Australia and New Zealand’s first expert-led symposium on single-sided deafness (SSD) will cover SSD solutions including latest advancements and clinical best practices in treating the condition.
MED-EL will host the online symposium on the morning of 30 October 2025.
The session will bring together seven leading experts to share surgical insights, programming strategies and research updates that are shaping the future of SSD care.
Attendees will receive:
- An overview of MED-EL’s commitment to SSD.
- Key features of the MED-EL SYNCHRONY CI system tailored for SSD patients.
- A live panel discussion with clinicians and an SSD recipient, plus audience Q &A.
- The latest research on cochlear implants for SSD, including long-term outcomes and comparative studies.
Speakers and topics are:
- Professor Catherine Birman OAM will lead the discussion on surgical considerations for cochlear implantation in adults and children with SSD including anatomy, electrode choice, and patient expectations. She is one of the world’s most experienced cochlear implant surgeons who has performed more than 2,000 cochlear implants. A Clinical Professor at the University of Sydney and Honorary Clinical Professor at Macquarie University, she is a pioneer in paediatric cochlear implantation, especially for children with complex needs, and has led advancements in clinical care and surgical outcomes. Her research focuses on improving cochlear implant outcomes and exploring novel therapies.
- Professor Dayse Távora-Vieira and Associate Professor Margaret Dillon will discuss programming best practices for SSD in adults and children including activation protocols, mapping strategies, rehabilitation and troubleshooting. Perth hearing implant and balance specialist, Professor Dayse Távora-Vieira and Associate Professor Margaret Dillon from the US will lead this session.
- Professor Távora-Vieira is head of audiology at the Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group and leads the State-Wide Tertiary Audiology Services in WA. She completed her PhD on cochlear implants, unilateral deafness, and brain plasticity at the School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, and earned her AuD at the University of Florida, USA. With experience across three continents in diagnostic audiology and hearing implants, she has academic appointments at UWA and Curtin University and her research focuses on cortical activity, binaural hearing pathways, and brain plasticity after hearing implantation.
- A/Prof Margaret Dillon is Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and director of both OHNS Clinical Research and the Cochlear Implant Clinical Research Labs. She investigates new indications for cochlear implantation and the effectiveness of individualised mapping procedures for children and adults with cochlear implant and electric-acoustic stimulation device.
- Ms Sheila Wherry, an executive coach, author, and team coach, will give a lived experience perspective. In 2023, she experienced sudden hearing loss in her right ear, leading to single-sided deafness and ultimately a cochlear implant. She offers a grounded perspective on adjusting to hearing loss, highlighting the practical realities of daily life, the role of technology and support, and a mindset that fosters adaptation and growth.
- Ms Robyn Shakes, managing director MED-EL Australia and New Zealand, joined MED-EL in 2009, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience spanning government, not-for-profit, university, education, and manufacturing sectors. In 1992, she established one of the earliest cochlear implant programs in Australia. She has a Master of Education, qualifications in audiology and Auditory Verbal Therapy and has lectured in the Flinders University School of Medicine.
- Ms Erica Caiuby, clinical services manager for MED-EL Australia and New Zealand, trained as an audiologist in Brazil. She worked in Australia for almost 20 years with independent clinics before joining MED-EL in 2013 across all areas of hearing loss including adult and paediatric, diagnostics, hearing aids, rehabilitation and hearing implants.
- Ms Rebecca Claridge, MED-EL’s regional rehabilitation manager Australia, New Zealand and Japan, is a speech pathologist with more than 30 years’ experience. She certified as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist in 2008, has worked at Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, Brisbane’s Hear and Say Centre and her own practice. In 2016 she was contracted by MED-EL to create free downloadable resources ‘MED-EL Lesson Kits’ and in 2017 joined MED-EL’s global Rehabilitation Department. In 2021 she moved into a newly created position with MED-EL addressing the rehabilitation needs of Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Register for the online symposium which will be from 9am to noon on 30 October 2025.
More reading
Overcoming single sided deafness
Cochlear implants are lifechanging: So why aren’t more adults changing their lives?
Starkey and MED-EL’s DualSync partnership enhances Bluetooth connectivity for CI users
More reading
Overcoming single sided deafness
Cochlear implants are lifechanging: So why aren’t more adults changing their lives?
Starkey and MED-EL’s DualSync partnership enhances Bluetooth connectivity for CI users
