Biography
Dr Amr El Refaie is an Audiological Physician and program director of the MSc Audiology program at University College Cork, Ireland. His research focuses on Tinnitus management and models of generation, Quality of life of tinnitus sufferers, Adult diagnostics, Retrocochlear pathology and Meniere’s disease. He has published extensively in professional/scientific journals and books. This research was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for excellence in 2002. His previous appointments included working as a Research Associate in the Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham, UK, Program Director of the BSc Audiology program, Bristol University UK, Associate Professor at Cairo University, Egypt, and Associate Professor and Program Director of the MSc Audiology program, La Trobe University, Australia.
Research Interests
My research focuses on chronic conditions affecting hearing and balance and their impact on quality of life issues. My special interest is in tinnitus and Meniere’s disease and how management can be planned so as to alleviate the clinical symptoms as well as improving patients’ quality of life and encouraging their participation in society.
Research Grants
| Project | Funding Body | Start Date | End Date | Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of external and middle ear conditions on the specificity of oto acoustic emissions recording (1993), and Correlation between oto acoustic emissions and tinnitus occurring in normal hearing individuals (1993-1994) | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-93 | 01-JAN-94 | ||
| The impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) on hearing impaired children | Other: Not Listed | €24,808.00 | |||
| : The use of maximum length sequence (MLS) ABR for screening purposes in contrast to conventional ABR and otoacoustic emissions | Medical Research Council | 01-JAN-97 | 01-JAN-00 | ||
| A double-blinded study of the effects of caffeine withdrawal, abstention and reintroduction on tinnitus. | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-07 | 01-JAN-09 | €56,000.00 | |
| The cost-effectiveness of multi-disciplinary management of tinnitus at a specialized tinnitus centre. | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-07 | 01-JAN-10 | €397,800.00 | |
| Tranquillity is a state of mind: listening aids for a listening impaired society. | Wellcome Trust | 01-JAN-07 | 01-JAN-09 | €30,000.00 | |
| TMD and OMEs in patients complaining of Benign Intracranial Hypertension (BIHs) | Medical Research Council | 01-JAN-97 | 01-JAN-00 | ||
| Hearing help in social care settings | Other: Not Listed | 01-OCT-09 | 01-OCT-11 | €23,904.00 | |
| A study of the hearing status and quality of family life of tinnitus patients before and after tinnitus management | Medical Research Council | 01-JAN-97 | 01-JAN-00 | €397,800.00 |
Publications
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2000) | 'The epidemiology of tinnitus' Davis, A. & El Refaie, A. (2000) 'The epidemiology of tinnitus' In: Richard Tyler (eds). Tinnitus Handbook. New York: Singular Publication. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2014) | 'Computer-based rehabilitation for developing spoken language in hearing impaired children: a systematic review'  Simpson, A, El Refaie, A, Stephenson, C, Yi-Ping, P, Deng, D, Daube, W, Erickson, S, Tay, D, Caelli, T, Morris, M (2014) 'Computer-based rehabilitation for developing spoken language in hearing impaired children: a systematic review'. Deafness and Education International, [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Cost-effectiveness of specialized treatment based on cognitive behavioral therapy versus usual care for tinnitus'  Iris H L Maes, Rilana F F Cima, Lucien J C Anteunis, Dyon CWM Scheijen, David M Baguley, Amr El Refaie, Johannes W Valaeyen, Manuela A Joore (2014) 'Cost-effectiveness of specialized treatment based on cognitive behavioral therapy versus usual care for tinnitus'. Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology, 35 (5):787-795 [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Sound therapy for tinnitus management: Practicable options'  Hoare, DJ, Searchfield, GD, El Refaie, A, Henry, J (2014) 'Sound therapy for tinnitus management: Practicable options'. Journal of The American Academy of Audiology, 25 (1):62-75 [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Specialized treatment based on cognitive behavioural therapy versus usual care for tinnitus: A randomised controlled trial'  Cima, R, Maes, I, Joore, M, Scheyen, D, El Refaie, A, Baguley, D, Anteunis, L, Van Brueklen, G, Vlaeyen, J (2012) 'Specialized treatment based on cognitive behavioural therapy versus usual care for tinnitus: A randomised controlled trial'. The Lancet, 379 :1951-1959 [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Cost-effectiveness of specialized treatment based on cognitive behavioural therapy versus usual care for tinnitus'  Maes, I, Cima, R, Auteunis, L, Baguley, D, El Refaie, A, Scheyen, D, Vlaeyen, J, Joore, M (2012) 'Cost-effectiveness of specialized treatment based on cognitive behavioural therapy versus usual care for tinnitus'. Value in Health, 15 (7) [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Sound therapy (masking) in the management of tinnitus in adults' Hobson, J, Chisholm, E, El Refaie, A. (2012) 'Sound therapy (masking) in the management of tinnitus in adults'. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews, (11) [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'What is the evidence that rTMS affects chronic tinnitus' Natasha, P. & El Refaie, A. (2012) 'What is the evidence that rTMS affects chronic tinnitus'. Audiological Medicine, 10 (2):76-93 [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Speech perception outcomes following Auditory Brainstem Implantation in both tumour and non-tumour patients: A review' Lovell, G. & el Refaie, A. (2012) 'Speech perception outcomes following Auditory Brainstem Implantation in both tumour and non-tumour patients: A review'. Audiological Medicine, 10 (2):55-64 [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Gabapentin for tinnitus: A systematic review' Aazh, H. , El Refaie, A, Humphriss, R. (2011) 'Gabapentin for tinnitus: A systematic review'. American journal of audiology, 20 [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Group or individual tinnitus therapy: What matters to participants?' Thompson, P., Pryce, H. & El Refaie, A. (2011) 'Group or individual tinnitus therapy: What matters to participants?'. Audiological Medicine, 9 :110-116 [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Assessment of hyperacusis in Egyptian patients: Evaluation of the Arabic version of the Khalfa questionnaire' Shabana, M., Selim, M. El Refaie, A., El Desoky, T. & Soliman, R. (2011) 'Assessment of hyperacusis in Egyptian patients: Evaluation of the Arabic version of the Khalfa questionnaire'. Audiological Medicine, 9 :127-134 [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Auditory training and adult rehabilitation: A critical review of evidence' Bronus, K., El Refaie, A., Pryce, H. (2011) 'Auditory training and adult rehabilitation: A critical review of evidence'. Global Journal of Health Science, 3 (1):49-63 [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Residual postural instability in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo' Abou-Elew, M., Shabana, M., Selim, MEl Refaie, A., Fathi, S. & Fatth-Allah, M. (2011) 'Residual postural instability in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo'. Audiological Medicine, 9 (1):8-15 [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'Inner ear autoimmune diseases: Better understanding for better diagnosis?' El Refaie (2010) 'Inner ear autoimmune diseases: Better understanding for better diagnosis?'. Otorhynolaryngologia, 9 (supplement):46-47 [Details] | |
| (2009) | 'Cost effectiveness of multidisciplinary management of tinnitus at a specialized tinnitus clinic'  Cima, R, Joore, M, Maes, I, Scheyen, D, El Refaie, A, Baguley, D, Vlaeyen, J & Anteunis, L (2009) 'Cost effectiveness of multidisciplinary management of tinnitus at a specialized tinnitus clinic'. BMC Health Services Research, 9 (29) [Details] | |
| (2008) | 'Quality of life issues in tinnitus sufferers: Prospective study on illness perception' El Refaie, A (2008) 'Quality of life issues in tinnitus sufferers: Prospective study on illness perception'. Psychology & Health, 23 (S1):110-111 [Details] | |
| (2006) | 'Quality of life issues in tinnitus sufferers' El Refaie, A., Davis, A., Kayan, A., Baskill, J., Lovell, E. & Owen, V. (2006) 'Quality of life issues in tinnitus sufferers'. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 13 :78-79 [Details] | |
