Importance of translational research in audiology

Abstract

Students, postdocs, and junior research-faculty in audiology all face an interesting challenge: which conferences should I attend, and can I afford the time and likely financial burden associated with attending several meetings in one year? As research shifts towards translational topics, it becomes difficult to remain siloed within our respective fields. It is increasingly important for clinical researchers in audiology to communicate with specialized medical doctors, physiologists, engineers, psychoacousticians, etc. An example of such technological advancements that may contribute to the field of audiology are neuroimaging techniques and signal processing capabilities. For instance, enhanced imaging techniques allow for mapping the auditory pathway for different spatial cue information and auditory prostheses are now capable of retaining or supplementing binaural information through signal processing. But how many patients visit an audiologist with complaints of sound localization ability? In this example, it is critical for clinical researchers to be aware of physiological and technological advancements in order to appropriately translate spatial hearing research to the clinic. Here, I will discuss the benefit of clinicians attending translational auditory conferences by highlighting binaural hearing research and why attendance at translational conferences such as the Acoustical Society of America is essential for clinical research in audiology.