Carol Flexer, Ph.D., Audiologist

BRIEF BIO

Carol Flexer, Ph.D., CCC/A, LSLS Cert. AVT
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Audiology
The University of Akron and Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium (NOAC)
Akron, Ohio USA

Consultant in Pediatric Audiology – and -- Listening and Spoken Language

www.carolflexer.com
E-mail: cflexer@uakron.edu

Carol Flexer received her doctorate in audiology from Kent State University in 1982. She was at The University of Akron for 25 years as a Distinguished Professor of Audiology in the School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Special areas of expertise include pediatric and educational audiology. Dr. Flexer continues to lecture extensively nationally and internationally about pediatric audiology issues and has authored more than 155 publications. She has co-edited and authored seventeen books: Handbook of Acoustic Accessibility; Children with Hearing Loss: Developing Listening and Talking, Birth to Six, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions; Pediatric Audiology: Diagnosis, Technology, and Management, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions; Pediatric Audiology Casebook, 1st and 2nd editions; The Sound of Learning -- Why Self-Amplification Matters; How the Student with Hearing Loss Can Succeed in College, 1st and 2nd editions; Sound-Field Amplification: Theory and Practical Applications, 1st and 2nd editions; and Facilitating Hearing and Listening in Young Children, 1st and 2nd editions. Dr. Flexer is a past president of the Educational Audiology Association, the American Academy of Audiology, and the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Academy for Listening and Spoken Language. Dr. Flexer is a Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist (LSLS Cert. AVT) and a licensed audiologist. For her research and advocacy for children with hearing loss, Dr. Flexer has received six prestigious awards: the Berg Award from the Educational Audiology Association; three awards from The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing -- the Volta Award, the Professional of the Year Award, and the 2019 Honors of the Association; one award from the American Academy of Audiology -- the 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award; and one from Kent State University -- The EHHS Hall of Fame Distinguished Alumni Award 2015.

Read an interview with Carol Flexer in the Hearing Review, about: Children and the Development of Listening and Talking Skills

Read a Time Magazine article about practical applications of Dr. Flexer's work.

Brief Vita

Carol Flexer, Ph.D., CCC/A; LSLS Cert. AVT

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Audiology

Pediatric Audiology -- Listening and Spoken Language Consulting

School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology,
and the Northeast Ohio Au.D., Consortium (NOAC)
The University of Akron
Akron, Ohio

www.carolflexer.com
e-mail: cflexer@uakron.edu
Cell Phone: 330-606-8479

Educational Background

1964.1971	University of Colorado, Boulder, CO; Nursing and Psychology
1974.1975	Metropolitan State College, Denver, CO; B.A. 1975, Summa Cum Laude, Speech and Psychology
1975.1976	University of Denver, Denver, CO; M.A. 1976, Audiology and Speech Pathology
1979.1982	Kent State University, Kent, OH; Ph. D. 1982, Clinical Audiology, Aural Rehabilitation, Psychology

Sample of Honors and Awards

1989 Nitchie Award in Communication from the New York League for the Hard of Hearing for promoting the mainstreaming of children who are hearing impaired.

1990 Distinguished Services Award from the Akron Regional Speech and Hearing Association (ARSHA) for providing families and children with audiological services that represent “Best Practices”

1990 Faculty Achievement Award from the University of Akron for the research in the field of Educational Audiology.

1992 Berg Award from the Educational Audiology Association in the recognition of research, advocacy, and service delivery for children with hearing losses.

2000 VOLTA AWARD from the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (their most prestigious award) for the research and contributions to children with hearing losses.

2004 Excellence in Education Award presented by the Ohio Magazine.

Identified in March 2006 by Edutopia from the George Lucas Educational Foundation, as the "Decibel Diva", one of the Daring Dozen who are Reshaping Education.

2007/2008 Professional of the Year Award from the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in recognition of career-long advocacy for children with hearing loss and their families.

2011 Research Award from the Ohio Academy of Audiology for applied research in Pediatric Audiology which furthers the science of Audiology.

2012 Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Academy of Audiology.

2015 The EHHS Hall of Fame Distinguished Alumni Award from Kent State University.

2019 Honors of the Association Award from the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in recognition of lifetime work in the field of pediatric and educational audiology.

