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NHCA E-News - November 2025
 
Early Bird Conference Registration is Open!
Join NHCA at the 2026 Annual Conference in Fort Worth, TX! 

Take advantage of the Early Bird rate and save on your full or one-day conference registration fee! We have extended our Early Bird rate register by December 19th to receive this special rate. Join NHCA at the 2026 Annual Conference in Fort Worth, TX! 
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The latest issue of the members-only Spectrum Newsletter is now available! 
HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Annual Conference News 
  • Presidential pEARspective by President Sridhar Krishnamurti
  • Signals in Noise section – technical article where NHCA experts separate the research from the noise: Beyond Decibels: Redefining Noise Hazards Using Kurtosis
  • A Message from the NHCA Director of Education
  • NHCA Scholarship Foundation (NHCASF) News
  • Member Spotlight: Juan Vasquez, AuD
  • Student Spotlight: Britney Ball
  • Tone Bursts: Developing Innovative Technologies for Hearing Conservation at Creare
  • And more!
Read Spectrum Now
 
Dr. Mead Killion: A Note of Remembrance
We are saddened to inform you of the passing of Dr. Mead Killion, on November 3, 2025. Dr. Killion was one of the world’s foremost leaders in hearing conservation. He was the recipient of numerous awards in hearing science, several of which were bestowed by the NHCA in recognition of his extraordinary passion and innovation. In 1990, he was the recipient of NHCA’s first Outstanding Lecture Award, which he shared with Larry Royster. He was awarded the Outstanding Hearing Conservationist Award in 2003 and received the Safe in Sound Innovation Award in 2010. Here’s a video from an interview with Mead. That same year, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Auditory Society. He designed and developed many technologies and tools - including the  QuickSIN speech-in-noise test, the K-Amp high-fidelity hearing aid circuit, The Bean personal sound amplification device, insert audiometric earphones, the ER-4 series ofCanal Phone earspeakers, the ER-20 neutral attenuation premolded earplugs, and his ER-15 flat-attenuation custom earmolds that revolutionized passive high-fidelity hearing protection.
 
Noting Dr. Killion’s extraordinary life, his obituary touches on his numerous accomplishments and contributions to hearing science and hearing protection. His rich legacy of research knowledge and innovative products will impact us for generations to come.
 
Here is a collection of Dr. Killion’s work: https://meadshare.com/
 
The NHCA Narrative: Theresa Schulz

The NHCA Narrative highlights how our members personify the foundation of NHCA.
 
This edition of The Narrative highlights the remarkable career of Theresa Schulz, a three-time NHCA President and Senior Audiologist at the Department of Defense Hearing Center of Excellence. From her beginnings as a music major to becoming one of the leading voices in military hearing conservation, Theresa has devoted her career to protecting the hearing of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians. Read how her passion for hearing conservation, inspired by the legendary Don Gasaway, has come full circle as she mentors the next generation to “hear for a lifetime.”
 
Recent Hearing Research
1. Lower, more frequent cisplatin dosing minimizes hearing loss in head and neck cancer. Fernandez KA, Chowdhury AS, Bonczkowski A, Allen PD, Campbell MH, Lee DS, Malhotra C, Page BR, Mulford DA, Ortiz CE, Santa Maria PL, Kullar P, Khan SA, Newlands SD, Schmitt NC, Cunningham LL.

2. Co-exposure to heat and noise on workers' health: evidence from a large-scale cross-sectional surveillance study in China. Li M, Zhang Y, Wu C, Jiang Y, Jing L, Wu J, Lin J, Xiang J.BMC Public Health. 2025 Oct 21;25(1):3533. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24592-1.PMID: 41121082 Free PMC article.

3. Comparative Study of the Quality of Life of Patients With Ototoxicity Due to Platinum-Based Chemotherapy, With Hearing Aid Versus Those Without: Study Protocol for a Randomized Pilot Study-The PROTOTOX Study. Mastronicola R, Kayser E, Fernandez Y, Dolivet G.JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Oct 10;14:e71562. doi: 10.2196/71562.PMID: 41071987 Free PMC article.

