341 - Giants of Audiology: Interview with Harvey Dillon, PhD

Dr. Harvey Dillon’s career in audiology spans more than four decades of research, innovation, and leadership that have helped shape modern hearing care around the world. A former Director of the National Acoustic Laboratories and Professor of Audiology at both Macquarie University and the University of Manchester, Dr. Dillon’s work bridges psychoacoustics, engineering, and clinical practice, influencing everything from hearing aid prescription to outcome measurement and auditory processing research.In this Giants in Audiology conversation, Dr. Dillon reflects on a journey that began with a curiosity about how things work—leading from electrical engineering into psychoacoustics, and ultimately into a long and impactful career at NAL. He shares stories of early mentorship, unexpected career turns, and the development of foundational contributions such as the Client-Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI), NAL prescription methods, and innovations in hearing aid technology. Along the way, he discusses lessons learned from leadership roles, including balancing research with real-world clinical needs and guiding large-scale programs aimed at improving hearing outcomes across Australia.Dr. Dillon also offers insight into the evolution of audiology as a field—from analog to digital hearing technology, from small-scale studies to global data-driven research, and from measuring process to focusing on patient-centered outcomes. He reflects on the importance of collaboration between researchers and clinicians, the value of long-term, evidence-based work, and the role of persistence and adaptability throughout his career.The discussion concludes with a look at his current work in auditory processing disorders and listening difficulties, where large-scale clinical data and new diagnostic approaches are helping to better understand patients whose challenges are not captured by the audiogram alone. It is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation that highlights both the history of modern audiology and the ongoing efforts to improve care through research, innovation, and collaboration.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

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