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Associate Professor Joseph Kei

Associate Professor in Audiology

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
k.kei@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 52824

Overview

Joseph is the Head of the Hearing Research Unit for Children, leading three research teams investigating (1) middle ear assessments in neonates, infants, (2) hearing screening and assessment of school-age children, and (3) assessment of auditory function of adults and children using electrophysiologic measures including otoacoustic emissions, auditory evoked potentials and wideband acoustic immittance. He is an associate editor of the International Journal of Audiology, and editorial board member of two international journals: International editorial member of the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology and Communication Disorders Quarterly (USA).

Research Interests

  • Assessment of outer and middle ear function in infants
  • Assessing speech understanding in children
  • Hearing in children with cancer

Research Impacts

One of Joseph’s main research areas is “Assessment of outer and middle ear function in young infants (0-6 months)”. Before 2003, there were no tests which could assess the outer and middle ear function of young infants with high accuracy. With the support of GN Otometrics Ltd (Denmark), Joseph was able to try out a new method, called high frequency tympanometry (HFT) which can reliably detect outer and middle ear disorders in newborns and young infants. A research report was published [Kei et a. (2003). J Am Acad Audiol 14: 20-28] which has become a landmark paper with a high citation count of >111). Since then, Joseph had published more papers in the assessment of conductive conditions in young infants in peer reviewed national and international journals. Joseph's research in HFT has been translated into clinical practice to assess conductive conditions in young infants. The impact of Joseph’s research, together with the support from other eminent scientists in the field, has led the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (2007) to adopt the use of HFT for testing young infants. In 2007, Joseph also introduced the use of acoustic stapedial reflex (ASR) with a probe tone of 1 kHz testing to young infants, which proved to be effective in detecting middle ear dysfunction for this population. Two of his research papers published separately in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology (2003), and Ear and Hearing (2009) were awarded the BEST diagnostic paper in audiology. In 2012, Joseph published a new book called “Assessing Middle Ear Function in Infants” in collaboration with scientists/researchers across several countries (Australia, USA, Malaysia, UK, China and Japan). Further development of research in this field has led Joseph to use newer technologies such as the Wideband Acoustic Immittance (WAI) and Sweep Frequency Impedance, to detect otitis media in young infants. Presently, Joseph's team of researchers is investigating the use of WAI to detect outer and middle ear diseases such as Eustachian tube dysfunction, otitis media with effusion and cholesteatoma. With further research in this area, Joseph will see the translation of the WAI technology into daily clinical practice. Joseph anticipates that the WAI will be adopted as a routine clinical test to detect outer and middle ear dysfunction in future. When this happens, the current standard of assessing middle ear function using 226-Hz tympanometry will be replaced by the WAI techynology.

Qualifications

  • PhD, The University of Queensland
  • Graduate Diploma in Audiology, University of Melbourne
  • Graduate Diploma on Special Education, University of Melbourne
  • Certificate in Education, The University of Hong Kong
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours), The University of Hong Kong

Publications

View all Publications

Grants

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Supervision

  • Diagnosing conductive dysfunction in infants using wideband acoustic immittance: Development and validation of predictive models

    Doctor Philosophy

  • Wideband Acoustic Immittance in Children with and without a Conductive Pathology

    Doctor Philosophy

  • Hearing loss and middle ear disorders in the Solomon Islands

    Doctor Philosophy

View all Supervision

Available Projects

  • Suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emission in the paediatric population

  • Innovative diagnosis for and prevention of otitis media in Australian infants

  • Wideband acoustic immittance in the paediatric populations

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book

Book Chapter

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Analysis by Sweep Frequency Impedance (SFI) meter of 226-Hz and 1,000-Hz tympanometries in neonates

    Murakoshi, Michio, Sano, Kyosuke, Kanka, Nattikan, Yoshida, Naoto, Hamanishi, Shinji, Kiyokawa, Hiromichi, Kakuta, Risako, Aithal, Sreedevi, Aithal, Venkatesh, Kei, Joseph, Driscoll, Carlie, Swanston, Andrew, Mtsutani, Sachiko, Kobayashi, Toshimitsu and Wada, Hiroshi (2017). Analysis by Sweep Frequency Impedance (SFI) meter of 226-Hz and 1,000-Hz tympanometries in neonates. In: Pascal Ziegler, IUTAM Symposium on Advances in Biomechanics of Hearing, Stuttgart Germany, (5-14). 17-20 May 2016. doi:10.1016/j.piutam.2017.08.038

  • Can resonance frequency of the outer ear be measured in neonates using wideband tympanometry?