Academic Work Experience

June 2006	Retired from The University of Akron as Distinguished Professor Emeritus
June 2004	Promoted to Distinguished Professor of Audiology
Sept. 2000 - May 2001	Appointed Interim Associate School Director, School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, The University of Akron.
Sept. 1993	Promoted to Professor, The University of Akron.
Jan. 1988	Granted Tenure, The University of Akron.
Sept. 1987	Promoted to Associate Professor, The University of Akron.
Jan. 1983 – Aug. 1987	Assistant Professor, The University of Akron. Taught graduate and undergraduate courses and practicum in Aural Rehabilitation and Audiology.
Sept 1982 – Dec. 1982	Instructor, The University of Akron. Taught courses and practicum in Aural Rehabilitation and Audiology.
Sept. 1981 – May 1982	Instructor, Kent State University. Taught courses and practicum in Aural Rehabilitation including Speech for the Hearing Impaired.
Aug. 1979 – Aug. 1981	Doctoral Teaching Fellow, Kent State University. Taught undergrad/graduate courses in Aural Rehabilitation and Audiology. Supervised clinical practicum. Served on a Trainee Grant.
Sept. 1976 – June 1979	Lecturer and clinical supervisor. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Taught audiology, audiometry and anatomy and physiology courses. Supervised undergraduate and graduate students in diagnostic and aural rehabilitation practicum on and off campus. Organized and developed the aural rehabilitation program at Texas Tech.

Sample of Professional Associations

American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA); CCC/A

Ohio License in Audiology; #A-0365

American Auditory Society

American Academy of Audiology –

Board of Representatives 1992-1994
President 1995-1996
Convention Chair; Chicago 2000

Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Alexander Graham Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language – President 2006-2008

Auditory Verbal International (AVI) –

Board of Directors, 1989-1995;
Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist (Cert-AVT)

Educational Audiology Association – President, 1989

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (Shhh) – Educational/Children’s Issue Advisor 1997

The Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC)

Sample of Scholarly Productivity and Research (over 155 publications)

Books:

Cole, E., & Flexer, C. (2020). Children with hearing loss: Developing listening and talking, birth to six, 4th edition. San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc.

Cole, E., & Flexer, C. (2016). Children with hearing loss: Developing listening and talking, birth to six, 3rd edition. San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc.

Cole, E., & Flexer, C. (2011). Children with hearing loss: Developing listening and talking, birth to six, 2nd edition. San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc.

Cole, E., & Flexer, C. (2007). Children with hearing loss: Developing listening and talking, birth to six. San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc.

Crandell, C.C., Smaldino, J.J., & Flexer, C. (2005). Sound-Field amplification: Applications to speech perception and classroom acoustics, 2^nd ed. New York: Thomson Delmar Learning

Crandell, C.C., Smaldino, J.J., & Flexer, C. (1995). Sound-Field FM amplification: Theory and practical applications. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group, Inc.

Flexer, C. (1999). Facilitating hearing and listening in young children (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group, Inc.

Flexer, C. (1994). Facilitating hearing and listening in young children. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group, Inc.

Flexer, C., Wray, D., Leavitt, R., & Flexer, R. (Eds.) (1996). How the student with hearing loss can succeed in college: A handbook for students, families, and professionals (2nd ed.).

Flexer, C., Wray, D., & Leavitt, R. (Eds.) (1990). How the student with hearing loss can succeed in college: A handbook for students, families, and professionals. Washington, DC: Alexander Graham Bell association for the Deaf.

Madell, J., & Flexer, C. (2011). Pediatric Audiology Casebook. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Madell, J., & Flexer, C. (2008). Pediatric Audiology: Diagnosis, Technology, and Management. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Madell, J., & Flexer, C. (2014). Pediatric Audiology: Diagnosis, Technology, and Management, 2nd edition. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Madell, J. R., Flexer, C., Wolfe, J., & Schafer, E.C. (2019). Pediatric Audiology Casebook, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Thieme.

Madell, J. R., Flexer, C., Wolfe, J., & Schafer, E.C. (2019). Pediatric Audiology: Diagnosis, Technology and Management, 3rd ed. New York, NY: Thieme.

Rasinski, T., Flexer, C., & Szypulski, T. (2006). The sound of learning: Why self amplification matters – A field guide. Minneapolis: Harebrain, Inc.