4. NLRP3 inflammasome and hearing loss: from mechanisms to therapies. Murillo-Cuesta S, Seoane E, Cervantes B, Zubeldia JM, Varela-Nieto I.J Neuroinflammation. 2025 Oct 4;22(1):225. doi: 10.1186/s12974-025-03561-w.PMID: 41046290 Free PMC article. Review.

5. Is Work-Related Hearing Loss Associated With Dementia? Evidence From a High-Risk Population. Cloeren M, Dement J, Quackenbush J, Quinn P, Ringen K.Am J Ind Med. 2025 Nov;68(11):1013-1027. doi: 10.1002/ajim.70026. Epub 2025 Oct 3.PMID: 41039914 Free PMC article.

6. Air pollutants, road traffic noise, and incidence of valvular heart disease: A UK Biobank-based prospective study. Song Y, Lin Z, Chang Z, He J, Zheng Z, Shi S, Li B, Zhu C, Fu R, Dou K.Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Oct 1;304:119104. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119104. Epub 2025 Sep 25.PMID: 41005073 Free article.

7. Methods for ensuring equity in noise-induced annoyance and sleep disturbance from different sources. Bolognese M, Ascari E, Crifaci G, Stasi G, Licitra G, Fredianelli L.Sci Total Environ. 2025 Oct 20;1000:180331. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180331. Epub 2025 Sep 12.PMID: 40945081 Free article.

8. A Quantitative Analysis of Kurtosis Impact on Occupational Complex Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Gong W, Byrne DC, Themann CL, Feng HA.Am J Ind Med. 2025 Nov;68(11):988-1003. doi: 10.1002/ajim.70021. Epub 2025 Sep 7.PMID: 40914832 Free PMC article.

9. Prevalence of Ototoxic Chemical Exposure, Noise Exposure and Hearing Difficulty Among Workers in the United States, 2023. Masterson EA, Morata TC, Themann CL.J Occup Environ Med. 2025 Oct 1;67(10):785-797. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003445. Epub 2025 May 8.PMID: 40359017 Free PMC article.

10. Analysis of Adjusted Exposure Levels Based on Different Kurtosis Adjustment Algorithms and Their Performance Comparison in Evaluating Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Liu H, Zhang M, Sun X, Hu W, Zou H, Li J, Qiu W.Ear Hear. 2025 Nov-Dec 01;46(6):1428-1439. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001674. Epub 2025 May 8.PMID: 40336150 Free PMC article.
 
Sound Postcard

How does early experience with sound impact behavior and auditory processing? A newly published study in Cell Reports exposed young mice to musical excerpts (first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9), non-music sounds, or silence and assessed sound preferences in male and female mice later in life.
They found that exposure affects behavior as well as brain processing of sound differently in male and female mice. A brief summary is provided in this article here. For the full research paper, follow the link here.

If you have a fun or interesting “sound” postcard to share, send it our way!
 
NHCA Members: Tell Us Your News!

Speaking, publishing, researching, performing, hearing? NHCA would love to hear about exciting changes and achievements in your professional and personal endeavors.
Tell Us Your News
 


Who is NHCA?


We are a group of passionate hearing conservationists willing to share their expertise to prevent hearing loss. NHCA members include occupational and clinical audiologists, industrial hygienists, occupational health nurses, acoustical engineers and technicians, physicians, occupational health and safety professionals, military personnel, university professors, students, researchers and others with an interest in hearing conservation. 





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Our Vision: To prevent hearing loss and other auditory disorders due to noise and secondary environmental factors in all sectors of society.

Our Mission: NHCA provides leadership, expertise, and education on hearing loss prevention strategies and services to the broader professional community and empowers and supports members through networking and advocacy.
 
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Vidya Krull, PhD, CCC-A
Editor, NHCA E-News
[email protected]

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. 
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