Dr Barbra Timmer is a 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.
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.
Journal Article: Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members
Franks, Inga and Timmer, Barbra H. B. (2023). Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members. International Journal of Audiology, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270703
Journal Article: Hearing care services for adults with hearing loss in Malaysia: a scoping review
Romli, Maziah, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Dawes, Piers (2023). Hearing care services for adults with hearing loss in Malaysia: a scoping review. International Journal of Audiology, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270594
Pronk, Marieke, Feenstra-Kikken, Vanessa, Smits, Cas, Besser, Jana, Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I., Polleunis, Conny, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Kramer, Sophia E. (2023). Feasibility of the HEAR-aware app for hearing loss self-management: a nonrandomized intervention study to examine intervention acceptability and the stages-of-change concept. Ear and Hearing. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001414
(2023–2026) NHMRC Targeted Research
(2023–2025) Curtin University
Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia
(2022–2025) ARC Linkage Projects
Help-seeking for hearing impairment and hearing interventions uptake and outcomes among adults in Malaysia
Doctor Philosophy
Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia.
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of individualized, vibrotactile neurofeedback training on postural stability in older adults with hearing loss
Doctor Philosophy
Rehabilitative Audiology: Improving outcomes for adults with hearing loss
Please contact me if you are interested in pursuing a research degree in Audiology.
Evidence-based practice and research opportunities
Louise Hickson and Barbra Timmer (2021). Evidence-based practice and research opportunities. Adult Audiologic Rehabilitation. (pp. 573-584) edited by Joseph J. Montano and Jaclyn B. Spitzer. San Diego, CA, United States: Plural Publishing.
Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members
Franks, Inga and Timmer, Barbra H. B. (2023). Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members. International Journal of Audiology, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270703
Hearing care services for adults with hearing loss in Malaysia: a scoping review
Romli, Maziah, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Dawes, Piers (2023). Hearing care services for adults with hearing loss in Malaysia: a scoping review. International Journal of Audiology, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270594
Pronk, Marieke, Feenstra-Kikken, Vanessa, Smits, Cas, Besser, Jana, Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I., Polleunis, Conny, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Kramer, Sophia E. (2023). Feasibility of the HEAR-aware app for hearing loss self-management: a nonrandomized intervention study to examine intervention acceptability and the stages-of-change concept. Ear and Hearing. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001414
McNeice, Zoe, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra, Short, Camille E, Nixon, Grace and Galvin, Karyn (2023). A scoping review exploring how adults self-describe and communicate about the listening difficulties they experience. International Journal of Audiology, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2245136
Centering on People: How Hearing Care Professionals Can Adapt to Consumers' Need and Outcomes
Brice, Sophie, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Barr, Caitlin (2023). Centering on People: How Hearing Care Professionals Can Adapt to Consumers' Need and Outcomes. Seminars in Hearing, 44 (03), 274-286. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1769624
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 (2023). Social-emotional well-being and adult hearing loss: clinical recommendations. International Journal of Audiology, 1-12. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2190864
Galvin, Karyn L., Timmer, Barbra H. B., Tomlin, Dani and Cleaver, Zuzana (2022). Designing a hearing health care smartphone app with ecological momentary assessment: a qualitative study of audiologists' perspectives. American Journal of Audiology, 31 (4), 1-1247. doi: 10.1044/2022_aja-22-00054
Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Timmer, Barbra H., Ekberg, Katie, Cheng, Bonnie and Hickson, Louise (2022). A qualitative investigation of clients, significant others, and clinicians’ experiences of using wireless microphone systems to manage hearing impairment. Audiology Research, 12 (6), 596-619. doi: 10.3390/audiolres12060059
COVID-19 and tinnitus: an initiative to improve tinnitus care
