Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
Overview
After completing a Bsc (Psych) and PGDip in Audiology, 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 in 2003 and her PhD in Audiology in 2017 with the long-term goal of building a stronger bridge between academia and the hearing care industry. She currently holds joint roles as Senior Scientist at Sonova AG and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Audiology, at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Her research interests include the real-world challenges and audiological outcomes for adults with hearing impairment, the implementation of family-centred care in audiological practice, intervention solutions for presbyvertigo in adults with hearing impairment and teleaudiology.
Research Impacts
Dr Timmer is recognised as leader in the use of ecological momentary aseessment to investigate real-wrold 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 a member of and regular contributor to Phonak's international Family-Centred Care Expert Panel and board member and chair of the national conference for Audiology Australia. She is regularly invited to give presentations to clinical and research conferences around the world.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy
Publications
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Journal Article: The use of ecological momentary assessment in hearing research and future clinical applications
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2018) The use of ecological momentary assessment in hearing research and future clinical applications. Hearing Research, 369 24-28. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2018.06.012
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Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2018) Do hearing aids address real-world hearing difficulties for adults with mild hearing impairment? Results from a pilot study using ecological momentary assessment. Trends in Hearing, 22 2331216518783608. doi:10.1177/2331216518783608
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Other Outputs: Adults with mild hearing impairment: Measuring real-world hearing performance
Timmer, Barbra (2017). Adults with mild hearing impairment: Measuring real-world hearing performance PhD Thesis, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi:10.14264/uql.2017.987
Grants
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(2018–2023) Sonova AG
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Establishing a Sonova-UQ Hearing and Balance Research Centre
(2018) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Available Projects
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The overall aim of the Audiology PhD thesis would be to investigate the effect of vibrotactile feedback and hearing aids on postural stability, vestibular function, activity and participation in older adults with hearing impairment. The primary research project of the PhD is to evaluate the efficacy of 10 days of training using a neurofeedback intervention on postural sway during gait and standing balance tasks in older adults with moderate to severe hearing impairment, with and without hearing aids. The study plan also includes investigating current audiological practice for adults with hearing impairment and postural instability as well as examining how older adults prefer to self-manage postural and communication issues in future.
Preferred starting date is July 1, 2019 (Research Quarter 3).
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The overall aim of the Physiotherapy PhD thesis would be to investigate the effect of vibrotactile feedback on postural stability, vestibular function, activity and participation in older adults with hearing impairment. The primary research project of the PhD is to evaluate the efficacy of 10 days of training using a neurofeedback interventionon postural sway during gait and standing balance tasks in older adults with moderate to severe hearing impairment. Secondary aims are to determine the impact of the training on dizziness, balance confidence, physical activity and hearing handicap immediately after training, at 3 and 6 months. The study plan also involves a systematic review to determine the impact of hearing impairment on posutral stability in older adults and an investigation of the acceptability and satisfaction with the neurofeedback system.
Preferred starting date is July 1, 2019 (Research Quarter 3).
Publications
Journal Article
-
The use of ecological momentary assessment in hearing research and future clinical applications
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2018) The use of ecological momentary assessment in hearing research and future clinical applications. Hearing Research, 369 24-28. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2018.06.012
-
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2018) Do hearing aids address real-world hearing difficulties for adults with mild hearing impairment? Results from a pilot study using ecological momentary assessment. Trends in Hearing, 22 2331216518783608. doi:10.1177/2331216518783608
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Ecological Momentary Assessment: Feasibility, Construct Validity, and Future Applications
Timmer, Barbra , Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2017) Ecological Momentary Assessment: Feasibility, Construct Validity, and Future Applications. American Journal of Audiology, 26 3S: 436-442. doi:10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0126
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Ecological momentary assessment: feasibility, construct validity, and future applications
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2017) Ecological momentary assessment: feasibility, construct validity, and future applications. American Journal of Audiology, 26 3S: 436-442. doi:10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0126
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Adults with mild hearing impairment: Are we meeting the challenge?
Timmer, Barbra H.B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2015) Adults with mild hearing impairment: Are we meeting the challenge?. International Journal of Audiology, 54 11: 786-795. doi:10.3109/14992027.2015.1046504
Conference Publication
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Hearing aid use and mild hearing impairment: learnings from big data
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2017) Hearing aid use and mild hearing impairment: learnings from big data. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 28 8: 731-741. doi:10.3766/jaaa.16104
Other Outputs
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Adults with mild hearing impairment: Measuring real-world hearing performance
Timmer, Barbra (2017). Adults with mild hearing impairment: Measuring real-world hearing performance PhD Thesis, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi:10.14264/uql.2017.987
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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(2018–2023) Sonova AG
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Establishing a Sonova-UQ Hearing and Balance Research Centre
(2018) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Possible Research Projects
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
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The overall aim of the Audiology PhD thesis would be to investigate the effect of vibrotactile feedback and hearing aids on postural stability, vestibular function, activity and participation in older adults with hearing impairment. The primary research project of the PhD is to evaluate the efficacy of 10 days of training using a neurofeedback intervention on postural sway during gait and standing balance tasks in older adults with moderate to severe hearing impairment, with and without hearing aids. The study plan also includes investigating current audiological practice for adults with hearing impairment and postural instability as well as examining how older adults prefer to self-manage postural and communication issues in future.
Preferred starting date is July 1, 2019 (Research Quarter 3).
-
The overall aim of the Physiotherapy PhD thesis would be to investigate the effect of vibrotactile feedback on postural stability, vestibular function, activity and participation in older adults with hearing impairment. The primary research project of the PhD is to evaluate the efficacy of 10 days of training using a neurofeedback interventionon postural sway during gait and standing balance tasks in older adults with moderate to severe hearing impairment. Secondary aims are to determine the impact of the training on dizziness, balance confidence, physical activity and hearing handicap immediately after training, at 3 and 6 months. The study plan also involves a systematic review to determine the impact of hearing impairment on posutral stability in older adults and an investigation of the acceptability and satisfaction with the neurofeedback system.
Preferred starting date is July 1, 2019 (Research Quarter 3).
