Overview
Background
Dr Barbra Timmer is a Senior Lecturer in Audiology (Teaching & Research) at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland and Senior Scientist at Sonova AG.Her research interests include the real-world challenges and audiological outcomes for adults with hearing impairment, intervention approaches for adults with tinnitus, the implementation of family-centred care in audiological practice, intervention solutions for presbyvertigo in adults with hearing impairment and teleaudiology.
Before taking on her academic role, Barbra gained clinical audiology experience at Australian Hearing and the Free University of Amsterdam, and industry experience at Sonova AG in Australia and Switzerland. Barbra completed an MBA and a PhD in Audiology and aims to build a stronger bridge between research and clinical practice.
Availability
- Dr Barbra Timmer is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Audiology, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Business Administration, University of Western Sydney
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Dr Timmer is recognised as leader in the use of ecological momentary aseessment to investigate real-world hearing experiences. Bridging the world of hearing science academia and industry, she is committed to the transfer of knowledge into practice and has extensive professional links that facilitate this transfer. For example, she is President of Audiology Australia and a member of a working group to establish pediatric audiology certification and another to create teleaudiology standards in Australia. She is regularly invited to give presentations to clinical and research conferences around the world.
Works
Search Professor Barbra Timmer’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Social-emotional well-being and adult hearing loss: clinical recommendations
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Bennett, Rebecca J., Montano, Joseph, Hickson, Louise, Weinstein, Barbara, Wild, Jane, Ferguson, Melanie, Holman, Jack A., LeBeau, Valeri and Dyre, Lisa (2024). Social-emotional well-being and adult hearing loss: clinical recommendations. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (6), 381-392. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2190864
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Guidelines for best practice in the audiological management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss
Turton, Laura, Souza, Pamela, Thibodeau, Linda, Hickson, Louise, Gifford, René, Bird, Judith, Stropahl, Maren, Gailey, Lorraine, Fulton, Bernadette, Scarinci, Nerina, Ekberg, Katie and Timmer, Barbra (2020). Guidelines for best practice in the audiological management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss. Seminars in Hearing, 41 (03), 141-246. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1714744
2025
Journal Article
Experience-based co-design of a smartphone app for post-stroke aphasia self-management: a process evaluation
Hudson, Kyla, Burton, Bridget, Worthy, Peter, Isaacs, Megan, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Palmer, Victoria J., NG, Zheng Yen, Copland, David A., Angwin, Anthony, Wiles, Janet, Timmer, Barbra, Gullo, Matthew J., Hill, Annie J. and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Experience-based co-design of a smartphone app for post-stroke aphasia self-management: a process evaluation. Brain Impairment, 26 (4) IB24127. doi: 10.1071/ib24127
2025
Journal Article
Verification of an Amplification Strategy to Enhance Soft Speech for Adults With Severe-to-Profound Hearing Loss
Huang, Hsuan Yun, Tian, Xin, Latzel, Matthias, Timmer, Barbra H B and Guan, Jingjing (2025). Verification of an Amplification Strategy to Enhance Soft Speech for Adults With Severe-to-Profound Hearing Loss. American journal of audiology, 1-11. doi: 10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00059
2025
Journal Article
Evaluation of a digital health decision intervention to support management decision-making for adults with hearing loss: protocol for the HearChoice randomised controlled trial
Ferguson, Melanie A, Sherman, Kerry A, Bothe, Ellen, Timmer, Barbra HB, Dawes, Piers, Myers, Bronwyn, Norman, Richard, Mejia, Jorge, Bennett, Rebecca J, Mottershaw, Abigail L, zu Brickwedde, Elena Meyer, Convery, Elizabeth and Gyani, Alex (2025). Evaluation of a digital health decision intervention to support management decision-making for adults with hearing loss: protocol for the HearChoice randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 15 (10) e106751, e106751. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106751
2025
Journal Article
Conventional hearing aid amplification, notch therapy, or increased gain at tinnitus pitch: a randomised controlled multicentre study
Waechter, Sebastian, Timmer, Barbra H.B., Olovsson, Maria, Pettersson, Petter, Frawley, Lorelei, Ibertsson, Tina, Thorén, Elisabet Sundewall and Jönsson, Anders (2025). Conventional hearing aid amplification, notch therapy, or increased gain at tinnitus pitch: a randomised controlled multicentre study. International Journal of Audiology, 1-24. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2544152
2025
Journal Article
Bridging the Gap: How Social Coaching Can Support Older Adults with Hearing Loss
Bennett, Rebecca J., Saunders, Gabrielle H., Montano, Joseph J., Timmer, Barbra H.B., Laird, Emma and Badcock, Johanna C. (2025). Bridging the Gap: How Social Coaching Can Support Older Adults with Hearing Loss. The Hearing Journal, 78 (8), 1-5. doi: 10.1097/01.hj.0001125932.96047.82
2025
Journal Article
What does culturally responsive hearing care look like? The views of service users, clinicians, and researchers
Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Nisar, Mehwish, Furze, Cailyn, Scarinci, Nerina, Newall, John, Hickson, Louise, Timmer, Barbra, Armitage, Christopher J. and Dawes, Piers (2025). What does culturally responsive hearing care look like? The views of service users, clinicians, and researchers. Ear and Hearing, 46 (6) 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001686, 1479-1489. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001686
2025
Journal Article
Perspectives of older adults with hearing loss on vibrotactile neurofeedback balance training
Foster, Jacinta I., Timmer, Barbra H. B., Williams, Katrina L. and Brauer, Sandra G. (2025). Perspectives of older adults with hearing loss on vibrotactile neurofeedback balance training. American Journal of Audiology, 34 (3), 551-562. doi: 10.1044/2025_aja-25-00006
2025
Journal Article
Understanding affiliate stigma among significant others of adults with hearing loss: a cross-sectional survey in Australia, the UK, and the US