Mui, Boaz, Leong, Natalie, Keil, Brenton, Domingo, Deepti, Dafny, Hila A., Manchaiah, Vinaya, Gopinath, Bamini, Muzaffar, Jameel, Chen, Jinsong, Bidargaddi, Niranjan, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Vitkovic, Jessica, Esterman, Adrian and Shekhawat, Giriraj Singh (2022). COVID-19 and tinnitus: an initiative to improve tinnitus care. International Journal of Audiology, 62 (9), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2104175
Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra H., Francis, Anna and Hickson, Louise (2022). Improving the implementation of family-centred care in adult audiology appointments: a feasibility intervention study. International Journal of Audiology, 62 (9), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2095536
Foster, Jacinta I., Williams, Katrina L., Timmer, Barbra H.B. and Brauer, Sandra G. (2022). Concurrent validity of the Garmin Vivofit®4 to accurately record step count in older adults in challenging environments. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 30 (5), 1-9. doi: 10.1123/japa.2021-0231
Mahafza, Marina Tareq, Wilson, Wayne J., Brauer, Sandra, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Hickson, Louise (2022). A systematic review of the effect of hearing aids on static and dynamic balance in adults with hearing impairment. Trends in Hearing, 26, 1-15. doi: 10.1177/23312165221121014
Foster, Jacinta I., Williams, Katrina L., Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Brauer, Sandra G. (2022). The association between hearing impairment and postural stability in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Trends in Hearing, 26, 1-22. doi: 10.1177/23312165221144155
Looi, Valerie, Boulton, Reese, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Wilson, Wayne J. (2021). The suitability and readability of cochlear implant information brochures for potential adult recipients. International journal of audiology, 61 (4), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1930206
Changing the narrative for hearing health in the broader context of healthy living: a call to action
Saunders, Gabrielle H., Vercammen, Charlotte, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Singh, Gurjit, Pelosi, Angela, Meis, Marcus, Launer, Stefan, Kramer, Sophia E., Gagne, Jean-Pierre and Bott, Anthea (2021). Changing the narrative for hearing health in the broader context of healthy living: a call to action. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup2), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1905892
Bennett, Rebecca J., Barr, Caitlin, Cortis, Alex, Eikelboom, Robert H., Ferguson, Melanie, Gerace, Daniel, Heffernan, Eithne, Hickson, Louise, van Leeuwen, Lisette, Montano, Joseph, Preminger, Jill E., Pronk, Marieke, Saunders, Gabrielle H., Singh, Gurjit, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Weinstein, Barbara and Bellekom, Sandra (2020). Audiological approaches to address the psychosocial needs of adults with hearing loss: perceived benefit and likelihood of use. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup2), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1839680
Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Schuetz, Simone and Hickson, Louise (2020). Use of the behaviour change wheel to design an intervention to improve the implementation of family-centred care in adult audiology services. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup2), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1844321
Bennett, Rebecca J., Barr, Caitlin, Montano, Joseph, Eikelboom, Robert H., Saunders, Gabrielle H., Pronk, Marieke, Preminger, Jill E., Ferguson, Melanie, Weinstein, Barbara, Heffernan, Eithne, van Leeuwen, Lisette, Hickson, Louise, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Singh, Gurjit, Gerace, Daniel, Cortis, Alex and Bellekom, Sandra R. (2020). Identifying the approaches used by audiologists to address the psychosocial needs of their adult clients. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1817995
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
Ekberg, Katie, Schuetz, Simone, Timmer, Barbra and Hickson, Louise (2020). Identifying barriers and facilitators to implementing family-centred care in adult audiology practices: a COM-B interview study exploring staff perspectives. International Journal of Audiology, 59 (6), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1745305
Using smartphone technology to support the adult audiologic rehabilitation journey
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Launer, Stefan and Hickson, Louise (2020). Using smartphone technology to support the adult audiologic rehabilitation journey. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup1), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1854483
Reichenberger, Julia, Wiggert, Nicole, Wilhelm, Frank H., Liedlgruber, Michael, Voderholzer, Ulrich, Hillert, Andreas, Timmer, Barbara and Blechert, Jens (2019). Fear of negative and positive evaluation and reactivity to social-evaluative videos in social anxiety disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 116, 140-148. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.03.009
