鈥淓ars, Hearing & Beyond: 2003鈥� is the title for a day-long conference open to the public on Sautrday, April 5, at the HUB Auditorium on campus. The conference is an annual event organized by the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the UW. It is intended to provide the public with information on current research and practical advice for dealing with hearing loss problems. A donation of $10 is suggested, but not required, to attend.
Participants are welcome to attend for only part of the day. In addition to presentations by researchers, the current Miss Washington, Amanda Beers, will speak on coping with hearing loss. There will also be two rooms of exhibits and product demonstrations. Assistive listening devices can be checked out for the conference in the auditorium foyer.
Morning presentations, which begin at 9:30 a.m., include an overview of hearing disorders by Dr. George Gates, director of the center and professor of otolaryngology鈥攈ead and neck surgery; 鈥淎dvances in Hearing Evaluation鈥� by Dr. Patrick Feeney, professor of otolaryngology; and 鈥淎mplification for Hearing Loss,鈥� also by Feeney.
Afternoon talks will be 鈥淐urrent Status of Hair Cell Regeneration,鈥� by Dr. Olivia Bermingham-McDonogy, research assistant professor of otolaryngology; 鈥淕enetics of Hearing Loss,鈥� by Valerie Street, acting instructor in otolaryngology; and 鈥淢eniett Device for Meniere鈥檚 Disease,鈥� by Gates.
For more information, call 616-4105 or see the Web site at