Consumer and Community Involvement in Research
Consumer and community representatives play an important role by bringing the essential perspective of those with ear and hearing conditions (or directly affected by ear and hearing conditions) to the research work being undertaken at Ear Science Institute Australia. Better outcomes are achieved when consumers are involved in all aspects of policy and healthcare decisions. Representatives play important roles in the generating research ideas, inception and planning of projects, and reviewing grant applications and reports.
Ear Science has established a Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) Committee, that will provide advice to researchers as they plan and conduct research projects. The committee is co-chaired by a CCI representative and a senior researcher at Ear Science. Terms of reference and guidelines have been developed in line with those recommended by Western Australia’s Consumer and Community Involvement Program (CCIProgram).
Members of the committee will also be involved as CCI representatives on specific projects. These projects may include a project-specific CCI panel, and include other consumers or community members.
Research Projects & Clinical Trials
Science needs you
New treatments for hearing loss are only possible because of the willingness of people to participate in our research and clinical trials. Whether you have good hearing or not, your support will help our scientists find new ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure hearing loss.
When involved in research, you contribute to your community and help change how hearing services are delivered for current and future generations.
If you are interested in being involved as consumer or community representative, please email us telling us a little about yourself and your lived experience with ear disease or hearing loss, whether personally or that of your family members.
Support The Aussie Ear Bank
Participate in the Aussie Ear Bank to help us find treatments and potentially cures for genetic-associated hearing loss via the Australasian Hearing Registry and Biobank (AHRB). This is the first of its kind in Australia and will store tissue related to hearing loss with the goal of advancing personalised care and new treatment options.
Please fill in our Expression of Interest form, if you;
- Believe or know that your hearing loss is likely to have a genetic component, i.e., a strong family history of hearing loss regardless of when this hearing loss develops.
- Are considering, or have already received, a cochlear implant.
- Would be comfortable with the collection of samples as part of the trial.
Hearables Trial
Participate in a groundbreaking trial, led by Adjunct Associate Professor Dona Jayakody exploring innovative tools to support clients with the mental well-being effects of hearing loss. Hearable technology is designed to help those with mild hearing loss or in specific listening situations. These devices are inserted a little way into the ear canal. Like hearing aids, a microphone picks up sounds and can be tuned to amplify specific frequencies.
Cochlear Implant Research
Participate in a research project led by Ear Science Institute Australia aimed at improving outcomes for cochlear implant recipients. Led by Dr. Christo Bester, this study seeks to better understand how the body’s healing response to cochlear implantation affects device performance and patient outcomes.
Register your interest to be part of our research
"*" indicates required fields
Be part of developing new treatments for today and cures for tomorrow.
Is it easy for you to play a part in developing new treatments for today and cures for tomorrow.
When you complete the form our research team may contact you for current and future research projects.
- You consent to give our research team access to your hearing test results to contribute to a broader knowledge base on the population with hearing loss.
- We may invite you to participate in a research project to test a new treatment or participate in a Focus Group.
Finally, medical research depends on people like you who choose to support our research financially.
Please consider our Gift of Hearing Appeal.
