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
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 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001686. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001686
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, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-7. 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, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-11. 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
Journal Article
Adults’ recollections of discussions with their audiologist: a qualitative study of what was and was not successfully communicated about listening difficulties
McNeice, Zoe, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Short, Camille E. and Galvin, Karyn (2025). Adults’ recollections of discussions with their audiologist: a qualitative study of what was and was not successfully communicated about listening difficulties. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (4), 343-354. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2351033
2025
Journal Article
Using Ecological Momentary Analysis to explore stigma experiences in the real world for adults with acquired hearing loss
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Ekberg, Katie, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh and Hickson, Louise (2025). Using Ecological Momentary Analysis to explore stigma experiences in the real world for adults with acquired hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), s28-s38. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2418970
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). 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
2024
Journal Article
A retrospective audit of audiology encounters in patients undergoing Cisplatin treatment at a large Australian tertiary cancer care centre
Lester, Georgia M., Wilson, Wayne J., Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Ladwa, Rahul M. (2024). A retrospective audit of audiology encounters in patients undergoing Cisplatin treatment at a large Australian tertiary cancer care centre. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01689-x
2024
Journal Article
Supporting older adults’ mental health: a Delphi survey identifying audiology best practices
Bennett, Rebecca J., Gerace, Daniel, Meyer, Carly J., Pachana, Nancy A., Saulsman, Lisa, Eikelboom, Robert H., Campbell, Elissa, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Vitkovic, Jessica and Bucks, Romola S. (2024). Supporting older adults’ mental health: a Delphi survey identifying audiology best practices. International Journal of Audiology, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2383990
2024
Journal Article
A laughing matter? Managing hearing difficulties in real life everyday social interactions with adults with hearing loss
Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh and Hickson, Louise (2024). A laughing matter? Managing hearing difficulties in real life everyday social interactions with adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2389189
2024
Journal Article
Developing strategies to improve accessibility of hearing health services for people from diverse ethnic communities in Australia: Research Protocol
Dawes, Piers, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Scarinci, Nerina, Newall, John, Furze, Cailyn, Nisar, Mehwish, Timmer, Barbra, Ching, Teresa Y. C., Harris-Roxas, Benjamin, Scanlan, Emma, Van Buynder, Patricia, Waite, Monique, Orlando, Marc, Kruger, Jan-Louis, Ekberg, Katie, Dib, Mayada, Ginis, Jan, Barr, Margo, Armitage, Christopher J. and Hickson, Louise (2024). Developing strategies to improve accessibility of hearing health services for people from diverse ethnic communities in Australia: Research Protocol. Figshare. doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.26499952.v1
2024
Journal Article
Effectiveness of the HEAR-aware app for adults not ready for hearing aids, but open to self-management support: results of a randomized controlled trial
Feenstra-Kikken, Vanessa, Van de Ven, Sjors, Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I., Pronk, Marieke, Smits, Cas, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Polleunis, C., Besser, Jana and Kramer, Sophia E. (2024). Effectiveness of the HEAR-aware app for adults not ready for hearing aids, but open to self-management support: results of a randomized controlled trial. Ear and Hearing, 45 (6), 1502-1516. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001533
2024
Journal Article
The experience of stigma related to hearing loss and hearing aids: perspectives of adults with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals
Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Ekberg, Katie, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly and Hickson, Louise (2024). The experience of stigma related to hearing loss and hearing aids: perspectives of adults with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2353862
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Barbra Timmer is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Rehabilitative Audiology: Improving outcomes for adults with hearing loss
Please contact me if you are interested in pursuing a research degree in Audiology.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dianna Vidas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Audiology services for adults in Malaysia: perspectives of clinicians and adults with hearing loss
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Piers Dawes
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Hearing monitoring for patients receiving ototoxic chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Wayne Wilson
Completed supervision
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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
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