Meyer, Carly, Scarinci, Nerina, Ekberg, Katie, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Timmer, Barbra, Waite, Monique and Hickson, Louise (2025). Understanding affiliate stigma among significant others of adults with hearing loss: a cross-sectional survey in Australia, the UK, and the US. International Journal of Audiology, 65 (s1), S58-S64. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2505979
2025
Journal Article
“I feel a little bit clueless” perceived barriers and enablers to help-seeking and informed decision-making in hearing care: a qualitative study
Bothe, Ellen, Bennett, Rebecca J., Sherman, Kerry A., Timmer, Barbra H. B., Myers, Bronwyn and Ferguson, Melanie A. (2025). “I feel a little bit clueless” perceived barriers and enablers to help-seeking and informed decision-making in hearing care: a qualitative study. International Journal of Audiology, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2493918
2025
Journal Article
Who do you tell about your hearing loss? A stigma-induced identity-threat model for adults with hearing loss
Ekberg, Katie, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique, Timmer, Barbra, Scarinci, Nerina and Hickson, Louise (2025). Who do you tell about your hearing loss? A stigma-induced identity-threat model for adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2489569
2025
Journal Article
Social coaching: applying Keyes’ Model of Social Wellbeing to audiological support for older adults with hearing loss
Bennett, Rebecca J., Saunders, Gabrielle H., Montano, Joseph J., Timmer, Barbra H. B., Laird, Emma and Badcock, Johanna C. (2025). Social coaching: applying Keyes’ Model of Social Wellbeing to audiological support for older adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2467788
2025
Journal Article
Adult client perspectives of barriers and facilitators to successfully communicating about listening needs and concerns during audiology appointments: a qualitative study
McNeice, Zoe, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra, Short, Camille E. and Galvin, Karyn (2025). Adult client perspectives of barriers and facilitators to successfully communicating about listening needs and concerns during audiology appointments: a qualitative study. International Journal of Audiology, 64 9, 934-944. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2467775
2025
Journal Article
The decision to tell or not to tell is associated with experiences of stigma and hearing aid use among adults with hearing loss
Meyer, Carly, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Scarinci, Nerina, Waite, Monique and Hickson, Louise (2025). The decision to tell or not to tell is associated with experiences of stigma and hearing aid use among adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2446480
2025
Conference Publication
What does culturally responsive hearing care look like? An international Delphi study
Dawes, Piers, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Nisar, Mehwish, Newall, John, Timmer, Barbra, Hickson, Louise, Furze, Cailyn, Armitage, Christopher J. and Scarinci, Nerina (2025). What does culturally responsive hearing care look like? An international Delphi study. 14th International Conference of the Coalition for Global Hearing Health, Wellington, New Zealand, 16-18 January 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Actors influencing the accessibility and use of hearing services by diverse ethnic communities in Australia
Newall, John, Furze, Cailyn, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Nisar, Mehwish, Scarinci, Nerina, Hickson, Louise, Armitage, Christopher J., Ching, Teresa Y. C., Shi, Li, Timmer, Barbra and Dawes, Piers (2025). Actors influencing the accessibility and use of hearing services by diverse ethnic communities in Australia. 14th Annual Conference of the Coalition for Global Hearing Health, Wellington, New Zealand, 16-18 January 2025.
2025
Journal Article
How do adults with hearing loss, family members, and hearing care professionals respond to the stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids?
Scarinci, Nerina, Waite, Monique, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly and Hickson, Louise (2025). How do adults with hearing loss, family members, and hearing care professionals respond to the stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids?. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), s20-s27. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2406885
2025
Journal Article
Barriers and enablers to referral of older adults to hearing care: a cross-sectional questionnaire study of Australian general practitioners
Davine, Ella C., Busby, Peter A., Peters, Sanne, Francis, Jill J., Harris, David, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Sarant, Julia Z. (2025). Barriers and enablers to referral of older adults to hearing care: a cross-sectional questionnaire study of Australian general practitioners. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 31 (3) PY24224. doi: 10.1071/PY24224
2025
Journal Article
Australian hearing healthcare stakeholders’ experiences of and attitudes towards teleaudiology uptake: a qualitative study
Mui, Boaz, Lawless, Michael, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Gopinath, Bamini, Tang, Diana, Venning, Anthony, May, David, Muzaffar, Jameel, Bidargaddi, Niranjan and Shekhawat, Giriraj Singh (2025). Australian hearing healthcare stakeholders’ experiences of and attitudes towards teleaudiology uptake: a qualitative study. Speech, Language and Hearing, 28 (1) 2372171, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/2050571x.2024.2372171
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Barbra Timmer is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Audiology services for adults in Malaysia: perspectives of clinicians and adults with hearing loss
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Piers Dawes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Hearing monitoring for patients receiving ototoxic chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Wayne Wilson
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Hearing aid use, vibrotactile neurofeedback and balance in older adults with hearing impairment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sandy Brauer, Emeritus Professor Louise Hickson, Associate Professor Wayne Wilson
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Postural stability and vestibular function in older adults with hearing loss: the effect of vibrotactile neurofeedback training
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Katrina Williams, Professor Sandy Brauer
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Barbra Timmer directly for media enquiries about:
- Ecological momentary assessment
- Real-world hearing challenges for adults with hearing impairment
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: