Richard Dowell
BSc MSc DipAud PhD

Head, Department of Otolaryngology,
Professor of Audiology & Speech Science, The University of Melbourne
Director of Audiological Services, Eye & Ear Hospital

The Bionic Ear Institute
384-388 Albert Street
East Melbourne  VIC  3002
Australia
Ph:  +61 3 9667 7535
Fax: +61 3 9667 7549
E-mail: rcd@unimelb.edu.au

Professor Richard Dowell completed his Graduate Diploma in Audiology in 1979. For the next ten years he worked as a research audiologist with the team that developed the Nucleus Multichannel Cochlear Implant. He helped to establish the Cochlear Implant Clinic in Melbourne in 1985, and coordinated this clinic from 1985-1989. In 1991 he completed his Doctorate of Philosophy, which dealt with "Speech Perception in Noise For Multichannel Cochlear Implant Users." Since 1989 Richard has had a major teaching role with the University of Melbourne School of Audiology. At the end of 2001 Richard was appointed Professor of Audiology and Speech Science, The University of Melbourne and Director of Audiological Services, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. In 2004 Richard took on the role of Head of Department of Otolaryngology. Richard has in excess of 140 publications in the Cochlear Implant field, and has presented at over 20 international conferences.

Career Highlights

1980-1983 Basic psychophysics research into the perceptual aspects of electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve in humans. This research established the feasibility of providing speech information to deaf subjects using a cochlear implant. Major study published in Science in 1983.

1981-1985 Responsible for planning and carrying out initial clinical trial for the first commercial multichannel cochlear prosthesis in Australia. Initial trial procedures and statistical analyses adopted for extended trial in the U.S. and culminated in F.D.A. approval for adults in 1985.

1985-1989 Initial funding established for cochlear implant clinic at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in 1985. Clinical activities including clinical and speech processing research coordinated between 1985 and 1989. Clinical procedures for evaluating, programming and training cochlear implant patients devised in Melbourne have been adopted in clinics throughout the world.

1985-1991 PhD studies lead to the development of the MULTIPEAK signal processor (U.S. patent no. 5,271,397) for the multichannel cochlear prosthesis and showed significant improvement in outcomes for patients. The MULTIPEAK processor was implemented as the standard scheme for the multichannel cochlear prosthesis from 1989 to 1994 when it was superseded by the next generation processor.

1988-1990 Worked for extended periods in Denver with personnel from Cochlear Corporation on F.D.A. submission relating to cochlear implantation in children. Generated a framework for the interpretation of results in children, which culminated in approval of the cochlear prosthesis for 2-17 year olds in 1990. This general framework has been used in subsequent submissions by Cochlear and other manufacturers.

1994-1997 Initiated the transition of the Graduate Diploma (one year) training in clinical audiology in Australia to a two year Masters degree through involvement in the professional association (Audiological Society of Australia) and the Universities running audiology training. Masters degree implemented in 1998 at the University of Melbourne, coinciding with the requirement from the A.S.A. for all new graduates to complete Masters level training from 1999.

1998-2001 Initiated the Balance Disorders Unit as a joint unit of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital with a patient-focussed approach to problems causing vertigo and balance disorders. Previous vestibular testing at The University of Melbourne and the Eye and Ear Hospital had not addressed patient management and rehabilitation. The unit has grown to be the busiest clinic of its type in Victoria.

2000-2001 Restructured the operation of the Cochlear Implant Clinic to deal with the rapid expansion of this clinical service (patient numbers quadrupled between 1997 and 2000). The re-structuring has involved introducing clinical pathways and quality control systems to ensure that a best practice model is maintained with this increased patient throughput.

2002-2003 Restructure of clinical audiology services at the Eye and Ear Hospital including the integration of services provided by the University Department with Hospital services and strengthening the role of teaching and research in all areas. Process completed in November 2003 with implementation of service plan. Recurrent budgetary savings of approximately $200,000 achieved.

Publications
Conferences

Public Lectures
• Cochlear Implants and the Audiology Profession
• Dean’s Lecture: Have Cochlear Implants cured deafness?

 

 

 

 

  Author: rdowell@bionicear.org    Last Updated:  Friday October 28 2005