Real-world benefits of hearing aids beyond better speech understanding
Timmer, Barbra, Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2019). Real-world benefits of hearing aids beyond better speech understanding. Hearing Journal, 72 (1), 8-9. doi: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000552748.43994.d3
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
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
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
Hearing and balance in adults with hearing impairment
Hickson, L., Brauer, S., Timmer, B. H. B. and Wilson, W. J. (2023). Hearing and balance in adults with hearing impairment. AudA 2023 Conference: the 26th National Conference of Audiology Australia, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Hearing aids and balance in adults with hearing impairment
Mahafza, Marina Tareq, Wilson, Wayne J., Timmer, Barbra H.B., Brauer, Sandra and Hickson, Louise (2023). Hearing aids and balance in adults with hearing impairment. The 26th National Conference of Audiology Australia, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Timmer, Barbra H.B. (2023). Addressing hearing loss to promote psychosocial, cognitive and physical wellbeing for older adults: the audiology perspective. Australian and New Zealand Society For Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-12 May 2023.
Exploring the communication of listening difficulties during audiology appointments
McNeice, Zoe, Galvin, Karyn, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra H.B. and Short, Camille E. (2023). Exploring the communication of listening difficulties during audiology appointments. Audiology Australia National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Timmer, B.H.B., Waite, M. and Hickson, L. (2023). Teleaudiology vs in-clinic hearing aid follow up appointments: is there a difference in outcomes for adult clients?. Audiology Australia National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Understanding the real-world stigma experiences of adults with hearing loss
Timmer, B.H.B., Ekberg, K., Scarinci, N., Waite, M., Meyer, C., Nickbakht, M. and Hickson, L. (2023). Understanding the real-world stigma experiences of adults with hearing loss. Audiology Australia National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Timmer, B.H.B., Hickson, L., Ekberg, K., Scarinci, N., Meyer, C., Waite, M., Francis, A. and Nickbakht, M. (2022). Capturing the stigma experiences of adults with hearing impairment, their family members and hearing care professionals. ACAud National Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 19-21 May 2022.
To tell or not to tell? The stigma experiences of adults with hearing impairment and their families
Timmer, Barbra H.B., Hickson, Louise, Ekberg, Katie, Scarinci, Nerina, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique and Nickbakht, Mansoureh (2022). To tell or not to tell? The stigma experiences of adults with hearing impairment and their families. Hearing Across the Lifespan (HEAL), Cernobbio (Lake Como), Italy, 16-18 June 2022.
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. Reston, VA, United States: American Academy of Audiology. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.16104
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
(2023–2026) NHMRC Targeted Research
(2023–2025) Curtin University
Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia
(2022–2025) ARC Linkage Projects
Develop a HSP Service Pathway and Decision Support Tool
(2022) Commonwealth Department of Health
Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Adherence to Self-Managed Aphasia Treatment
(2021–2024) NHMRC MRFF - Cardiovascular Health Mission
To tell or not to tell? The stigma experiences of adults with hearing impairment and their families
(2019–2022) GN Hearing Care Corporation
(2018–2024) Sonova AG
Establishing a Sonova-UQ Hearing and Balance Research Centre
(2018) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Help-seeking for hearing impairment and hearing interventions uptake and outcomes among adults in Malaysia
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia.
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
The effect of individualized, vibrotactile neurofeedback training on postural stability in older adults with hearing loss
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
The effect of vibrotactile feedback on postural stability and vestibular function in older adults with hearing impairment
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Hearing monitoring for patients receiving ototoxic chemotherapy
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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.
Rehabilitative Audiology: Improving outcomes for adults with hearing loss
Please contact me if you are interested in pursuing a research degree in Audiology.