    Kei, Joseph, Myers, Joshua, Aithal, Sreedevi, Aithal, Venkatesh and Manuel, Alehandrea (2016). Can resonance frequency of the outer ear be measured in neonates using wideband tympanometry?. In: 5th Joint Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and Acoustical Society of Japan, Honolulu, Hawaii, (3264-3264). 28 November - 2 December 2016. doi:10.1121/1.4970343

  • Identifying conductive conditions in neonates using wideband acoustic immittance

    Myers, Joshua, Kei, Joseph, Malicka, Alicja N., Aithal, Sreedevi, Aithal, Venkatesh, Driscoll, Carlie, Khan, Asaduzzaman, Manuel, Alehandrea and Joseph, Anjali (2016). Identifying conductive conditions in neonates using wideband acoustic immittance. In: 5th Joint Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and Acoustical Society of Japan, Honolulu, Hawaii, (3264-3264). 28 November - 2 December 2016. doi:10.1121/1.4970346

  • Predicting the characteristics of wideband absorbance in ears with middle-ear pathologies

    Kei, Joseph, Aithal, Venkatesh, Aithal, Sreedevi, Anderson, Shane and Wright, David (2016). Predicting the characteristics of wideband absorbance in ears with middle-ear pathologies. In: 5th Joint Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and Acoustical Society of Japan, Honolulu, Hawaii, (3263-3263). 28 November - 2 December 2016. doi:10.1121/1.4970341

  • Consensus statement: Eriksholm Workshop on wideband absorbance measures of the middle ear

    Feeney, M. Patrick, Hunter, Lisa L., Kei, Joseph, Lilly, David J., Margolis, Robert H., Nakajima, Hideko Heidi, Neely, Stephen T., Prieve, Beth A., Rosowski, John J., Sanford, Chris A., Schairer, Kim S., Shahnaz, Navid, Stenfelt, Stefan and Voss, Susan E. (2013) Consensus statement: Eriksholm Workshop on wideband absorbance measures of the middle ear. Ear and Hearing, 34 SUPPL. 1: S78-S79. doi:10.1097/AUD.0b013e31829c726b

  • Pediatric applications of wideband acoustic immittance measures

    Hunter, Lisa L., Prieve, Beth A., Kei, Joseph and Sanford, Chris A. (2013) Pediatric applications of wideband acoustic immittance measures. Ear and Hearing, 34 SUPPL. 1: S36-S42. doi:10.1097/AUD.0b013e31829d5158

  • Feasibility of assessing middle ear function in neonates

    Kei, J., Maurer, M. and Tudehope, D. (2002). Feasibility of assessing middle ear function in neonates. In: Professor Frances Wang, 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing. 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, (56-56). 1-3 November, 2002.

  • Hearing screening for children in community settings using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions

    Driscoll, C., Kei, J. and McPherson, B. (2002). Hearing screening for children in community settings using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions. In: Professor Frances Wang, 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing. 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, (52-52). 1-3 November, 2002.

