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Supporting Student Research and the Community

Christina Campbell

Christina Campbell, a doctoral student in audiology, is helping make a difference in the lives of hearing-impaired individuals through access to the arts.

Christina Campbell is a doctoral student in audiology at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders. Her work with Associate Professor Edward Lobarinas is helping enliven theater performances for audience members with hearing impairments.

Campbell and Lobarinas are researching Hear Us Now®, an innovative audio system created in 2014 by Barry Epstein, then a board member with Dallas Summer Musicals. During its early development, Epstein worked with audiologists at the Callier Center to refine his invention.

While most theaters offer enhanced listening experiences only through headsets, Hear Us Now® offers five means of access to a venue's sound system. This multipoint approach is able to accommodate a wider range of hearing assistive devices, providing a richer listening experience for more individuals.

"I'm in the field of audiology because I want to help people," Campbell said. "So I was excited to be able to be part of something that hopefully can help shape the way that the public uses technology like this."

Hear Us Now® is currently in use at the Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, all in Dallas. Epstein recently approached the Callier Center once again to provide a scientific evaluation of the system. Campbell's work will provide a substantive assessment of the new technology's impact.

Her research is supported in part by philanthropic contributions from the community.

"I am fortunate to be conducting this research, which would not be possible without the generous donations and funding from members of the community and beyond," Campbell said. "The project has not only allowed me to advance my own research and leadership skills, but also provides an opportunity to enhance the lives of individuals with hearing loss through access to the arts."

You can fund innovation by students at UT Dallas for generations to come through a planned gift. Contact Jennifer Fowler at 214-905-3025 or jennifer.fowler@utdallas.edu to start planning yours.

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