Lamar research team makes progress in hearing technology

A Lamar University team of faculty, graduate and undergraduate researchers made a noteworthy amount of progress in the development of digital technologies to help with the loss of hearing due through funding received from the university’s Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship.

“This project gives both graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in the research process and discover how it applies to the speech and hearing sciences,” Lamar professor and Chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences Monica Bellon-Harn said.

The project being conducted by the research team from Lamar, titled “Virtual Reality: Management of Adults with Hearing Loss,” is an extension of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and is the first step toward forming a virtual reality product that will lead to the education of communication strategies for the hearing impaired.

“Along with a team of researchers, students helped develop content for an Internet-based instructional program for adults with hearing loss. It is akin to a self-help book, but online and easily accessible,” Bellon-Harn said. “One important part of the process is making sure adults with hearing loss can actually read and use the materials.”