Overview

Benjamin James Kirby, PhD, CCC-A, is an Associate Professor of Audiology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at 九色视频 (九色视频). 

Dr. Kirby earned his AuD and PhD from the University of Iowa. His research interests include amplification, cochlear implants (CIs), psychoacoustics, and relationships between cognition and hearing. He is the Director of the Auditory Cognition Lab (ACL) located in Hubbard Hall on the 九色视频 main campus. Dr. Kirby's work has appeared in Ear and Hearing, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, and other auditory research journals. His research has been supported by fellowships and grants from the NIDCD, Texas Speech-Language Hearing Foundation, and other sponsors.

Dr. Kirby is the Editor of the Journal of Educational, Pediatric & (Re)Habilitative Audiology (JEPRA).

Information

Areas of Teaching Interest

CSD 504 Aural Rehabilitation

CSD 740V Aural Rehabilitation

CSD 803 Intro to Psychoacoustics

CSD 807 Acoustics and Instrumentation

CSD 870 Implantable Auditory Devices

 

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kirby, B., & Sullivan, M. (2023). "Reliability of spectral-temporal ripple tests in children." JASA Express Letters, 3(4).

Ronney, A., Kirby, B. (2021) 鈥淪ervice-Learning in Audiology: A Critical Review鈥. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Group, 1-12.

Brennan, M.A., Browning, J.M., Spratford, M., Kirby, B., McCreery, R.W. (2021) 鈥淚nfluence of aided audibility on speech recognition performance with frequency composition for children and adults鈥. International Journal of Audiology, 1-9.

Schafer, E., Kirby, B., Miller, S. (2020) 鈥淩emote-Microphone Technology for Children with Hearing Loss and Auditory Processing Issues鈥. Seminars in Hearing, 41(4), 277-290.

Jorgensen, E.J., McCreery, R., Kirby, B., Brennan, M. (2020) 鈥淓ffect of level on spectral-ripple detection threshold for listeners with normal hearing and hearing loss鈥. JASA, 148(2), 908-917.

Kirby, B. Spratford, M., Klein, K., McCreery, R.W. (2019) 鈥淐ognitive abilities contribute to spectro-temporal discrimination in children who are hard of hearing鈥. Ear and Hearing, 40(3), 645-650.

Kirby, B., Kopun, J., Spratford, M., Mollak, C., Brennan, M., McCreery, R. (2017) 鈥淟istener performance with a novel hearing aid frequency lowering technique鈥. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 28(9), 810-822.

Klein, K., Walker, E., Kirby, B., McCreery, R. (2017) 鈥淰ocabulary facilitates speech perception in children with hearing aids鈥. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60(8), 2281-2296.

McCreery, R.W., Spratford, M., Kirby, B., & Brennan, M. (2016) 鈥淚ndividual differences in language and working memory affect children鈥檚 speech recognition in noise鈥. International Journal of Audiology, 56(5), 306-315.

McCreery, R.W., Walker, E.A., Spratford, M., Kirby, B., Oleson, J.J., & Marc Brennan, M. (2016) 鈥淪tability of audiometric thresholds for children with hearing aids applying the AAA Pediatric Amplification Guidelines: Implications for Safety鈥. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 27(3), 252-263.

Kirby, B., Browning, J., Brennan, M., Spratford, M., & McCreery, R. (2015) 鈥淪pectro-temporal modulation detection in children鈥. JASA-Electronic Letters, 138(5), EL465-EL468.

Brown, C.J., Jeon, E.K., Abbas, P.J., Chiou, L-K., Kirby, B., Etler, C., Karsten, S.A., & Turner, C.W. (2015) 鈥淐ortical Auditory Evoked Potentials recorded from nucleus hybrid cochlear implant users鈥. Ear and Hearing, 36(6), 727-732. 

Kirby, B., Brown, C.J. (2015) 鈥淓ffects of Nonlinear Frequency Compression on ACC Amplitude and Listener Performance鈥. Ear and Hearing, 36(5), e261-e270.

Kirby, B., Etler, C., O鈥橞rien, S., Abbas, P.J. & Brown, C.J. (2012) 鈥淩elationships between Electrically Evoked Potentials and Loudness Growth in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users鈥. Ear and Hearing, 33(3), 389-398. 

Kirby, B., Kopun, J., Tan, H., Neely, S.T. & Gorga, M.P. (2011) 鈥淒o 鈥淥ptimal鈥 Conditions Improve Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Test Performance?鈥 Ear and Hearing, 32(2), 230-237. 

Grants

Funded

Texas Speech-Language Hearing Foundation President鈥檚 Research Award

TITLE: 鈥淚mpact of Psychophysical Paradigm on Spectral Ripple Threshold in Children鈥

PI: Benjamin James Kirby, Ph.D.

FUNDED: 2/22/2020-12/31/2022 ($1,300 total)

 

Illinois State University New Faculty Initiative Grant

PI: Benjamin James Kirby, Ph.D.

FUNDED: 7/1/2017-6/30/2018 ($3,500 total)

 

NIH/NIDCD F32 (1F32DC015159-01A1).  Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows.

TITLE: 鈥淒evelopment of Spectral Resolution in Children鈥.

PI: Benjamin James Kirby, Ph.D.         SPONSOR: Ryan W. McCreery, Ph.D.

FUNDED: 12/9/2015-7/28/2016 ($37,780 total)

 

NIH/NIDCD F31 (1F31DC012961-01).  Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Predoctoral Fellows.

TITLE: 鈥淭he Impact of Frequency Compression on Cortical Evoked Potentials and Perception鈥.

PI: Benjamin James Kirby, Au.D.         SPONSOR: Carolyn J. Brown, Ph.D.

FUNDED: 7/19/2012-6/9/2014 ($54,064 total)