Emeritus Professor Louise Hickson
Emeritus Professor

Louise Hickson

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Background

hearing impairment, hearing loss, hearing rehabilitation, evidence-based practice, family-centred hearing care

Louise Hickson, AM, is an Emeritus Professor of Audiology in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at The University of Queensland. She has published over 300 research articles, books and book chapters with her main focus on the effects of hearing loss on people's everyday lives and the development of strategies and interventions that improve the uptake and outcomes of hearing rehabilitation. Louise is Chair of the Phonak Expert Circle on Family-Centred Hearing Care, is on the Executive Board of the International Society or Audiology and is a Fellow and Life Member of Audiology Australia. She has received numerous awards recognising her contributions to audiology, including the international research award from the American Academy of Audiology, The University of Queensland Leadership Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Hearing Australia. She is an Editor of the International Journal of Audiology amd in 2021 Emeritus Professor Hickson was Australia's Leading Researcher in the field of Audiology and Speech and Language Pathology. In 2022 she became a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to tertiary education and audiology associations. She is a sought after speaker and regularly presents at conferences and meetings around the world. Louise also provides advice to hearing service providers both in Australia and overseas and is committed to improving services for people with hearing difficulties.

Availability

Emeritus Professor Louise Hickson is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Aged health care Allied health and rehabilitation science Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Clinical sciences Health Sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Effects of hearing impairment on the lives of older adults and the rehabilitation of older people with hearing impairment.

    Professor Hickson is recognized internationally as a leader in audiology. Her major research themes are age-related hearing impairment, the associated effects of that impairment on the communication abilities and quality of life of older adults, and the efficacy of different forms of intervention (e.g., hearing aid fitting, communication education) with this population. To a lesser extent, evaluating the efficacy of audiological interventions for children. In collaboration with Dr Adrian Fuente, she has expanded her research work to include hearing impairment acquired by noise and solvent exposure. Examples of her profile and impact are invitations to speak at 3-4 national and international conferences each year, her editorship of the International Journal of Audiology, her roles as research representative on the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing’s Hearing Services Consultancy Committee, and Australasian representative on the WHO Steering Committee on Hearing.

Research impacts

Emeritus Professor Hickson AM is a world leader in hearing rehabilitation research and her work has changed practice in Australia and overseas. For example, the Active Communication Education (ACE) program that she developed and evaluated has been used in many countries around the world including Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Korea, Iran, Germany and Sweden. She is committed to the transfer of knowledge into practice and has extensive professional links that facilitate this transfer.

Search Professor Louise Hickson’s works on UQ eSpace

329 works between 1986 and 2025
All (329) Book (5) Journal Article (273) Edited Outputs (1) Conference Publication (31) Book Chapter (19)

181 - 200 of 329 works

2010

Journal Article

Is auditory-verbal therapy effective for children with hearing loss?

Dornan, D, Hickson, L, Murdoch, B, Houston, T and Constantinescu, G (2010). Is auditory-verbal therapy effective for children with hearing loss?. Volta Review, 110 (3), 361-387. doi: 10.17955/tvr.110.3.658

Is auditory-verbal therapy effective for children with hearing loss?

2010

Journal Article

Health-related quality of life in people with aphasia: Implications for fluency disorders quality of life research

Cruice, Madeline, Worrall, Linda and Hickson, Louise (2010). Health-related quality of life in people with aphasia: Implications for fluency disorders quality of life research. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 35 (3), 173-189. doi: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2010.05.008

Health-related quality of life in people with aphasia: Implications for fluency disorders quality of life research

2010

Journal Article

Factors associated with hearing aid fitting outcomes on the IOI-HA

Hickson, Louise, Clutterbuck, Susan and Khan, Asad (2010). Factors associated with hearing aid fitting outcomes on the IOI-HA. International Journal of Audiology, 49 (8), 586-595. doi: 10.3109/14992021003777259

Factors associated with hearing aid fitting outcomes on the IOI-HA

2010

Journal Article

Hearing impairment affects older people's ability to drive in the presence of distracters

Hickson, Louise, Wood, Joanne, Chaparro, Alex, Lacherez, Philippe and Marszalek, Ralph (2010). Hearing impairment affects older people's ability to drive in the presence of distracters. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58 (6), 1097-1103. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02880.x

Hearing impairment affects older people's ability to drive in the presence of distracters

2010

Journal Article

Who said what? Sampling conversation repair behavior involving adults with acquired hearing impairment

Lind, Christopher, Hickson, Louise and Erber, Norman (2010). Who said what? Sampling conversation repair behavior involving adults with acquired hearing impairment. Seminars in Hearing, 31 (2), 104-115. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1252104

Who said what? Sampling conversation repair behavior involving adults with acquired hearing impairment

2010

Journal Article

International classification of functioning, disability, and health core sets for hearing loss: A discussion paper and invitation

