The effect of cochlear implants on cognitive decline in ageing Australians. This project aims to investigate the impact of cochlear implants on cognitive function in elderly people with deafness. Deafness has been found to be independently associated with a 30–40 per cent accelerated rate of cognitive decline in elderly adults. There is currently no effective treatment for cognitive decline. The intended outcomes of this observational study will help us to understand the biological process of co ....The effect of cochlear implants on cognitive decline in ageing Australians. This project aims to investigate the impact of cochlear implants on cognitive function in elderly people with deafness. Deafness has been found to be independently associated with a 30–40 per cent accelerated rate of cognitive decline in elderly adults. There is currently no effective treatment for cognitive decline. The intended outcomes of this observational study will help us to understand the biological process of cognitive decline, whether hearing loss is causal, and whether the process can be altered. These findings should be applicable to all individuals with hearing loss. If cochlear implants delay cognitive decline, this would significantly affect policy, quality of life for the elderly, and the cost to society.Read moreRead less
New, Efficient Tests That Map Both Central and Peripheral Vision. This project seeks to develop a new, combined approach for quantifying both central and peripheral vision with a single test. Current methods for testing far peripheral vision are not efficient and not fully automated. Yet peripheral vision is important for tasks involving navigation and hazard avoidance such as driving. The project intends to invent and test new approaches to sampling and measuring the spatial extent of vision. T ....New, Efficient Tests That Map Both Central and Peripheral Vision. This project seeks to develop a new, combined approach for quantifying both central and peripheral vision with a single test. Current methods for testing far peripheral vision are not efficient and not fully automated. Yet peripheral vision is important for tasks involving navigation and hazard avoidance such as driving. The project intends to invent and test new approaches to sampling and measuring the spatial extent of vision. The anticipated algorithms will be more accurate and efficient than current tests, will be suitable for older adults, and will enable ready assessment of vision for occupational tasks.Read moreRead less
Vision Impairment and Fitness to Drive. Vision is fundamental to driving. Intuitively vision impairments will significantly affect fitness to drive. However the relationship between vision and crash risk is not well understood and current tests are unreliable. This study will describe the way in which specific vision conditions affect driving performance. The study will examine the effects of visual field loss on drivers' ability to monitor information, allocate attention and minimise the effect ....Vision Impairment and Fitness to Drive. Vision is fundamental to driving. Intuitively vision impairments will significantly affect fitness to drive. However the relationship between vision and crash risk is not well understood and current tests are unreliable. This study will describe the way in which specific vision conditions affect driving performance. The study will examine the effects of visual field loss on drivers' ability to monitor information, allocate attention and minimise the effect of distractions. Outcomes of the study will enable the development of evidence-based guidelines for assessment of vision for driving and effective countermeasures to enhance mobility and reduce crash risk.Read moreRead less
Biomarkers and objective assessment of cognitive and brain effects of fish oil dietary supplementation. There are potential widespread community benefits from knowing whether consuming fish oils will improve cognitive function. This is mainfest in children and even more so in those suffering attention deficits at a time when inattention and hyperacitvity is likely to permanently lower their overall career prospects.
Exploiting high resolution images of the retina to customise vision tests. This project will make vision tests more accurate and faster by using a person's individual eye anatomy to customise the test. The basic understandings discovered in this project are expected to be applied in clinical and research settings thus saving sight, dollars and time.
Smart algorithms for visual field assessment. Australian demographic studies show that visual impairment contributes significantly to elderly disability. Visual field loss due to glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in developed nations, may be slowed if detected early, but recent studies estimate 50% of Australians with glaucoma are undiagnosed. The fast and effective approaches to measuring visual fields discovered in this project will allow more accurate diagnosis and monitoring of ....Smart algorithms for visual field assessment. Australian demographic studies show that visual impairment contributes significantly to elderly disability. Visual field loss due to glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in developed nations, may be slowed if detected early, but recent studies estimate 50% of Australians with glaucoma are undiagnosed. The fast and effective approaches to measuring visual fields discovered in this project will allow more accurate diagnosis and monitoring of vision loss; crucial for the ARC's priority goals of "ageing well, ageing productively" and "preventative healthcare". Developing smart algorithms in conjunction with Heidelberg Engineering creates an opportunity for the international promotion of Australia's biomedical software capabilities.Read moreRead less
Vocal empowerment: Researching the effect of actor voice training on young adults with cochlear implants and hearing aids. The research offers significant public health outcomes for Australians, in the areas of preventative healthcare, through improving the social integration and quality of life of young adults with a hearing impairment and through improvements in habilitation.
A longitudinal study of language learning to assess early intervention outcomes in pre-school children with impaired hearing. Overseas research suggests that young children with impaired hearing and normal non-verbal cognition can develop normal language if hearing aid fitting and intervention occur before 6 months of age. Australian studies show considerable language delays in most hearing-impaired children of primary-school age. We will study the spoken language learning of hearing-impaired ....A longitudinal study of language learning to assess early intervention outcomes in pre-school children with impaired hearing. Overseas research suggests that young children with impaired hearing and normal non-verbal cognition can develop normal language if hearing aid fitting and intervention occur before 6 months of age. Australian studies show considerable language delays in most hearing-impaired children of primary-school age. We will study the spoken language learning of hearing-impaired children up to age 6 years in Victoria. The project will investigate crucial factors in achieving normal language learning in hard-of-hearing children and the role of early intervention. Normal language outcomes would enhance the educational and career prospects of hearing-impaired children and result in community cost savings.
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Detecting language disorder in children with a language background other than English: the role of the Dynamic Assessment. 17.6% of Australia's culturally diverse population are born in non-English speaking countries. Recently, reports of unprecedented growth in the diagnosis of children with language disorders have emerged. There are difficulties in accurately identifying children at risk of language disorder. We hypothesize that some children with language backgrounds other than English (LBOTE ....Detecting language disorder in children with a language background other than English: the role of the Dynamic Assessment. 17.6% of Australia's culturally diverse population are born in non-English speaking countries. Recently, reports of unprecedented growth in the diagnosis of children with language disorders have emerged. There are difficulties in accurately identifying children at risk of language disorder. We hypothesize that some children with language backgrounds other than English (LBOTE) are mis-identified. If true, then scarce resources are being misdirected and inappropriately allocated, depriving children with true language disorder of support and intervention. The aim of this project is to determine the utility of the Dynamic Assessment to discriminate normal language learning from language learning difficulties in LBOTE children.
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Tonal language development in Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking children with cochlear implants. Cochlear implantation in children is expanding in countries where tonal languages are spoken, despite limited evidence of the effectiveness of implant use in these settings. This project will examine the impact of implant use on children's perception of tone, their production of speech and assesses how this affects functional communication.