Tuesday, August 4
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
NEIL BAUMAN, Ph.D. – Musical Ear Syndrome and Audio Pareidolia: Unraveling the mystery of the phantom voices, music and other spooky sounds many hard of hearing people secretly experience
DESCRIPTION: If you hear voices that are not there; or if phantom music is keeping you awake at night; or if you are you worried that you are going crazy or that you have a dreadful brain disorder because you hear spooky sounds that no one else hears, you are not alone. Although seldom talked about, you may be surprised to learn that untold thousands of hard-of-hearing people “hear” such phantom sounds. The good news is that you are not nuts. You are likely just experiencing either Musical Ear Syndrome or Audio Pareidolia. In this presentation Dr. Neil, the author of the book “Phantom Voices, Ethereal Music & Other Spooky Sounds” will reveal what these sounds really are and will explain a number of things you can do to calm your fears and help bring your phantom sounds under control.
PRESENTER: Neil Bauman (Dr. Neil as he is often called) is the founder and director of the Center for Hearing Loss Help, located in Lynden, WA. He is a hearing loss coping skills specialist, researcher, author and speaker. His expertise includes such topics as hearing loss, coping strategies, ototoxic drugs, tinnitus, hyperacusis, Meniere’s disease and Musical Ear Syndrome. No stranger to hearing loss, he has lived with a life-long severe hereditary hearing loss as well as life-long tinnitus. For more than 30 years Dr. Neil has provided education, support and counsel to hard of hearing people through his books, articles, presentations and personal contact. People all over the world daily seek his advice and wisdom on matters relating to hearing loss and associated ear conditions. Neil is a prolific writer and is the author of eleven books (now in several editions) and more than 1,000 articles related to ears and hearing.
4:05 p.m. – 5:05 p.m.
SHERRY CHASE – Let’s Remake the Audiologist Experience
DESCRIPTION: The audiologist is the gatekeeper to our experience of hearing loss. Too often, they perform their job without a complete understanding of what we need. “Let’s Remake the Audiologist Experience” is a workshop that identifies six areas of disconnect between audiologist and client and simple ways to advocate to make the experience more patient-centered and responsive. The workshop is for both people new to hearing loss and audiology as well as those who have been going to audiologists for years. Participation by attendees is encouraged.
PRESENTER: Sherry Chase is a retired criminal defense attorney with 30 years of experience with bilateral, progressive hearing loss. She holds a BA, with Honors, in psychology from the University of Chicago and a JD from Northeastern University School of Law. She presents workshops to local groups across the country and to national organizations on topics related to hearing loss. She is currently writing a book based on her own experience and interviews she conducted with over 70 people with hearing loss and their partners. The purpose of the book is to create connection between people with hearing loss and their healthy hearing dear ones through understanding and communication strategies. Her article, “The Audiology Visit: From the Patient’s Perspective” was published in the Nov/Dec issue of Audiology Today, a professional periodical.
Wednesday, August 5
9:05 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
DR. GABRIEL LIBOIRON-COHEN, AuD., CH-TM – Performance Longevity: Fighting the Stigma of Wearing Aids Among Musicians
DESCRIPTION: “Stigma of hearing aids in the pit” discusses the concerns of my aging musician, hearing aid patients being seen as less able to perform as high-level performing artists. It draws comparisons between music stands vs. hearing aid technologies. Both are aids. Yet, perception of the user is different, or is it? Generational differences in standards and Ethos play an important role in an ever changing landscape of the global technology boom.
PRESENTER: Dr. Gabriel Liboiron-Cohen is a dedicated audiologist passionate about helping patients understand their hearing and available treatments, ultimately improving their quality of life. He holds a doctorate of audiology from the University of the Pacific and a bachelor of arts from California State University, East Bay. Dr. Cohen specializes in providing exceptional hearing healthcare, particularly for musicians, and is certified in both tinnitus and hyperacusis management. Dr. Cohen has a deep love for and education in the world of sound. He holds a master’s degree in operatic studies from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has studied with Cesar Ulloa of the San Francisco Opera and Pamela Hicks. He was a young artist apprentice with Opera Southwest in Albuquerque, NM, (2017-18), and an Austin Opera Chorus member (2019-2020). Other roles include Don Jose (Pocket Opera’s Carmen), Ruodi (Guillaume Tell), Flavio (Norma), Rinnuccio (Gianni Schicchi), and soloist appearances at Notre Dame de Paris, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Using his musical background and education, the field of audiology has been a beautiful and eye-opening experience for him, one that paralleled his musical training in more ways than he could have ever imagined. Whether working with professional musicians, audiophiles, or a patient who is missing the sound of their grandchild’s voice, Gabriel shares his expertise with patients as they navigate through a world that not only marries technology and sound, but also changes the way they relate to that world.
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
BROOKE BARRY – Music Perception and Enjoyment in Cochlear Implants
DESCRIPTION: Speech perception in cochlear implants has improved dramatically since the invention of the device; however, music perception and enjoyment remain challenges for some cochlear implant users. UCSF researcher Brooke Barry will discuss current research on music perception in cochlear implants, factors that influence music enjoyment, and emerging strategies aimed at improving musical experiences for cochlear implant listeners.
PRESENTER: Brooke Barry is a researcher in the UCSF Jiam Lab, where she studies music perception in cochlear implants and other hearing assistive devices. She received a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As both a musician and researcher, she brings a unique perspective to her work that combines both biological and musical insight. Her research interests focus on improving music enjoyment for cochlear implant users and understanding the relationship between mental health, and hearing loss/cochlear implantation. Outside of research, Brooke enjoys listening to music (she almost always has her AirPods in), dancing, and volunteering both at a San Francisco homeless shelter and with individuals with developmental disabilities.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
ANTOINE HUNTER – Deaf-Led Space Reset Ritual – How Deaf and Hearing Communities Work Together
DESCRIPTION: This interactive, embodied exercise demonstrates how Deaf and hearing individuals can share space in ways that are equitable, intentional, and culturally aware by temporarily shifting communication norms to center ASL, visual attention, and shared responsibility. Through guided facilitation and storytelling from Antoine Hunter about navigating and surviving predominantly hearing environments as a Deaf artist and leader, participants experience what changes when Deaf leadership sets the pace of communication. The ritual invites hearing participants to practice active visual listening while exploring how power dynamics shift when access becomes collective rather than accommodated. Rather than framing inclusion as support for Deaf people, this experience models partnership—showing how Deaf and hearing communities can collaborate through mutual adaptation, respect, and clear visual communication.
PRESENTER: Antoine Hunter, Purple Fire Crow, is the Founder and Director of Urban Jazz Dance Company and the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival. A Deaf and Disabled artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he has led Urban Jazz Dance Company for over 20 years, developing Deaf-centered dance works that integrate movement, rhythm, and visual storytelling. Antoine’s artistic practice centers Deaf culture, BIPOC Deaf artistic expression, accessibility as artistic structure, and the integration of visual music. His work has been presented nationally and internationally, and he is recognized for advancing Deaf leadership within the performing arts. He is the host of Bay Area Deaf Arts and BIPOC Deaf Art programming, including gallery-centered exhibitions and cultural events that create platforms for Deaf and Disabled artists to exhibit and perform. He is also the founder and host of the World Deaf and Disabled Dance Film Festival, a platform dedicated to elevating Deaf and Disabled dance artists and filmmakers globally.Through Urban Jazz Dance Company, Antoine produces touring performances, educational workshops, and national partnerships with Deaf schools, hearing schools, and cultural institutions. His leadership continues to expand Deaf-centered performance through technology integration, including responsive lighting and visual music collaborations.