Dr Barbra Timmer
Senior Lecturer
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Affiliate of University of Queensland Centre for Hearing Research (CHEAR) & Affiliate of University of Queensland Centre for Hearing Research (CHEAR)
Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health
Researcher biography
Dr Barbra Timmer is a Senior Lecturer in Audiology (Teaching & Research) at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland and Senior Scientist at Sonova AG.Her research interests include the real-world challenges and audiological outcomes for adults with hearing impairment, intervention approaches for adults with tinnitus, the implementation of family-centred care in audiological practice, intervention solutions for presbyvertigo in adults with hearing impairment and teleaudiology.
Before taking on her academic role, Barbra gained clinical audiology experience at Australian Hearing and the Free University of Amsterdam, and industry experience at Sonova AG in Australia and Switzerland. Barbra completed an MBA and a PhD in Audiology and aims to build a stronger bridge between research and clinical practice.
Book Chapter
Louise Hickson and Barbra Timmer (2021). Evidence-based practice and research opportunities. Adult Audiologic Rehabilitation. (pp. 573-584) edited by Joseph J. Montano and Jaclyn B. Spitzer. San Diego, CA, United States: Plural Publishing.
Journal Articles
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Ekberg, Katie, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh and Hickson, Louise (2024). Using Ecological Momentary Analysis to explore stigma experiences in the real world for adults with acquired hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2418970
Scarinci, Nerina, Waite, Monique, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly and Hickson, Louise (2024). How do adults with hearing loss, family members, and hearing care professionals respond to the stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids?. International Journal of Audiology, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2406885
Lester, Georgia M., Wilson, Wayne J., Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Ladwa, Rahul M. (2024). A retrospective audit of audiology encounters in patients undergoing Cisplatin treatment at a large Australian tertiary cancer care centre. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01689-x
Bennett, Rebecca J., Gerace, Daniel, Meyer, Carly J., Pachana, Nancy A., Saulsman, Lisa, Eikelboom, Robert H., Campbell, Elissa, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Vitkovic, Jessica and Bucks, Romola S. (2024). Supporting older adults’ mental health: a Delphi survey identifying audiology best practices. International Journal of Audiology, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2383990
Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh and Hickson, Louise (2024). A laughing matter? Managing hearing difficulties in real life everyday social interactions with adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 1-9. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2389189
Dawes, Piers, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Scarinci, Nerina, Newall, John, Furze, Cailyn, Nisar, Mehwish, Timmer, Barbra, Ching, Teresa Y. C., Harris-Roxas, Benjamin, Scanlan, Emma, Van Buynder, Patricia, Waite, Monique, Orlando, Marc, Kruger, Jan-Louis, Ekberg, Katie, Dib, Mayada, Ginis, Jan, Barr, Margo, Armitage, Christopher J. and Hickson, Louise (2024). Developing strategies to improve accessibility of hearing health services for people from diverse ethnic communities in Australia: Research Protocol. Figshare. doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.26499952.v1
Mui, Boaz, Lawless, Michael, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Gopinath, Bamini, Tang, Diana, Venning, Anthony, May, David, Muzaffar, Jameel, Bidargaddi, Niranjan and Shekhawat, Giriraj Singh (2024). Australian hearing healthcare stakeholders’ experiences of and attitudes towards teleaudiology uptake: a qualitative study. Speech, Language and Hearing, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/2050571x.2024.2372171
Feenstra-Kikken, Vanessa, Van de Ven, Sjors, Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I., Pronk, Marieke, Smits, Cas, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Polleunis, C., Besser, Jana and Kramer, Sophia E. (2024). Effectiveness of the HEAR-aware app for adults not ready for hearing aids, but open to self-management support: results of a randomized controlled trial. Ear and Hearing, 45 (6), 1502-1516. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001533
Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Ekberg, Katie, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly and Hickson, Louise (2024). The experience of stigma related to hearing loss and hearing aids: perspectives of adults with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals. International Journal of Audiology, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2353862
McNeice, Zoe, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Short, Camille E. and Galvin, Karyn (2024). Adults’ recollections of discussions with their audiologist: a qualitative study of what was and was not successfully communicated about listening difficulties. International Journal of Audiology, 1-12. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2351033
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Bennett, Rebecca J., Montano, Joseph, Hickson, Louise, Weinstein, Barbara, Wild, Jane, Ferguson, Melanie, Holman, Jack A., LeBeau, Valeri and Dyre, Lisa (2024). Social-emotional well-being and adult hearing loss: clinical recommendations. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (6), 381-392. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2190864
Hickson, Louise, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Dawes, Piers (2023). Developing a prototype web-based decision aid for adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2279024