Danermark, Berth, Cieza, Alarcos, Gange, Jean-Pierre, Gimigliano, Francesca, Granberg, Sarah, Hickson, Louise, Kramer, Sophia E., McPherson, Bradley, Moller, Claes, Russo, Ieda, Stromgren, Jan Peter, Stucki, Gerold and Swanepoel, DeWet (2010). International classification of functioning, disability, and health core sets for hearing loss: A discussion paper and invitation. International Journal of Audiology, 49 (4), 256-262. doi: 10.3109/14992020903410110

International classification of functioning, disability, and health core sets for hearing loss: A discussion paper and invitation

2010

Journal Article

Do people with aphasia want written stroke and aphasia information? A verbal survey exploring preferences for when and how to provide stroke and aphasia information

Rose, Tanya, Worrall, Linda, Hickson, Louise and Hoffmann, Tammy (2010). Do people with aphasia want written stroke and aphasia information? A verbal survey exploring preferences for when and how to provide stroke and aphasia information. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 17 (2), 79-98. doi: 10.1310/tsr1702-79

Do people with aphasia want written stroke and aphasia information? A verbal survey exploring preferences for when and how to provide stroke and aphasia information

2010

Journal Article

Rehabilitation of older adults with hearing impairment: A critical review

Laplante-Levesque, Ariane, Hickson, Louise and Worrall, Linda (2010). Rehabilitation of older adults with hearing impairment: A critical review. Journal of Ageing and Health, 22 (2), 143-153. doi: 10.1177/0898264309352731

Rehabilitation of older adults with hearing impairment: A critical review

2010

Journal Article

Conceptualising quality of life for older people with aphasia

Cruice, Madeline, Hill, Ruth, Worrall, Linda and Hickson, Louise (2010). Conceptualising quality of life for older people with aphasia. Aphasiology, 24 (3), 327-347. doi: 10.1080/02687030802565849

Conceptualising quality of life for older people with aphasia

2010

Conference Publication

Factors influencing rehabilitation decisions of adults with acquired hearing impairment

Laplante-Levesque, Ariane, Hickson, Louise and Worrall, Linda (2010). Factors influencing rehabilitation decisions of adults with acquired hearing impairment. 3rd Conference on Aging and Speech Communication, Bloomington, Indiana, 12-14 Oct 2009. Abingdon, Oxford, England: Taylor & Francis Ltd. doi: 10.3109/14992021003645902

Factors influencing rehabilitation decisions of adults with acquired hearing impairment

2009

Journal Article

The number of patients with communication related impairments in acute hospital stroke units

O'Halloran, Robyn, Worrall, Linda E. and Hickson, Louise (2009). The number of patients with communication related impairments in acute hospital stroke units. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 11 (6), 438-449. doi: 10.3109/17549500902741363

The number of patients with communication related impairments in acute hospital stroke units

2009

Journal Article

Longitudinal study of speech perception, speech, and language for children with hearing loss in an auditory-verbal therapy program

Dornan, D., Hickson, L., Murdoch, B. and Houston, T. (2009). Longitudinal study of speech perception, speech, and language for children with hearing loss in an auditory-verbal therapy program. Volta Review, 109 (2-3), 61-85. doi: 10.17955/tvr.109.2.3.619

Longitudinal study of speech perception, speech, and language for children with hearing loss in an auditory-verbal therapy program

2009

Journal Article

Test-retest reliability of the acoustic stapedial reflex test in healthy neonates

Mazlan, R., Kei, J. and Hickson, L. M. (2009). Test-retest reliability of the acoustic stapedial reflex test in healthy neonates. Ear and Hearing, 30 (3), 295-301. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e31819c3ea0

Test-retest reliability of the acoustic stapedial reflex test in healthy neonates

2009

Journal Article

A psychometric investigation of speech, language and cognitive communicative rating scales for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders in the acute hospital setting

O'Halloran, R., Worrall, L. and Hickson, L. (2009). A psychometric investigation of speech, language and cognitive communicative rating scales for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders in the acute hospital setting. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 11 (3), 206-219. doi: 10.1080/17549500902802298

A psychometric investigation of speech, language and cognitive communicative rating scales for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders in the acute hospital setting

2009

Journal Article

High frequency (1000 HZ) tympanometry findings in newborns: Normative data using a component compensated admittance approach

Mazlan, Rafidah, Kei, Joseph, Hickson, Louise, Khan, Asaduzzaman, Gavranich, John and Linning, Ron (2009). High frequency (1000 HZ) tympanometry findings in newborns: Normative data using a component compensated admittance approach. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Audiology, 31 (1), 15-24. doi: 10.1375/audi.31.1.15

High frequency (1000 HZ) tympanometry findings in newborns: Normative data using a component compensated admittance approach