Smaldino, J., & Flexer, C. (2012). Handbook of Acoustic Accessibility: Best Practices for Listening, Learning, and Literacy in the Classroom. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Sample of Book Chapters:

Flexer, C. (2012). How does a child with hearing loss benefit from an FM system and/or a sound field system in the classroom? In W. Estabrooks (Ed.), 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice (pp.93-97). Washington DC: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Flexer, C. (2014). Signal enhancement: Personal FM and sound-field technology. In G.D. Chermak, G.D., & F.E. Musiek, ed. Handbook of Central Auditory Processing Disorder, Volume II Comprehensive Intervention, 2nd ed. San Diego: Plural Publishing Company.

Flexer, C. (2014). Technology and listening. In L. Robinson, Literacy and deafness: Listening and spoken language, 2nd ed. (pp. 43-65). San Diego: Plural Publishing Inc.

Flexer, C. (2009). Technology and listening. In L. Robinson, Literacy and deafness: Listening and spoken language, (pp. 43-63). San Diego: Plural Publishing Inc.

Flexer, C. (2001). Enhancing the listening environment for early learning success. In R. Sorenson, Preventing early learning failure, (pp. 37-46). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

Flexer, C. (2000). How are new amplification technologies changing everything that we used to know about deafness? In L. Robertson, Literacy learning for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, (pp. 1-21). Washington DC: Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Flexer, C. (1996). Amplification for children with minimal hearing loss. In F. Bess, J. Gravel, and A. Tharpe (Eds.), Amplification for children with auditory deficits, (pp. 321-337). Nashville, TN: Bill Wilkerson Center Press.

Flexer, C., Goldberg, D.M., & Moog, J.S. (2012). What is the history of the listening and spoken language specialist certification? In W. Estabrooks (Ed.), 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice (pp. 10-13). Washington DC: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Flexer, C. & Madell, J.R. (2013). Auditory learning environments: Ensuring acoustic accessibility. In E. M. Fitzpatrick and S. P. Doucet (Eds.). Pediatric audiologic rehabilitation from infancy to adolescence (pp. 127-141)., New York: Thieme Medical Publishers.

Flexer, C. & Rhoades, E.A. (2016). Hearing, listening, the brain, and auditory-verbal therapy. In W. Estabrooks, K. MacIver-Lux, and E.A. Rhoades (Eds.). Auditory verbal therapy (pp. 23-33). San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc.

Flexer, C., & Wray, D. (2012). What recommendations do listening and spoken language professionals make to mainstream classroom teachers? In W. Estabrooks (Ed.), 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice (pp. 287-290). Washington DC: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Goldberg, D.M., & Flexer, C. (2012). What is the history of auditory-verbal practice? In W. Estabrooks (Ed.), 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice (pp.6-9). Washington DC: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Spangler, C., & Flexer, C. (2015). Assessment of the listening environment. In T.S. Bradham and K.T. Houston, (Eds.), Assessing listening and spoken language in children with hearing loss, (203-231). San Diego: Plural Publishing.

Publications – Sample of Journal Articles:

Beck, D.L, & Flexer, C. (2011). Listening is where hearing meets brain...in children and adults. The Hearing Review, 18(2), 30-35.

Crandell, C.C., Holmes, A.E., Flexer, C., & Payne, M. (1998). Effects of sound field FM amplification on the speech recognition of listeners with cochlear implants. Journal of Educational Audiology, 6, 21-27.

Flexer, C. (1989). Neglected issues in educational audiology. Journal of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, 22, 61-66.

Flexer, C. (1991). Access to communication environments through assistive listening devices. Ohio Journal of Speech and Hearing (Hearsay), 6, 9-14.

Flexer, C. (1997). Commonly-asked questions about children with minimal hearing loss. The Journal of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, 18 (1), 8-12.

Flexer, C. (1997). Individual and sound-field FM systems: Rationale, description, and use. The Volta Review, 99 (3), 133-162.

Flexer, C. (2000). The power of hearing. Journal of the Learning to Listen Foundation (The Listener). Special Edition. 30-32.

Flexer, C. (2004). Sound-field technology: Enhancing listening, literacy, and learning for all children. Hearing Loss, the Journal of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, 25(3), 10-14.

Flexer, C. (2004). The impact of classroom acoustics: Listening, learning, and literacy. Seminars in Hearing, 25(2), 131-140.

