Overview

The Cooperative Research Centre for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation (CRC HEAR) is dedicated to developing new hearing prostheses and procedures to improve communication for hearing-impaired adults and children.

In Australia alone, over 2 million adults and children suffer from hearing disabilities. Given the rising noise levels in everyday life, and the ageing of our population, the number of people with acquired hearing loss is predicted to continue to rise. Australian Bureau of Statistics survey data show that hearing loss will affect 1 in every 5 Australians, in many cases leading to increased social isolation and health problems, as well as decreased quality of life.

CRC HEAR research and innovation enables its commercial partners to develop new technology products that will help to restore near-normal hearing of speech, music and other sounds to hearing-impaired adults, and allow hearing-impaired infants to develop natural speech and language.

CRC HEAR’s research has addressed emerging issues of prevention of hearing loss, working with Telstra and Polaris Communications to develop the world’s best acoustic shriek protection for call centre operators.

CRC HEAR provides value-added doctoral research opportunities, as well as a coordinated professional training workshop program for surgeons and clinicians from Australia and Asia Pacific.

CRC HEAR’s research and technology development has won several awards in Australia and the United States, as well as CRCA/DEST Awards for Excellence in Technology Transfer (2002) and Innovation (2003) in Australia. A CRC HEAR research team was the inaugural winner of the University of Melbourne Business School e-challenge in 2001, an achievement which has led to the establishment of Dynamic Hearing Pty Limited, a successful venture-capital backed spin-off company from the CRC HEAR.

CRC Contact:
Dr Robert Cowan
Director & Chief Executive Officer
CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation
384-388 Albert Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 3 9667 7500
Fax: +61 3 9667 7518
E-mail: crc@bionicear.org

 

  Date Created: Thursday February 19 2004
  Last Updated:  Tuesday July 29 2008
  Authorised By: Robert Cowan
  Maintainer: Webmaster, The Bionic Ear Institute
  Email: webmaster@bionicear.org
  Copyright © The Bionic Ear Institute