Presenter: 

Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP

CEUs: 0.1 AAA/Tier 1

Duration: 60 minutes

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Program Focus: Knowledge 

Description:

It is well established that several chronic diseases (a) are preceded by metabolic syndrome, (b) are increasing in prevalence in the geriatric population, and (c) associated with the increased odds ratio of sensorineural hearing loss. While much of our literature and communications have focused on the relationship between chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and adult-onset diabetes) and hearing loss, little attention has been given to the underlying cause of these chronic diseases: metabolic syndrome. It is essential that the audiologist understand, for improved patient management, the five contributors of metabolic syndrome and their relationship with hearing health.

Learning Outcomes:  

1. Recall the five contributors to metabolic syndrome.
2. Understand the relationship of metabolic syndrome with chronic disease, sensorineural hearing loss, and sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
3. Be able to apply knowledge of the relationship of metabolic syndrome with hearing loss to better communicate with medical professionals in the collaborative care of audiology patients with chronic diseases and counsel patients toward a healthy lifestyle.

Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP

Dr Victor Bray has a 45-year career in hearing healthcare including provision of clinical services, research and development including clinical trials of new-to-market amplification devices, and senior administration in industry and academia, all of which have been supported with extensive presentations and publications.  Before transitioning to academia, he was Vice President and Chief Audiology Officer for Sonic Innovations and for OtoKinetics.

He is a tenured Associate Professor and former Dean of Salus University Osborne College of Audiology. His current research interests include comorbidities in audiological medicine and the expanding and important role of audiology in public health.