| (2005) | 'Directive counselling in tinnitus retraining therapy' Dabous, A., El Refaie, A., Farid, S. & Ghanoum, T. (2005) 'Directive counselling in tinnitus retraining therapy'. The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 72 (4):127-132 [Details] | |
| (2004) | 'A questionnaire study of the quality of life and the quality of family life of individuals complaining of tinnitus pre and post attendance at a tinnitus clinic'  El Refaie, A, Davis, A, Kayan, A, Baskill, J, Lovell, E & Owen, V (2004) 'A questionnaire study of the quality of life and the quality of family life of individuals complaining of tinnitus pre and post attendance at a tinnitus clinic'. International Journal of Audiology, 43 :1-7 [Details] | |
| (1996) | 'Oto acoustic emissions verus ABR screening: The effect of external and middle ear abnormalities in a group of SCUB neonates' El Refaie, A., Parker, D. & Bamford, J. (1996) 'Oto acoustic emissions verus ABR screening: The effect of external and middle ear abnormalities in a group of SCUB neonates'. British Journal of Audiology, 30 :3-8 [Details] | |
| (1996) | 'Correlation between speech-in-noise (SPIN) scores and the latencies of wave I and II of the ABR in patients with cochlear and retrocochlear hearing loss' Farid, S. & El Refaie, A. (1996) 'Correlation between speech-in-noise (SPIN) scores and the latencies of wave I and II of the ABR in patients with cochlear and retrocochlear hearing loss'. The Medical Journal of Cairo University, :345-352 [Details] |
Grant
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2011) | The cost effectiveness of multi-disciplinary management of tinnitus in specialized tinnitus centre. El Refaie, A (2011) The cost effectiveness of multi-disciplinary management of tinnitus in specialized tinnitus centre. Grant [Details] | |
| (2009) | Tranquility is a state of mind. Crow, F. & El Refaie, A. (2009) Tranquility is a state of mind. Grant [Details] |
Magazine article
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2013) | Audio-vestibular manifestations of MS: The role of the Audiologist in early diagnosis. El Refaie, A. (2013) Audio-vestibular manifestations of MS: The role of the Audiologist in early diagnosis. Magazine article [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Award (FCO) grade B | British Council |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Academy of Audiology | Full Member | / |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2005) | 7th European Federation of Audiological Societies (EFAS) Congress, El, Refaie, A. (2005) Audiological screening of high risk registers. An experience in the Middle East from a European perspective. [Oral Presentation], 7th European Federation of Audiological Societies (EFAS) Congress, Heidelberg, Germany . [Details] | |
| (2005) | 8th International Tinnitus Seminar, El Refaie, A, Davis, A, Kayan, A, Baskill, J & Owens, V (2005) A questionnaire study of the quality of life and quality of family life of individuals complaining of tinnitus. An emerging work regarding illness perception. [Oral Presentation], 8th International Tinnitus Seminar, Pau, France . [Details] | |
| (2002) | 7th International Tinnitus Seminar, El Refaie, A. (2002) Patterns of tinnitus complaints and the role of hearing aids fitting in tinnitus rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia. [Oral Presentation], 7th International Tinnitus Seminar, Fremantle, Australia . [Details] | |
| (1999) | 6th International Tinnitus Seminar, El Refaie, A. & Davis, A. (1999) Quality of family life of people who report tinnitus. [Oral Presentation], 6th International Tinnitus Seminar, Cambridge, UK . [Details] | |
| (1999) | 6th International Tinnitus Seminar, El Refaie, A. & Davis, A. (1999) Characteristics of tinnitus and related quality of life in people who attend at tinnitus clinic. [Oral Presentation], 6th International Tinnitus Seminar, Cambridge, UK . [Details] | |
| (2014) | 8th International Tinnitus Conference, El Refaie, A. (2014) Tinnitus: A warning symptom in non-otological pathologies. [Plenary Lecture], 8th International Tinnitus Conference, Auckland, New Zealand , 10-MAR-14. [Details] | |
| (2014) | XXXII World Congress of Audiology, El Refaie, A (2014) Hyperacusis, the shadow complaint: Assessment of hyperacusys in a sample of Egyptian sufferers. [Oral Presentation], XXXII World Congress of Audiology, Brisbane, Australia . [Details] | |
