1. Robert E. Novak Ph.D., CCC-A Clinical Professor- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Director of Clinical Education in Audiology and Interim Department Head B.A., M.A., Ph.D.- University of Iowa

2. Current Research Areas Effects of Noise on Hearing- particular emphasis on personal listening systems (e.g.; iPods, MP-3 players, etc) Effects of Noise on Patients/Residents in Health Care and Retirement Community Settings Rehabilitation of Hearing Loss in Adults and Elderly Adults Technology Development (personal noise exposure monitor, hearing aids, virtual learning tools)

3. Methodologies Pure tone air/bone/speech psychoacoustic testing, probe tube real ear microphone measurements, subjective client report instruments Sound level meters and personal dosimeters, patient/resident report instruments, communication/health care outcomes measures Group adult auditory rehabilitation program development in support of effective use of hearing aid/implant technology Collaboration with EPICS engineering students and industrial partners to create analogue and digital technologies: “sound exposure meter”, “virtual audiologist”, etc)

4. Recent Results iPod levels in a simulated real-ear coupler have been recorded in excess of 115 dB SPL (damage can occur at 90dBA and above); study now being done to document hearing differences in “high” versus “low/non” iPod users and actual real-ear SPL levels at typical iPod use settings Sound Exposure Meter (“SEM”): personal noise monitoring device (combines continuous; integrated & impulse noise measurements) won 2005 I2P competition with circuits/casing now in development/testing (EPICS SLAC team project)

5. Future Directions Continue research of personal listening systems: input/output characteristics, listener use patterns, related hearing changes, hearing conservation education Research on SEM functionality and use Application of psychoacoustic masking level difference (MLD) phenomenon to hearing aid design Research on noise mitigation in health care and retirement settings and effects on functional patient/resident outcome measurements Research on improving hearing aid benefit and communication outcomes in geriatric clients with hearing loss