Lester, Georgia M., Wilson, Wayne J., Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Ladwa, Rahul M. (2023). Audiological ototoxicity monitoring guidelines: a review of current evidence and appraisal of quality using the AGREE II tool. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2278018
Franks, Inga and Timmer, Barbra H. B. (2023). Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270703
Romli, Maziah, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Dawes, Piers (2023). Hearing care services for adults with hearing loss in Malaysia: a scoping review. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270594
Pronk, Marieke, Feenstra-Kikken, Vanessa, Smits, Cas, Besser, Jana, Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I., Polleunis, Conny, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Kramer, Sophia E. (2023). Feasibility of the HEAR-aware app for hearing loss self-management: a nonrandomized intervention study to examine intervention acceptability and the stages-of-change concept. Ear and Hearing, 45 (1), 186-197. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001414
McNeice, Zoe, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra, Short, Camille E, Nixon, Grace and Galvin, Karyn (2023). A scoping review exploring how adults self-describe and communicate about the listening difficulties they experience. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (3), 163-170. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2245136
Brice, Sophie, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Barr, Caitlin (2023). Centering on people: how hearing care professionals can adapt to consumers' need and outcomes. Seminars in Hearing, 44 (03), 274-286. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1769624
Galvin, Karyn, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra H. B., McNeice, Zoe, Mount, Nicole, Gray, Kathleen and Short, Camille (2023). A qualitative study of consumer perspectives for a future mobile app to document real-world listening difficulties: qualitative study. JMIR Formative Research, 8 e47578, 1-14. doi: 10.2196/47578
Galvin, Karyn L., Timmer, Barbra H. B., Tomlin, Dani and Cleaver, Zuzana (2022). Designing a hearing health care smartphone app with ecological momentary assessment: a qualitative study of audiologists' perspectives. American Journal of Audiology, 31 (4), 1-1247. doi: 10.1044/2022_aja-22-00054
Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Timmer, Barbra H., Ekberg, Katie, Cheng, Bonnie and Hickson, Louise (2022). A qualitative investigation of clients, significant others, and clinicians’ experiences of using wireless microphone systems to manage hearing impairment. Audiology Research, 12 (6), 596-619. doi: 10.3390/audiolres12060059
Mui, Boaz, Leong, Natalie, Keil, Brenton, Domingo, Deepti, Dafny, Hila A., Manchaiah, Vinaya, Gopinath, Bamini, Muzaffar, Jameel, Chen, Jinsong, Bidargaddi, Niranjan, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Vitkovic, Jessica, Esterman, Adrian and Shekhawat, Giriraj Singh (2022). COVID-19 and tinnitus: an initiative to improve tinnitus care. International Journal of Audiology, 62 (9), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2104175
Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra H., Francis, Anna and Hickson, Louise (2022). Improving the implementation of family-centred care in adult audiology appointments: a feasibility intervention study. International Journal of Audiology, 62 (9), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2022.2095536
Foster, Jacinta I., Williams, Katrina L., Timmer, Barbra H.B. and Brauer, Sandra G. (2022). Concurrent validity of the Garmin Vivofit®4 to accurately record step count in older adults in challenging environments. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 30 (5), 1-9. doi: 10.1123/japa.2021-0231
Mahafza, Marina Tareq, Wilson, Wayne J., Brauer, Sandra, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Hickson, Louise (2022). A systematic review of the effect of hearing aids on static and dynamic balance in adults with hearing impairment. Trends in Hearing, 26 ARTN 23312165221121014, 1-15. doi: 10.1177/23312165221121014
Foster, Jacinta I., Williams, Katrina L., Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Brauer, Sandra G. (2022). The association between hearing impairment and postural stability in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Trends in Hearing, 26, 1-22. doi: 10.1177/23312165221144155
Looi, Valerie, Boulton, Reese, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Wilson, Wayne J. (2021). The suitability and readability of cochlear implant information brochures for potential adult recipients. International journal of audiology, 61 (4), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1930206
Saunders, Gabrielle H., Vercammen, Charlotte, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Singh, Gurjit, Pelosi, Angela, Meis, Marcus, Launer, Stefan, Kramer, Sophia E., Gagne, Jean-Pierre and Bott, Anthea (2021). Changing the narrative for hearing health in the broader context of healthy living: a call to action. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup2), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1905892
Bennett, Rebecca J., Barr, Caitlin, Cortis, Alex, Eikelboom, Robert H., Ferguson, Melanie, Gerace, Daniel, Heffernan, Eithne, Hickson, Louise, van Leeuwen, Lisette, Montano, Joseph, Preminger, Jill E., Pronk, Marieke, Saunders, Gabrielle H., Singh, Gurjit, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Weinstein, Barbara and Bellekom, Sandra (2020). Audiological approaches to address the psychosocial needs of adults with hearing loss: perceived benefit and likelihood of use. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup2), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1839680
Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Schuetz, Simone and Hickson, Louise (2020). Use of the behaviour change wheel to design an intervention to improve the implementation of family-centred care in adult audiology services. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup2), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1844321
