Catherine V. Palmer, PhD
	Office Location 5057 Forbes Tower Office phone 412-383-6623 E-mail address palmercv@upmc.edu

Academic Appointment

Associate Professor

Education

PhD, Northwestern University, 1991

Research Interests

Auditory learning, adaptation, acclimatization

Recent Publications

Refereed Articles

Palmer, C., Grimes, A. (in press). Effectiveness of signal processing strategies for the pediatric population: A systematic review of the evidence. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.

Sweetow, R., Palmer, C. (in press). Efficacy of individual auditory training in adults:  A systematic review of the evidence. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.

Palmer, C. (in press). Quantifying and responding to patients needs and expectations. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.

Ruscetta, M., Palmer, C., Durrant, J., Grayhack, J., Ryan, C. (in press). Validity, Internal Consistency, Test/Retest Reliability of a Localization Disabilities and Handicaps Questionnaire. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.

Durrant, J., Palmer, C., Lunner, T. (2005). Analysis of counted behaviors in a single-subject design:  modeling of hearing-aid intervention in hearing-impaired patients with Alzheimer Disease. International Journal of Audiology, 44, 31-38.

Palmer, C. (2004). A checklist/protocol for audiologists:  Is this Hearing Aid Appropriate for This Individual. Journal of Educational Audiology, 11, 49-68.

Bentler, R., Palmer, C., Dittberner, A. (2004). Hearing-in-noise:  Comparison of listeners with normal and (aided) impaired hearing. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 15, 216-225.

Pediatric Amplification Task Force: Palmer, C., Grimes, A (co-chairs). (2004). American Academy of Audiology Pediatric Amplification Guidelines. Audiology Today, 10(2), 20-44.

Brink, L*, Talbott, E., Palmer, C., Burks, A. (2002). Changes over time in audiometric thresholds in a group of automobile stamping and assembly workers within a hearing conservation program. Journal of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (in press, September 2002).

Palmer, C. (2001). The impact of hearing loss and hearing aid experience on sound quality judgments. Seminars in Hearing, 22(2), 125-138.

Lindley, G.*, Palmer, C., Durrant, J., Pratt, S. (2001). Audiologist- versus Patient-Driven Hearing Aid Fitting Protocols. Seminars in Hearing, 22(2), 139-160.

*Ruscetta, M., Palmer, C. (2000). The effect of inter-stimulus-interval on subjective categorical loudness judgments. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology,11, 570-574.

*Lindley, G., Palmer, C. (2000). Adaptation to loudness and environmental stimuli in three newly fitted hearing aid users. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology,11, 316-322.

Courses Recently Taught 

“Protecting your hearing in the city”, Sonic Bridge Project, Terminal Building, Pittsburgh, PA (February, 2004)

“The Great Debate:  Should students be salaried in their externships” Illinois Academy of Audiology, Chicago, IL  (January, 2004)

“Implementing the Pediatric Amplification Guidelines” Illinois Academy of Audiology, Chicago, IL  (January, 2004)

“Practical implementation of the Pediatric Amplification Guidelines”  Stick Season Conference, Montpelier, VT (March, 2004)

“Understanding the Pediatric Amplification Guidelines” National Association of Future Doctors of Audiology Conference, Salt Lake City, UT (April, 2004)

“Implementing the Pediatric Amplification Guidelines” AAA Encore, Pittsburgh, PA (April, 2004)

“Amplification” 4-week course taught at Sichaun University, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China (May-June, 2004)

“Musician’s Hearing”, 14th Annual Saxaphone Workshop, California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA  (June, 2004)

“Assistive listening Devices for Parents of Deaf Children”  DePaul Institute, Pittsburgh, PA (October, 2004)

“Implementing the Pediatric Amplification Guidelines”  Academy of Dispensing Audiologists, Tucson, AZ (October, 2004)

“Advanced Amplification” 4-week course taught at Sichaun University, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China (May-June 2005)

“Teaching Assessment” University of Pittsburgh Conference on Teaching in Audiology, Pittsburgh, PA (June 2005)

“Teaching Upfront Decisions”  University of Pittsburgh Conference on Teaching in Audiology, Pittsburgh, PA (June 2005)

“Keynote Address” Frontiers in Hearing: Emerging Practice, The Marion Downs Hearing Center at the University of Colorado Hospital, Breckenridge, CO (July 2005)

“Let them be little”  Frontiers in Hearing: Emerging Practice, The Marion Downs Hearing Center at the University of Colorado Hospital, Breckenridge, CO (July 2005)

“Pediatric Amplification” Phonak U., Phonak, Inc., Chicago, IL (August 2005)

Recent Working Papers 

Palmer, C., Mueller, H. G. (2000). Hearing Aid Selection and Assessment. In Alpiner, J. & McCarthy, P. (eds, ). Rehabilitative Audiology:  Children and Adults (3rd edition)  Williams and Wilkins:  Baltimore, MD, pp.332-376.

