UWeek Vol.15, No.17 February 19, 1998

Public conference on hearing planned for Saturday, March 14

School of Dentistry offers implants in special program

Harborview plans gala next month

Timing and amount of sleep determine how rested you feel

Michael Schwartz presents research on leptin and obesity at AAAS meeting

Public conference on hearing planned for Saturday, March 14

Dr. George Gates, director of the Virginia Merrill Blloedel Hearing Research Center, will make two presentations during the day-long conference on hearing.

Are you or a member of your family experiencing hearing loss? Are you interested to learn about ways to help prevent hearing loss and about research that may lead to improved treatments or even cures for hearing loss?

"Ears, Hearing and Beyond" is the subject of a free public conference on Saturday, March 14, in the HUB Auditorium on campus. The day-long event is sponsored by the UW's Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center and the Lions District 19B Hearing Conservation Foundation.

The conference is for people interested in learning more about the ear, prevention of hearing loss, coping strategies for hearing loss, and what's new in current research. A full day of speakers will cover such topics as the genetics of hearing loss, research involving birds and possibilities for a cure for hearing loss, and cochlear implants. Full-day attendance is useful but not necessary.

"This conference promises to be an informative and exciting day of discussing and sharing the latest information on hearing loss and current research," said Dr. George A. Gates, professor and director of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center. Gates will give two presentations, on "Causes of Hearing Loss" and "Balance and Dizziness."

Normal Cells Regenerated Cells
These scanning electron micrographs show normal (left) and regenerated (right) inner ear hair cells from the cochlea of birds.Recently, a small amount of hair cell regeneration has been demonstrated in mammals. Dr. Ed Rubel will speak on the research at the hearing conference.

Other speakers include:

Dr. Larry Duckert on "Structure of the Ear,"

Dr. Susan Norton on "How We Hear,"

Dr. Sharon Kujawa on "Ear Damage from Loud Sound,"

Dr. Tom Rees on "Hearing Aids: New Developments,"

Jacqui Metzger, psychotherapist, on "Coping Effectively with Hearing Loss,"

Dr. Sue Sanborn and Kevin Franck on "Cables and Cords: Plugging in Without Blowing Up,"

Dr. Eric Lynch on "Genetics of Hearing Loss," and

Dr. Edwin Rubel on "Inner Ear Hair Cell Regeneration Research."

An FM hearing system will be available in the auditorium, and all presentations will be accompanied by real-time captioning. Attendees will receive written summaries of all talks.

Doors open at 8:15 a.m., and the conference begins at 8:50 a.m. Morning and afternoon breaks and a long lunch break will allow time to visit the exhibit area, which will include displays of new developments in hearing aids and cochlear implants. The last question-and-answer session begins at 4:15 p.m.

Continuing education credit is available for nursing-home professionals.

For a brochure on the conference, call 616-4105 or e-mail bloedel@u.washington.edu. ¶

Laurie McHale