2009

Journal Article

The ICF and third-party disability: Its application to spouses of older people with hearing impairment

Scarinci, N., Worrall, L. and Hickson, L. (2009). The ICF and third-party disability: Its application to spouses of older people with hearing impairment. Disability and Rehabilitation, 31 (25), 2088-2100. doi: 10.3109/09638280902927028

The ICF and third-party disability: Its application to spouses of older people with hearing impairment

2009

Edited Outputs

Hearing Care for Adults 2009 - The Challenge of Aging. Proceedings of the Second International Adult Conference

Louise Hickson ed. (2009). Hearing Care for Adults 2009 - The Challenge of Aging. Proceedings of the Second International Adult Conference. Second International Adult Conference, Chicago, United States, 16-18 November 2009. Staefa, Switzerland: Phonak.

Hearing Care for Adults 2009 - The Challenge of Aging. Proceedings of the Second International Adult Conference

2009

Journal Article

Satisfaction with hearing aids: A consumer research perspective

Wong, L., Hickson, L. and McPherson, B. (2009). Satisfaction with hearing aids: A consumer research perspective. International Journal of Audiology, 48 (7), 405-427. doi: 10.1080/14992020802716760

Satisfaction with hearing aids: A consumer research perspective

2009

Conference Publication

The challenge of older people living in aged care environments

Hickson, Louise (2009). The challenge of older people living in aged care environments. Second International Adult Conference, Chicago, United States, 16-18 November 2009. Staefa, Switzerland: Phonak.

The challenge of older people living in aged care environments

2009

Journal Article

The effect of hearing impairment in older people on the spouse: Development and psychometric testing of The Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR)

Scarinci, N., Worrall, L. and Hickson, L. (2009). The effect of hearing impairment in older people on the spouse: Development and psychometric testing of The Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR). International Journal of Audiology, 48 (10), 671-683. doi: 10.1080/14992020902998409

The effect of hearing impairment in older people on the spouse: Development and psychometric testing of The Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR)

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Improving the psychosocial and emotional well-being of adults with hearing loss through co-designed evidence-based services: ACE2.0
    NHMRC Targeted Research
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Improving access to the hearing services program for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
    NHMRC Targeted Research
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Unspoken, Unheard, Unmet: Improving Access to Preventative Health Care through Better Conversations about Care
    NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    The effect of individualised, vibrotactile neurofeedback training on postural stability in older adults with hearing impairment: a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial
    Sonova AG
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2026
    Adults with mild hearing impairment: Challenges and predictors of successful hearing aid fitting outcomes
    Sonova AG
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    Develop a HSP Service Pathway and Decision Support Tool
    Commonwealth Department of Health
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    To tell or not to tell? The stigma experiences of adults with hearing impairment and their families
    GN Hearing Care Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Establishing a Sonova-UQ Hearing and Balance Research Centre
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Feasibility of a RCT of the Active Communication Education (ACE) programme plus hearing aid provision versus hearing aid provision alone
    Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Family-centred care in paediatric hearing rehabilitation programs: How is it being implemented in day to day practice?
    Deafness Foundation (Victoria)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Improving rehabilitation outcomes for adults with hearing impairment and their family members: A family-centred care approach
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Improving the health and well-being of serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members with hearing loss and their families: A family-centred care approach
    DHF Establishment Grants
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Enabling equal access using e-health
    HEARing CRC
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Validation of the Phonak Support App for Hearing Aid Management and Trouble-Shooting
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2021
    The Communication Research Registry
    Speech Pathology Australia
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Occupational hearing loss induced by solvents and noise: development of new strategies for hearing loss prevention programs in the workplace
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    The Communication Disability Registry: expanding research opportunities.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2014
    Overcoming barriers to hearing rehabilitation in adults
    HEARing CRC
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Staff communication in aged care facilities: a key factor in delivering resident-focused care
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Evaluating the active communication education program for older people with hearing impairment
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2001
    An evaluation of feasibility and effectiveness of an intervention that promotes residents' participation in decision-making and life roles
    Blue Care
    Open grant
  • 1997
    A comparison of the everyday communication of healthy older people and older people with aphisia
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    Multichannel compression amplification in hearing aids: optimizing speech perception
    NHMRC Project - Special Initiative Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1996
    Communication impairment, disability and handicap in the ethnic aged
    PHRDC - Project Grants
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor Louise Hickson is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Louise Hickson directly for media enquiries about:

  • Aged care facilties
  • Ageing - hearing changes
  • Audiological Rehabilitation
  • Audiology
  • Communication and deafness
  • Deafness
  • Hearing - changes with ageing
  • Hearing aid technology
  • Hearing loss
  • Nursing homes
  • Older people - hearing loss
  • Rehabilitation
  • Seniors - hearing changes
  • Sensory loss
  • Sight - loss of
  • Technology - audiology
  • Vision - loss in the aged

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