Palmer, C., Lindley, G., Mormer, E. (2000). Selection and fitting of conventional hearing aids. In Valente, M. (ed). Audiology Treatment, Thieme Medical Publishers, pp.397-432.

Palmer, C. (2000). Managing Hearing Loss in a Patient with Alzheimer Disease:  A case report. Dementia Review Journal, 2, 14.

Palmer, C. (2001). Ring, ring!  Is anybody there?  Telephone solutions for hearing aid users. The Hearing Journal, 54(9), 10-18. (Note:  This article was chosen as one of the best Rehabilitation articles and Hearing Aid articles  in The Hearing Journal Supplement entitled "The Best in Audiology:  Annual Literature Review", 2001).

Palmer, C., Lindley, G. (2002). Overview and Rationale for Prescriptive Formulas for Linear and Nonlinear Hearing Aids. In Valente, M. (ed). Strategies for Selecting and Verifying Hearing Aid Fittings, Thieme Medical Publishers, pp. 1-22.

Palmer, C. (2002). Fitting Strategies for Patients with Symmetrical Hearing Loss. In Valente, M. (ed). Strategies for Selecting and Verifying Hearing Aid Fittings, Thieme Medical Publishers, pp. 202-220.

Mueller, G., Palmer, C., Bentler, R., Ricketts, T., Valente, M., Sweetow, R., Preminger, J., Walden, B. (2002). A candid round-table discussion on modern digital hearing aids and their futures. The Hearing Journal, 55(10), 23-35.

Palmer, C. (2003). Ears: Now Hear This. Women Doctors Guide to Health and Healing. p. 114.

Guthrie, O.W., Palmer, C., Turner, R. (2003). Hearing aid literature in review – 2002. http://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology/newroot/articles/category.asp?ID=1

Mueller, G., Palmer, C., Bentler, R., Cox, R., Stach, B., Tremblay, K. (2004). A decade of page ten. The Hearing Journal, 58(1), 10-18.

Palmer, C. (2005). In fitting kids with hearing aids, ensuring safety and audibility is a good way to start. The Hearing Journal, 58(2), 10-17.

Palmer, C., Ortmann, M. (in press). Amplification and the Geriatric Patient. In Geriatric Otolaryngology: Calhoun, K., Eibling, D. (eds). Decker, NY, NY.

Palmer, C., Ortmann, M. (in press). Hearing Aids for the Patient with Vestibular Problems. In Clinics of North America: Furman, Joseph (ed).

Seelman, K., Palmer, C., Ortmann, M. (in press). Sensory Aids in Wiley Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ.

Biographical Profile

Catherine Palmer is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders in the School or Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (since 1990) and has a joint appointment to the School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology. Her research interests focus on quantifying deprivation, learning and adaptation in the adult hearing-impaired auditory system pre- and post-treatment. In addition, her clinical research focuses on matching technology to individual patient needs. Dr. Palmer teaches the graduate level amplification courses and the practice management course in addition to supervising four to five PhD students in her laboratory. Dr. Palmer is a member and recent Board of Directors member of the American Academy of Audiology where she also served as the national convention director in 2005.

Awards and Honors

Honors

Teacher's Association Scholarship, 1980
Phi Kappa Phi Scholar, 1982–84
Alumni Scholarship Award, 1983
Quint Prize in Honors, 1983
SMSHA Scholarship, 1984
Mimi Romo Memorial Scholarship, 1984
Commonwealth Scholar (Massachusetts) 1984
Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship, 1984
Northwestern Presidential Fellowship, 1984–85 , 1987–89
Kappa Kappa Gamma Rehabilitation Scholarship, 1984–85             
Alpha Lambda Delta Senior Book Award , 1985
Performance Award, VAMC, Long Beach, CA, 1986
Delta Zeta Foundation, 1987
1st Editor's Award for the American Journal of Audiology, 1993
Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 1999
PA Academy of Audiology Don Konkle Award for Outstanding Service, 2004

External Service and Assignments 

Director, Audiology and Hearing Aids Department, UPP-ENT Specialists, UPMC. As director, Dr. Palmer manages the overall patient care, billing, collections, and third party reimbursement associated with the clinic, as well as the 10 audiologists practicing in the main facility and six satellite locations. In addition, she provides patient care two days a week and develops and expands patient programs. She is directly responsible for the budget associated with this cost center.

Convention Chair,  American Academy of Audiology Annual Convention 2005 (2003–05).

Member, American National Standards Institute, Assistive Listening Device Guidelines (2004–present)

Executive Board Member of the American Academy of Audiology (2001–04)

Advisory Board Member, The Hearing Center, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, University of

Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2005–present)

Advisory Board Member, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement

(RERC-HE), Gallaudet University, Washington, DC (2004–present)

Steering Committee Member, Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE),

Washington, DC (2003–present)

University of Pittsburgh Advisory Board to Pittsburgh's Programs for Educators of Deaf and Hard of

Hearing Students (1995–present)

Board Member, DePaul Institute (Oral School for the Deaf), Pittsburgh, PA  (2001–present)