  • High Frequency (1000 Hz) Tympanometric Findings in 170 Healthy Neonates

    Kei, Joseph, Allison-Levick, Julie, Dockray, Jacqueline, Harrys, Rachel, Kirkegard, Christina, Wong, Janet, Maurer, Marion, Hegarty, Jayne, Young, June and Tudehope, David (2002). High Frequency (1000 Hz) Tympanometric Findings in 170 Healthy Neonates. In: Theresa Ching, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Audiology: Abstracts of XXVI International Congress of Audiology. XXVI International Congress of Audiology, Melbourne, Australia, (108-108). 17th – 21st MARCH, 2002. doi:10.1375/audi.23.2.101.31104

  • High frequency (1000 Hz) tympanometric findings in neonates: a normative study

    Kei, J., Allison-Levick, J., Dockray, J., Harrys, R., Kirkegard, C., Wong, J., Maurer, M., Hegarty, J., Young, J. and Tudehope, D. (2002). High frequency (1000 Hz) tympanometric findings in neonates: a normative study. In: 2nd International Conference on Newborn Hearing Screening: Diagnosis and Intervention. 2nd International Conference on Newborn Hearing Screening, Diagnosis and Intervention, Como, Italy, (77-78). 30 May - 1 June, 2002.

  • Identification of Cantonese tones by hearing impaired children under various frequency response and ambient noise conditions

    Kei, J. and Morris, D. (2002). Identification of Cantonese tones by hearing impaired children under various frequency response and ambient noise conditions. In: Professor Frances Wang, 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing. 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, (49-49). 1-3 November, 2002.

  • Measuring the ability of children to understand everyday speech using computer technology: a normative study

    Kei, J., Burge, E., Fernando, S., Fiteni, R., Haslam, S., Driscoll, C., Keogh, T. and McMahon, S. (2002). Measuring the ability of children to understand everyday speech using computer technology: a normative study. In: Frances Wang, 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing. 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, (82-82). 1-3 November, 2002.

  • Speech perception abilities of children with and without histories of recurrent otitis media: an overview

    Keogh, T., Kei, J. and McMahon, S. (2002). Speech perception abilities of children with and without histories of recurrent otitis media: an overview. In: Professor Frances Wang, 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing. 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, (83-83). 1-3 November 2002.

  • Understanding of everyday speech by children with and without a history of recurrent otitis media

    Keogh, T., Kei, J., Driscoll, C. and McMahon, S. (2002). Understanding of everyday speech by children with and without a history of recurrent otitis media. In: Frances Wang, 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing. 3rd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, (50-50). 1-3 November, 2002.

  • Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in school children: Effects to gender, ear asymmetry and handedness

    Kei, J., Keogh, T. and Driscoll, C. (2001). Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in school children: Effects to gender, ear asymmetry and handedness. In: David R Stapells, International Evoked Response Audiometry Study Group Proceedings. 17th Biennial Symposium of the International Evoked Response Audiometry Study Group, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, (42-42). July 22-27, 2001.

  • Feasibility of Establishing an Early Indicator for Aminoglycoside Ototoxicity in Children using Otoacoustic Emissions

    Kei, J., Beahan, N., Young, J., Rasiah, R. and Suppiah, R. (2000). Feasibility of Establishing an Early Indicator for Aminoglycoside Ototoxicity in Children using Otoacoustic Emissions. In: Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing. 2nd Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, Grand Mercure Hotel, Gold Coast , QLD, (x-x). 4-7 July 2000.

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Diagnosing conductive dysfunction in infants using wideband acoustic immittance: Development and validation of predictive models

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Wideband Acoustic Immittance in Children with and without a Conductive Pathology

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Hearing loss and middle ear disorders in the Solomon Islands

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Assessment and management of children identified with a conductive hearing loss from a newborn hearing screening program

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Efferent auditory function and the suppression of otoacoustic emissions in school children with learning difficulties

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

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.

  • Suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emission in the paediatric population

  • Innovative diagnosis for and prevention of otitis media in Australian infants

  • Wideband acoustic immittance in the paediatric populations

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Hearing assessments and screening, Children and hearing loss, Infants and children - hearing, Speech pathology, Otoacoustic emissions - audiology, Deafness, Audiology, Speech understanding in children, Speech and hearing, Hearing and speech, Chemotherapy and children

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: A-1284-2010

ORCID: 0000-0001-6645-402X

Scopus ID:

Personal Profile: Link

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