best interest of our attendees and guests to limit the spread of germs during this time. We will still welcome and invite donations to help us fund our small but important ARA organization.

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Remote Portion of ARA Institute

ARA felt compelled to offer a remote learning option for those who choose to or cannot attend the in-person sessions. The Institute will be October 18-19 for virtual attendees as we will not be providing a virtual option for our opening reception Sunday evening. We will be providing the remote option synchronously. As such, speakers may be in-person or remote. All sessions will be recorded and posted on the ARA website for viewing by attendees one month after the Institute.  

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All in-person posters have been moved to a remote-only format. 

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Poster presenters will be informed of how to record their poster presentations for later access by the attendees. We are looking into ways to offer a Q&A for poster presenters. Stay tuned for more information to come.

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Registration

All attendees, in-person or remote, will be required to register for the Institute. The link for registration is https://www.audrehab.org/events/ara-institute-2021

We encourage you to register as soon as you can so that we can help plan the best meeting for you! 

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Schedule at a Glance

We have an exciting program planned for the 2021 ARA Institute, including Kathy Pichora-Fuller who will be presenting the Pat Kricos Lecture and two students who were awarded the Herbert J. Oyer Student Research Award. Below is the program at a glance. Given the uncertainty of this time, there may be slight changes in the program. We will do our very best to keep the program updated. We have also applied for 1.05 hours of CEUs from the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

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SUNDAY October 17, 2021 (In-Person Only) 5:00-7:30 PM

• Welcoming Remarks and Reception -  Sherri Smith, ARA Past President and Institute Planning Chair, Duke University

MONDAY October 18, 2021 (Hybrid) 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
 

• 8:00 – 8:15 AM - Welcoming Remarks - Sherri Smith, ARA Past President and Institute Planning Chair, Duke University
   

• 8:15 – 9:15 AM - Pat Kricos Lecture

  • Integrated people-centered ear and hearing care for older adults: Imperatives and opportunities for inter-professional practice and inter-disciplinary research

  • Kathy Pichora-Fuller, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto at Mississauga

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•  9:15 – 9:45 AM Oyer Student Research Award Winner

  • Social cognitive abilities in adults with and without hearing loss

  • Karah Gottschalk, Nova Southeast
     

• 9:45 – 10:30 AM Morning Break and Exhibits
   

• 10:30 – 10:50 AM

  • Learning together: Interprofessional collaborative practice in adult cochlear implant aural rehabilitation

  • Denise Tucker, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
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• 10:50 – 11:10 AM

  • An inter-disciplinary approach to development of a pediatric vestibular program

  • Hannah Heet, Duke University
     

• 11:10 – 11:30 AM

  • Interprofessional alliances: Supporting educators in providing accommodations to students with hearing loss

  • Jessica Huddleston, OUHSC
     

• 11:30 - 11:50 AM - Person-centered care from the patient's perspective

  • Shari Eberts, Living with Hearing Loss
     

• 11:50 – 1:00 PM - LUNCH
   

• 1:00 – 1:20 PM

  • Increasing sensitivity to members of the LGBTQ community seeking audiologic care

  • John Greer Clark, University of Cincinnati
     

• 1:20 – 1:40 PM

  • Self-reported reasons for the non-use of hearing aids among Hispanic adults with hearing loss

  • Jamie Desjardins, Syracuse University
     

• 1:40 – 2:00 PM

  • Aural rehabilitation for low income adults

  • Carole Johnson, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
     

• 2:00 – 2:20 PM

  • Timing of referrals and recipient follow-up patterns of cochlear implant candidates as a function of geographic region and socioeconomic status

  • Amanda Davis, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
     

• 2:20 – 3:15 PM Afternoon Break and Exhibits
   

• 3:15 – 3:35 PM

  • Factors related to self-identification of candidacy, device selection, and self-fitting of over-the-counter hearing aids

  • Jasleen Singh, Northwestern University
     

• 3:35 – 3:55 PM

  • Hearing aid recommendations for older adults by audiologists and otolaryngologists

  • Elish Mahajan, Duke University
     

• 3:55 – 4:15 PM

  • Hearing aid fitting considerations for patients with PTSD

  • Marc Fagelson, East Tennessee State University
     

• 4:15 – 4:35 PM

  • Shared experiences among successful hearing aid users with high hearing aid self-efficacy

  • Lipika Sarangi, University of Memphis
     

• 4:35 – 4:55 PM

  • The role of value in contemporary hearing care

  • Howard Francis, Duke University
     

• 4:55 – 5:00 PM

  • Closing Remarks - Sherri Smith, Duke University
     

.VIRTUAL ONLY POSTER SESSION

• Clinician-directed TeleAR training outcomes with adult cochlear implant users

  • Claire Bernstein, Gallaudet University
     

• Educational seminar for lifelong learners with hearing loss: A university and private practice collaboration

  • Laura Gaeta, California State University
     

• Teleaudiology: A solution in search of a problem?

  • Harvey Abrams,
     

• Impact of self-reported polysensory loss on poor cognitive performance

  • Elish Mahajan, Duke University
     

• Nonverbal communication in hearing aid fittings: Eye contact

  • Jamie Roy, University of Connecticut
     

• Non-verbal communication considerations in hearing aid fittings

  • Torri Ann Woodruff, University of Connecticut - Poster
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• Affirmative nonverbal cues in hearing aid appointments

  • Samantha Dart, University of Connecticut
     

• Preparing hearing help-seekers for telehealth follow-up appointments: A new area of aural rehabilitation

  • Bailey Simon, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

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TUESDAY October 19, 2021 (Hybrid) 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

• 8:00 – 8:30 AM - Business Meeting (ARA Members Only)
   

• 8:30 – 8:50 AM

  • Communication in times of a pandemic: the hearing impaired perspective

  • Mathieu Hotton, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
     

• 8:50 – 9:10 AM

  • Pandemic related communication experiences and communication strategies

  • Silvana Tellerico, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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• 9:10 – 9:40 AM  Oyer Student Research Award Winner

  • What makes clear speech angry?

  • Madison Wageck, University of Utah
     

• 9:40 – 10:15 AM Morning Break and Exhibits
   

• 10:15 – 10:35 AM

  • Group AR in 2021: Taking the rehab to the patient

  • Caitlyn Whitson, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
     

• 10:35 – 10:55 AM

  • Audiologists’ perspectives on using low-gain hearing aids for bothersome tinnitus

  • Candice Quinn, Durham VA Health Care System
     

• 10:55 – 11:15 AM

  • FM/DM use for children in the mainstream: always the best recommendation?

  • Kristin Dilaj, New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation, LLC
     

• 11:15 – 11:35 AM

  • Clinical trial of a new protocol and clinical tool designed to assess the audiological needs of individuals with hearing loss

  • Mathieu Hotton, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
     

• 11:35 – 11:55 AM

  • Beyond the free demo: Establishing value and quality through a comprehensive hearing aid selection process

  • Stephanie Sjoblad, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
     

• 11:55 – 12:00 PM

  • Closing Remarks

  • Sherri Smith, ARA Past President and Institute Planning Chair, Duke University
     

• 12:00 PM Adjourn