Flexer, C. (2011). Cochlear implants and neuroplasticity: Linking auditory exposure and practice. Cochlear Implants International, 12, (S1), S19-S21.

Flexer, C., Biley, K.K., Hinkley, A., Harkema, C., & Holcomb, J. (2002). Using sound-field systems to teach phonemic awareness to pre-schoolers. The Hearing Journal, 55(3), 38-44.

Flexer, C., & Cole, E.B. (2020). Learning to listen: Audiologists are pivotal. Audiology Today, 32(1), 14-22.

Flexer, C., & Long, S. (2003). Sound-Field amplification: Preliminary information regarding special education referrals. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 25(1), 29-34.

Flexer, C., & Madell J. (2009). The concept of listening age for audiologic management of pediatric hearing loss. Audiology Today, 21 (3), 30-35.

Flexer, C., & Nakra, R. (2020). Guiding the development of specific self-advocacy skills in very young children with hearing loss: A family focus. Volta Voices, October 22, 2020. https://agbellvoltavoices.com/guiding-the-development-of-specific-self-advocacy-skills-in-very-young-children-with-hearing-loss-a-family-focus/

Flexer, C., & Rollow, J. (2009). Classroom acoustic accessibility: A brain-based perspective. Volta Voices, 16(5), 16-18.

Flexer, C., Robb, B.S., Wray, D., & Sommers, R. (2005). Early intervention for children with cochlear implants: A paradigm shift in expectations. Hearsay, Journal of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association 17, 15-27.

Goldberg, D..M. & Flexer, C. (2001). Auditory-verbal graduates: Outcome survey of clinical efficacy. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 12(8), 406-414.

Leavitt, R., Bentler, R., & Flexer, C. (2017). Hearing aid programming practices in Oregon: Fitting errors and real ear measurements. The Hearing Review, 24(6), 30-33

Leavitt, R., Bentler, R., & Flexer, C. (2018). Evaluating select personal sound amplifiers and a consumer-decision model for OTC amplification. The Hearing Review, 25(12), 10-16.

Leavitt, R.J., Flexer, C., Clark, N., & Rector, C. (2016). Unraveling the mysteries of wireless connectivity in hearing aids. The Hearing Review, 23(9), 14-19.

Leavitt R., & Flexer, C. (2012). The importance of audibility in successful amplification of hearing loss. The Hearing Review, 19(13), 20-23.

Leavitt, R., & Flexer, C. (1991). Speech degradation as measured by the Rapid Speech Transmission Index (RASTI). Ear and Hearing, 12, 115-118.

Leavitt, R.J., Flexer, C., & Clark, N. (2020). Variables associated with attainment of normal scores on the bilaterally aided quickSIN test. The Hearing Review, 27(9), 18-21.

Lesner, S.A., & Flexer, C., Goldstein D. P. (1991). Diagnostics + Rehabilitation = Au.D. : Equation for a unified profession. Journal of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, 24, 113-120.

Lim, S.R., Goldberg, D.M., & Flexer, C. (2018). Auditory-verbal graduates – 25 years later: Outcome survey of the clinical effectiveness of the listening and spoken language approach for young children with hearing loss. The Volta Review, 118(1-2), 5-40.

Madell, J.R., & Flexer, C. (2018). Maximize children’s school outcomes. Audiology Today, 30(1), 18-26.

Wray, D., & Flexer, C. (2002). Cochlear implants: Expanding opportunities for children with severe-to-profound hearing loss. Hearsay, Journal of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 15, 15-21.

Wray, D., Flexer, C., & Vaccaro, V. (1997). Classroom performance of children who are hearing impaired who learned spoken communication through the Auditory-Verbal approach. The Volta Review, 99 (2), 107-119.

Wray, D., Hazlett, J., & Flexer, C. (1988). Strategies for teaching writing skills to hearing-impaired adolescents. Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, 19, 182-190.

Presentations – Sample of International, National and Regional Presentations: (Dr. Flexer has given more than 500 presentations at state, national and international venues.)

Many presentations, symposiums, courses, workshops and seminars are about developing listening and spoken language in infants and children with hearing loss. Topics include auditory brain development, distance hearing and incidental learning, acoustic accessibility, Theory of Mind (social-emotional development), cochlear implants, speech perception testing, audiologic management of infants and children with hearing loss, parent strategies, and early literacy development.