| (2014) | XXXII World Congress of Audiology, El Refaie, A. (2014) A casestudy of acute intermittent, unilateral tinnitus. Can an impacted wisdom tooth cause tinnitus?. [Oral Presentation], XXXII World Congress of Audiology, Brisbane, Australia . [Details] | |
| (2014) | 8th International Tinnitus Research Initiative (TRI) Conference, El Refaie, A. (2014) Tinnitus: A warning sign in non-otological conditions. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 8th International Tinnitus Research Initiative (TRI) Conference, Auckland, New Zealand . [Details] | |
| (2012) | British Academy of Audiology, El Refaie, A. (2012) Demylination and the ear: The role of Audiologists in early diagnosis. [Plenary Lecture], British Academy of Audiology, Manchester, UK . [Details] | |
| (2012) | British Academy of Audiology, El Refaie, A. (2012) Modifying neuro-circuitry: vagal nerve stimulation for tinnitus suppression, the theory and the potential. [Oral Presentation], British Academy of Audiology, Manchester, UK . [Details] | |
| (2011) | 5th International TRI Tinnitus Conference, El Refaie, A. (2011) Sound therapy in tinnitus: What do the evidences tell (and don't tell). [Oral Presentation], 5th International TRI Tinnitus Conference, Buffalo, USA . [Details] | |
| (2010) | XVth Anniversary Symposium in Audiological Medicine, El Refaie, A. (2010) Autoimmune inner ear disease: Better understanding for better diagnosis?. [Oral Presentation], XVth Anniversary Symposium in Audiological Medicine, Krakow, Poland . [Details] | |
| (2010) | British Academy of Audiology Annual Conference, El Refaie, A. (2010) Repetitive transcraial magnetic stimulation for tinnitus management: The current knowledge base and the future. [Oral Presentation], British Academy of Audiology Annual Conference, Edinburgh, UK . [Details] | |
| (2010) | Diagnosis and management of the dizzy child symposium, El Refaie, A. (2010) Case studies for dizzy children. [Invited Oral Presentation], Diagnosis and management of the dizzy child symposium, Cairo, Egypt . [Details] | |
| (2009) | European Federation of Audiological Societies Conference, El Refaie, A. (2009) Recent advances in the pathophysiology of Meniere's disease. [Oral Presentation], European Federation of Audiological Societies Conference, Tenerife, Spain . [Details] | |
| (2008) | British Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting, El Refaie, A. (2008) The correlation between endolymphatic hydrops, tinnitus and medical channelopathies. [Oral Presentation], British Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting, Liverpool, UK . [Details] | |
| (2008) | International Tinnitus Seminar, El Refaie, A. (2008) Chanelopathies, Meniere's and tinnitus: Evidences of common pathophysiological mechanisms. [Oral Presentation], International Tinnitus Seminar, Gothenburg, Sweden . [Details] | |
| (2008) | British Psychological Society Health division and European Health Psychology Society Joint Conference, St. Claire, L., Coyle, C., Dunkerley, K., El Refaie, A. & Syafira, W. (2008) Applying self-categorization theory to understand subjective hearing loss in older people (1): The impact of older group membership self esteem. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society Health division and European Health Psychology Society Joint Conference, Bath, UK . [Details] | |
| (2008) | British Psychological Society Health Division and European Health Psychology Society Joint Conference, St. Claire, L., Coyle, C., Dunkerley, K., El Refaie, A. & Syafira, W. (2008) Applying self-categorization theory to understand subjective hearing loss in older people (2): The impact of older group membership on subjective and objectively measured hearing difficulty. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society Health Division and European Health Psychology Society Joint Conference, Bath, UK . [Details] | |
| (2007) | British Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting, El Refaie, A. (2007) The role of general health outcome measures in planning and evaluating rehabilitation programs for tinnitus sufferers. [Oral Presentation], British Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting, Telford, UK . [Details] | |
