Curtis Billings, Ph.D.

Telephone: 503.220.8262, ext. 54574

Fax: 503.402.2824 

Email: curtis.billings2@va.gov

Current Appointments

• Research Investigator, NCRAR
• Research Assistant Professor, Dept. Otolaryngology, Oregon Health and Science University

Research Projects

• Neural Encoding of Signals in Noise: Effects of Hearing Impairment and Age. VA RR&D, Career Development Award, 2009 - 2011
• Electrophysiology and Perception of Speech in Noise. NIH-NIDCD, R03, 2011-2014

Research Interests

Dr. Billings uses auditory evoked potentials and behavioral methods to understand the effects of auditory deprivation and stimulation on the brain. This includes interests in the neural effects of hearing aids, hearing impairment, aging, and auditory training. Of particular importance to auditory rehabilitation are perception-in-noise difficulties. A current project focuses on the neural encoding and perception of signals in noise as a function of hearing impairment and age. The long-term goal of this research program is to improve diagnosis and treatment of hearing impairment by determining how experience-related changes in the brain facilitate and/or inhibit successful auditory rehabilitation. Dr. Billings is also a licensed audiologist.

Selected Recent Publications

Billings, C.J., Tremblay, K.L., Willott, J.W. (in press). “The Aging Auditory System.” In: Translational Perspectives in Auditory Neuroscience. Editors: K. Tremblay & R. Burkard. Plural Publishing, Inc., San Diego.

Bennett, K.O., Billings, C.J., Molis, M.M., Leek, M.R. (in press). Neural encoding and perception of speech signals in informational masking. Ear Hear.

Folmer, R.L., Billings, C.J., Diedesch, A.C., Gallun, F.J., Lew, H.J. (in press). Electrophysiological assessments of cognition and sensory processing in TBI: applications for diagnosis, prognosis and rehabilitation. Int J Psychophys.

Billings, C.J., Tremblay, K.L. , Miller, C.W. (2011). Aided cortical auditory evoked potentials in response to changes in hearing aid gain. Int J Aud. 50: 459-467.

Billings, C.J., Bennett, K.O., Molis, M.R., Leek, M.R. (2011). Cortical encoding of signals in noise: effects of stimulus type and recording paradigm. Ear Hear, 32(1): 53-60.

Billings C.J., Tremblay K.L., Stecker G.C., Tolin W.M. (2009). Human evoked cortical activity to signal-to-noise ratio and absolute signal level. Hearing Research, 254(1-2): 15-24

Billings C.J., Tremblay K.L., Souza P.E., Binns M.A. (2007). Effects of hearing aid amplification and stimulus intensity on cortical auditory evoked potentials. Audiol Neurotol,12: 234–246.

Tremblay K.L., Kalstein L., Billings C.J., Souza P.E. (2006). The neural representation of consonant-vowel transitions in adults who wear hearing aids. Trends in Amplification, 10: 155-162.

Tremblay K.L., Billings C.J., Friesen L.M., Souza P.E. (2006). Neural representation of amplified speech-sounds. Ear Hear, 27(2): 93-103.

Tremblay K.L., Billings C., Rohila N. (2004). Speech Evoked Cortical Potentials: Effects of Age and Stimulus Presentation Rate. J Am Acad Audiol, 15(3): 226-37.

Selected Recent Presentations

Billings, C., Bennett K., Molis M., Leek M..  (2011). “Event related potentials and perception of speech in several types of noise background.” Poster at the Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Seattle, Washington.

Billings, C., Ong, S.  (2011). “Electrophysiology and perception of speech in noise.” Poster at the American Auditory Society Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Billings, C. (2011). “Cortical auditory evoked potentials in clinical research.” Invited presentation at the 7th Tanta International Meeting on Advanced Otorhinolaryngology, Cairo, Egypt.

Billings, C. (2010). “A neuroscience perspective on hearing aid acclimatization, auditory training, and perception in noise.” Invited presentation, The Oregon Hearing Society, Summer Seminar. Welches, Oregon.

Billings, C., Tremblay, K. (2010). “How cortical evoked potentials can be used in the clinic.” Invited presentation, American Academy of Audiology AudiologyNOW! 2010 conference, San Diego, California.

Billings, C. (2010). “Age and signal type effects on signal-in-noise cortical encoding.” Poster, The American Auditory Society Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, March 2010.

Billings, C. (2009). “Aided evoked potentials and implications for auditory training in hearing aid users.” Invited presentation, Nordic Audiology College: Scientific Seminar about Hearing. Strömstad, Sweden.

O’Connell, K., Billings, C., Molis, M., Leek, M. (2009). “The effects of competing noise types on auditory evoked responses to speech and tones.” Poster, The 4th International NCRAR Conference. Portland, Oregon.

Dille, M., Diedesch, A., Billings, C., Gallun, F. (2009). “Electrophysiological measurements during rapid sound processing.” Poster, The 4th International NCRAR Conference. Portland, Oregon.

Billings, C., Tremblay, K., & Stecker, G.C. (2009) “Signal-in-noise encoding and implications for people with hearing loss.” Podium presentation, American Auditory Society Meeting. Scottsdale, Arizona.

Billings, C., Tremblay, K., & Souza P. (2007). "Cortical auditory evoked potentials recorded with and without hearing aids: effects of stimulus intensity and amplification.” Podium presentation, International. Evoked Response Audiometry Study Group. Bled, Slovenia.

Billings, C., Tremblay, K., & Souza P. (2006). "Effects of amplification and stimulus intensity on cortical auditory evoked potentials." Poster (abstract #220) Association for Research in Otolaryngology Midwinter Meeting. Baltimore, Maryland.

Billings, C., Tremblay, K., & Souza P. (2006). “Aided evoked potentials.” Talk, Rotman Research Institute. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.