International audiology experts gather at world-leading symposium

There are 360 million people living with disabling hearing loss worldwide and this figure is set to increase significantly. To prepare for the expanding needs of these patients, Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), together with Macquarie University and the Australian Hearing Hub, brought together international experts from the audiology community in a world-leading symposium, held Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 in Sydney, Australia.

“The symposium is not a typical conference where delegates come and listen to presentations, but a place for us to come together to identify new opportunities for collaboration, discuss the latest research and future directions, and this will ultimately support our clinical partners to enhance patient outcomes,” said Jan Janssen, Senior Vice President, Design and Development, Cochlear.
The four-day Global Research Symposium united more than 200 multidisciplinary stakeholders along the entire spectrum of care under the theme of “First Heard,” tying the transformative effect implantable hearing solutions have with the first occasion of the event. By sponsoring this unique event, Cochlear is investing in the future and uniting leading voices around the most important scientific topics facing implantable hearing solutions for the coming decade.
“Implantable hearing solutions provide extraordinary outcomes for people with severe to profound hearing loss; however, there are still many opportunities to significantly improve hearing outcomes and meet the growing needs of patients with severe to profound hearing loss,” explained Janssen.
The symposium provides a unique opportunity for researchers to share new theories and innovative study concepts with their peers and a select group of world-leading scientists, enabling open discussion and debate.
“A big focus with research nowadays is looking at what promotes healthy ageing—what can allow us to not necessarily live longer, but maybe live better,” said Dr. Frank Lin, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins University.
“Hearing is something that hadn’t really been looked at in the context of ageing until five years ago, but it’s something we’ve found can play an important role in mobility and cognitive health, both key challenges the elderly population face.”
“We are excited to welcome the international audiology community to the Australian Hearing Hub and showcase the unique facilities located here. Not only is our research and clinical community located together at Macquarie University, it is also the global centre for Cochlear implant manufacturing,” explained David McAlpine, Professor of Hearing, Language and the Brain & Director of Hearing Research at Macquarie University.