| (2007) | 8th Eurpean Federation of Audiological Societies (EFAS) Congress, El Refaie, A (2007) Older people with hearing impairment: Examining the variations in the use of health services and maintenance of autonomy and independence. A perspective study. [Oral Presentation], 8th Eurpean Federation of Audiological Societies (EFAS) Congress, Heidelberg, Germany . [Details] | |
| (2006) | 9th International Congress for Behavioural Medicine, El Refaie, A. (2006) Quality of life issues in tinnitus sufferers. [Oral Presentation], 9th International Congress for Behavioural Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand . [Details] | |
| (2002) | 7th International Tinnitus Seminar, El Refaie, A. & El Khosht, M. (2002) Correlation between tinnitus and otoacoustic emissions in individuals with normal hearing thresholds: An experience in Saudi Arabia. [Oral Presentation], 7th International Tinnitus Seminar, Fremantle, Australia . [Details] | |
| (2009) | The British Academy of Audiology Regional Meeting, El Refaie (2009)  Pathophysiological causes of endolymphatic hydrops. [Plenary Lecture], The British Academy of Audiology Regional Meeting, Gloucester, UK . [Details] | |
| (2009) | The British Tinnitus Association Annual Conference, El Refaie, A (2009) Contemporary theories of tinnitus generation. [Plenary Lecture], The British Tinnitus Association Annual Conference, Sheffield, UK . [Details] | |
| (2010) | The Hyperacusis Seminar, El Refaie, A. (2010) Neurophysiological models of hyperacusis. [Plenary Lecture], The Hyperacusis Seminar, Royal Surry County Hospitals, Guilford . [Details] | |
| (2007) | The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Audiology Department,, El Refaie, A. (2007)  The anatomy and physiology of the balance system: Recent advances. [Plenary Lecture], The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Audiology Department,, Cairo University, Egypt . [Details] | |
| (2014) | Tinnitus Management Seminar, El Refaie, A. (2014) Neurobiological attributes to tinnitus. [Plenary Lecture], Tinnitus Management Seminar, Cairo University, Egypt . [Details] | |
| (2014) | Tinnitus Management Seminar, El Refaie, A. (2014) Recent advanes in sound therapy for tinnitus management. [Plenary Lecture], Tinnitus Management Seminar, Cairo University, Egypt . [Details] | |
| (2008) | The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Audiology Department, El Refaie, A. (2008) The causes of tinnitus: A review. [Plenary Lecture], The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Audiology Department, Cairo University, Egypt . [Details] | |
| (2011) | 3rd Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation Welsh Interest Group, El Refaie, A. (2011) Recent theories in Meniere's disease. [Plenary Lecture], 3rd Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation Welsh Interest Group, Neath Port Talbot Hospital . [Details] |
Outreach Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
Elected to the executive board of the British Academy of Audiology (BAA), November 2011 | |
Member of the accreditation committee of the British Academy of Audiology with responsibility to oversee accreditation process for BSc and MSc programs - headed the accreditation process for Southampton BSc and MSc programs (2009), Queen Margaret University MSc program (2011) and UCL BSc and MSc programs (2011). | |
Appointed as the external reviewer for the MSc Audiology program, Leeds University, 2012 | |
Included on British Academy of Audiology experts list on tinnitus - this list acts as a directory of experts for researchers nationally and internationally. | |
Appointed as the academic external examiner of The BSc Audiology program, Manchester University, June 2010 for 3 years, and for the BSc Audiology program, UCL, January 2012 | |
Appointed as a representative of the British Academy of Audiology to the Medical Education England (MEE) board, with responsibilities for accreditation of educational programs (undergraduate and post graduate) in England | |
Established an ERASMUS connection with the University of Gothenburg involving a postgraduate, 18 hour course in tinnitus and Meniere’s disease in Gothenburg (March 2010) | |
Organized the scientific program for the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) annual conference, Manchester, 2012 | |
Consultant for Gothenburg University for the development of new BSc degree in Audiology. |
Contact details
- Amr El Refaie
Senior Lecturer - amr.elrafaie@ucc.ie
- Speech and Hearing Sciences
University College Cork
Cork
Ireland - +353-21-490-3000