Bennett, Rebecca J., Barr, Caitlin, Montano, Joseph, Eikelboom, Robert H., Saunders, Gabrielle H., Pronk, Marieke, Preminger, Jill E., Ferguson, Melanie, Weinstein, Barbara, Heffernan, Eithne, van Leeuwen, Lisette, Hickson, Louise, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Singh, Gurjit, Gerace, Daniel, Cortis, Alex and Bellekom, Sandra R. (2020). Identifying the approaches used by audiologists to address the psychosocial needs of their adult clients. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1817995
Turton, Laura, Souza, Pamela, Thibodeau, Linda, Hickson, Louise, Gifford, René, Bird, Judith, Stropahl, Maren, Gailey, Lorraine, Fulton, Bernadette, Scarinci, Nerina, Ekberg, Katie and Timmer, Barbra (2020). Guidelines for best practice in the audiological management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss. Seminars in Hearing, 41 (03), 141-246. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1714744
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Launer, Stefan and Hickson, Louise (2020). Using smartphone technology to support the adult audiologic rehabilitation journey. International Journal of Audiology, 60 (sup1), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1854483
Ekberg, Katie, Schuetz, Simone, Timmer, Barbra and Hickson, Louise (2020). Identifying barriers and facilitators to implementing family-centred care in adult audiology practices: a COM-B interview study exploring staff perspectives. International Journal of Audiology, 59 (6), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1745305
Reichenberger, Julia, Wiggert, Nicole, Wilhelm, Frank H., Liedlgruber, Michael, Voderholzer, Ulrich, Hillert, Andreas, Timmer, Barbara and Blechert, Jens (2019). Fear of negative and positive evaluation and reactivity to social-evaluative videos in social anxiety disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 116, 140-148. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.03.009
Timmer, Barbra, Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2019). Real-world benefits of hearing aids beyond better speech understanding. Hearing Journal, 72 (1), 8-9. doi: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000552748.43994.d3
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2018). The use of ecological momentary assessment in hearing research and future clinical applications. Hearing Research, 369, 24-28. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.06.012
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2018). Do hearing aids address real-world hearing difficulties for adults with mild hearing impairment? Results from a pilot study using ecological momentary assessment. Trends in Hearing, 22, 2331216518783608. doi: 10.1177/2331216518783608
Timmer, Barbra, Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2017). Ecological Momentary Assessment: Feasibility, Construct Validity, and Future Applications. American Journal of Audiology, 26 (3S), 436-442. doi: 10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0126
Timmer, Barbra H.B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2015). Adults with mild hearing impairment: Are we meeting the challenge?. International Journal of Audiology, 54 (11), 786-795. doi: 10.3109/14992027.2015.1046504
Conference Papers
Worthy, P., Isaacs, M., Burton, B., Copland, D., Wiles, J., Angwin, A., Palmer, V., Gullo, M., Hill, A., Timmer, B., Shrubsole, K. and Wallace, S. (2023). Co-design of a technology to motivate self-managed post-stroke aphasia treatment. 15th World Stroke Congress, Toronto, Canada, 10-12 October 2023. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications.
Hickson, L., Brauer, S., Timmer, B. H. B. and Wilson, W. J. (2023). Hearing and balance in adults with hearing impairment. AudA 2023 Conference: the 26th National Conference of Audiology Australia, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Mahafza, Marina Tareq, Wilson, Wayne J., Timmer, Barbra H.B., Brauer, Sandra and Hickson, Louise (2023). Hearing aids and balance in adults with hearing impairment. The 26th National Conference of Audiology Australia, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Timmer, B.H.B., Waite, M. and Hickson, L. (2023). Teleaudiology vs in-clinic hearing aid follow up appointments: is there a difference in outcomes for adult clients?. Audiology Australia National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Timmer, B.H.B., Ekberg, K., Scarinci, N., Waite, M., Meyer, C., Nickbakht, M. and Hickson, L. (2023). Understanding the real-world stigma experiences of adults with hearing loss. Audiology Australia National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Timmer, Barbra H.B. (2023). Addressing hearing loss to promote psychosocial, cognitive and physical wellbeing for older adults: the audiology perspective. Australian and New Zealand Society For Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-12 May 2023.
McNeice, Zoe, Galvin, Karyn, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra H.B. and Short, Camille E. (2023). Exploring the communication of listening difficulties during audiology appointments. Audiology Australia National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 7-10 May 2023.
Timmer, Barbra H.B., Hickson, Louise, Ekberg, Katie, Scarinci, Nerina, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique and Nickbakht, Mansoureh (2022). To tell or not to tell? The stigma experiences of adults with hearing impairment and their families. Hearing Across the Lifespan (HEAL), Cernobbio (Lake Como), Italy, 16-18 June 2022.
Timmer, B.H.B., Hickson, L., Ekberg, K., Scarinci, N., Meyer, C., Waite, M., Francis, A. and Nickbakht, M. (2022). Capturing the stigma experiences of adults with hearing impairment, their family members and hearing care professionals. ACAud National Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 19-21 May 2022.
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Hickson, Louise and Launer, Stefan (2017). Hearing aid use and mild hearing impairment: learnings from big data. Reston, VA, United States: American Academy of Audiology. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.16104
Thesis
Timmer, Barbra (2017). Adults with mild hearing impairment: Measuring real-world hearing performance. PhD Thesis, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.987