National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
Marquam Hill Audiology Grand Rounds - CEU Details
The current month's grand rounds info and CEU documents are below (see CEU information at the bottom of the page).
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Time: 12-1pm (Pacific)
Location: Virtual via Microsoft Teams
Presenters: Katie Esser, 4th-year AuD student at Towson University and Audiology Extern at the VA Portland Health Care System and National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
Title: Auditory outcomes and hearing aid access among rural Veterans
Overview: Many military Veterans live in rural areas and may have differing recreational noise exposure histories than urban Veterans and may face greater barriers to healthcare access. While hearing loss and delays in obtaining hearing aids are more prevalent among rural individuals in the general population, it is unclear whether this is true for Veterans. Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology (NOISE) Study data was leveraged to determine associations between rural residence and auditory outcomes, specifically hearing and tinnitus, in a cohort of Veterans recently separated from the military (n=992). Compared to urban Veterans, rural Veterans had higher odds of hearing loss in the standard audiometric frequency range and higher odds of tinnitus. Rural Veterans also self-reported greater recreational noise exposure compared to their urban counterparts. A separate retrospective analysis of VA health records of incident hearing aid users (n=256,409) revealed that while rural Veterans more commonly experienced severe hearing loss, rural residence was not associated with a delay in receiving hearing aids compared to urban residences. Public health implications for improving early identification and promoting interventions will be discussed in the context of the findings from these two analyses.
As a result of this presentation, participants will be better able to describe the patterns of hearing aid access among rural Veterans compared to urban Veterans and identify the associations between rural residence and auditory outcomes among Veterans. They will also be able to discuss the public health implications of rural residence on both auditory outcomes and access to hearing healthcare among Veterans.
Learner Outcomes: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
• Better describe the patterns of hearing aid access among rural Veterans compared to urban Veterans
• Identify the associations between rural residence and auditory outcomes among Veterans
• Discuss the public health implications of rural residence on both auditory outcomes and access to hearing healthcare among Veterans
Disclosure statement: Katie Esser, 4th-year AuD student at Towson University and an Audiology Extern at the VA Portland Health Care System, has the following relevant financial relationship to disclose; she receives a salary from the VA Portland Health Care System. She has the following non-financial relationships to disclose; this work was supported by a Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award (grant PR121146), a Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program Award (grant JW160036 and JW210396), and a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Merit Award (C3701R/I01-RX003701).
*IMPORTANT DETAILS: The seminars will be broadcast via Microsoft Teams.
To receive a Teams invitation, please fill out the registration form at this link.
Once you have a Microsoft Teams invitation, please see the instructions for joining below at the time of the call:
1. Click on the “Join Microsoft Teams Meeting” link in the Outlook invitation for the seminar (in the Outlook calendar)
2. Click on “Join now," and mute your microphone.
3. Alternately, you can simply call the telephone number listed below the "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting" link. Note: MUTE your phone; do not place your phone on hold.
CEUs: new process!! To receive CEUs for watching the seminar, please click on this link to submit your information and evaluation.
Submit your evaluation by March 13 in order to receive credit. Questions? Please send them to Marianne Pierson at Marianne.Pierson@va.gov.
NCRAR is approved by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association to offer 0.1 CEU for this continuing education activity (Advanced level, Professional Area).
