About Special Interest Group 6, Hearing and Balance Sciences: Research and Clinical Applications

Mission Statement

To provide a forum for clinicians, researchers, and students involved in hearing and balance sciences and clinical care to share, learn, and collaborate to further advance evidence-based audiological services and research.

Vision

To be the community where audiologists, speech-language pathologists, researchers, and students can share ideas to (a) foster scholarship and research and (b) offer opportunities to collaborate on advancements in hearing and balance sciences and in clinical applications.

Topic Areas

Areas for study, discussion, and review include, but are not limited to, the following:

Foundations of audiological practice
Translational approach on cochlear hair restoration research
Audiologic evaluations
Tinnitus evaluation, management, and research
Vestibular assessment and research
Otoprotectants and ototoxicity research, evaluation, and monitoring
(Central) auditory processing evaluation/management and research
Amplification (hearing aids, implantable technologies, consumer hearables, over-the-counter [OTC] devices, and personal sound amplification products [PSAPs]
Objective measures of vestibular and auditory function from outer ear to cortex
Behavioral measures of hearing and balance systems
Psychoacoustic measures of auditory systems
Evaluation of subjective and objective outcome measures
Differential diagnosis of hearing disorders, balance disorders, and tinnitus
Noise-induced hearing loss and hearing loss prevention
Pharmacology
Hearing and vestibular genomics
Acoustics and speech perception
Hearing and cognition (e.g., age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline)
All theoretical and clinical research areas associated with ears, hearing, and balance
All diagnostic techniques used clinically, especially in the adult population related to hearing and/or balance systems

Affiliate Benefits and SIG Programs

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups is the online peer-reviewed scholarly review journal of the SIGs. SIG 6 offers new self-study CE activities through Perspectives each year.

Continuing Education

Earn ASHA continuing education (CEUs) through

Self-study of Perspectives and pay the lowest processing fee to take the learning assessments
SIG sponsored Master Classes and one-hour sessions at the annual ASHA Convention.

Networking

SIG 6 Affiliates have access to exclusive discussion forums/groups, which provide the opportunity to interact with other SIG Affiliates who share interest in hearing and balance sciences: research and clinical applications. Use ASHA's Member Directory to search for individuals by SIG affiliation. In addition, SIG 6 Affiliates can meet in person and online at an ASHA and SIG 6 sponsored events; typically each SIG hosts an Affiliates meeting at Convention and sponsors a virtual open house.

Representation Within ASHA

The SIG 6 Coordinator represents the Special Interest Group on Hearing and Hearing Disorders: Research and Diagnostics within the ASHA Board of Special Interest Group Coordinators.
The Coordinating Committee responds to ASHA requests for input regarding policy, guidelines, committees, and other issues.
Affiliates have the opportunity to provide input to the SIG leadership and ASHA.

Additional Resources

ASHA Web Resources

Hearing Research Related Websites

Coordinating Committee Members

2023–2025 Coordinator: Hollea A. McClellan Ryan, University of Florida
2024–2026 Editor: Saradha Ananthakrishnan, Towson University
2023–2025 Professional Development Manager: Megan M. Cherry, Michigan Medicine
2023–2025 Member-at Large: Jennifer E. Gonzalez, Mayo Clinic
2024–2026 Member-at Large: Rebecca M Lewis, University of California, San Francisco
2022–2024 Member-at-Large: Nicholas Stanley, Illinois State University
Ex Officio: Bria Rose Collins, Associate Director, Audiology Professional Practices, ASHA