Misophonia Convention 2023 Speakers
(In alphabetical order)
The 2023 Misophonia Convention will take place November 2-4,2023. To find out more about the convention CLICK HERE!
Dr. Hashir Aazh
Audiologist, Specialist in Tinnitus
Hashir is an Audiologist, Specialist in Tinnitus, Hyperacusis & Misophonia Rehabilitation,
Director of Hashir International, a pioneer in audiologist-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for management of misophonia, tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Presentations:
International Conference On Hyperacusis And Misophonia: 10 Year Review of Concepts
Audiologist-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Cbt) For Misophonia Rehabilitation
Adeel Ahmad
Misophonia Podcast Host
Adeel Ahmad, host of the Misophonia Podcast, has misophonia and interviews other “misophones” from around the world. In his podcast you will hear candid conversations with people that have misophonia. He is the creator of The Miso List, a directory of products and businesses by misophones. Adeel also supports fellow misophones as the administrator for the Midwest Misophones Support Group. During the day Adeel is a software engineer and entrepreneur, currently an Engineering Manager at Caterpillar Digital Labs.
Presentations:
- Interview The Interviewer: Adeel Ahmad and the Misophonia Podcast, Interviewed by John Smoot
- Knowing You, Knowing Misophonia: Take Charge Of Your Coping Strategies And Minimise Fallout (Jane Gregory, Doctor of Clinical Psychology with Adeel Ahmad)
Sajana Aryal
Clinical and Research Audiologist
Sajana Aryal, MSc in Audiology from All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, is a clinical and research audiologist at Grande International Hospital. Sajana is interested in carrying out studies related to various auditory disorders such as misophonia, tinnitus, hyperacusis, auditory neuropathy, and cochlear synaptopathy.
Presentation:
Test Batteries For Assessment Of Misophonia from Audiological Perspective (with Prashanth Prabhu, PhD)
Dr. Tana Carson
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Tana Carson, PhD, OTR/L, is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Florida International University, located in Miami, Florida. Dr. Carson has a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and a PhD in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Florida (UF).
Presentation:
Addressing Misophonia In Occupational Therapy (with Jena Northen)
Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Florida International University
Dr. Ezra Cowan
Psychologist
Ezra Cowan, PsyD, specializes in the treatment of OCD and misophonia. He is a pioneer in developing a comprehensive model and therapy for misophonia that is based on psychological principles. He is currently in private practice.
Presentation:
EASE Your Miso: An Acceptance-Based Protocol for Misophonia (with Eliyahu Serkez, MHC)
Tom Dozier
Behavior Scientist
Thomas Dozier MS, BCBA, is a Behavior Scientist and began studying misophonia in 2012 after attempting to mitigate its damaging effects in families. Tom is Founder ot the Misophonia Institute and the author of several scholarly articles and books about misophonia.
Presentation:
Misophonia Treatment With Conterconditioning & Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Dr. Mercede Erfanian
Auditory Neuroscientist and Researcher
Mercede Erfanian holds a PhD in Auditory Neuroscience and is a researcher specializing in affective sound perception and the disorders of peripheral and central auditory systems including misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus.
Presentation:
Comparing Tinnitus & Misophonia Patients – Audiological Characteristics
Mercede Erfanian, neuroscience scholar, University College London
Mabel Forward
Mabel Forward (and Freya Noonan) are recent graduates of the University of Bristol who spent their final year research project studying and investigating Misophonia. Join Freya and Mabel to hear about how they’ve used a different lens, that of human-centred design, to explore misophonia and create solutions with misophones themselves.
Presentation:
Human-Centered Design Approaches To Misophonia (with Freya Noonan)
Dr. Lisa G. Fox-Thomas
Audiologist, Professor of Audiology
Dr. Fox-Thomas (M.A. in Audiology, Ph.D. in Communication Disorders, CCC-A, FAA) is a professor of audiology at UNC Greensboro where she has worked for 20 years. She works clinically as an Audiologist, Director of Audiology Services, and Assistant Clinic Director at the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center. She specializes in auditory processing, tinnitus, and sound sensitivity disorders.
Dr. Fox-Thomas has 15 years experience working with children and adults who have misophonia. She offers evaluation and management of misophonia from an audiological perspective including sound therapy, counseling and support, and interventions for emotional regulation.
Presentation:
Role Of Sound Therapy In The Management Plan For Misophonia
Dr. Jane Gregory
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Jane Gregory, Doctor of Clinical Psychology; HCPC registered clinical psychologist; BABCP accredited CBT therapist, is a clinical psychologist researching misophonia at the University of Oxford, UK. Alongside her collaborators at King’s College London, she co-created the S-Five, a multidimensional questionnaire measuring key aspects of misophonia. Dr Gregory set up and runs a misophonia clinic in Oxford, within a national specialist psychology service in the NHS, offering therapy to children, adolescents and adults with misophonia from around the UK. Dr Gregory is the author of Sounds Like Misophonia: How to stop small noises from causing extreme reactions.
Presentation:
Knowing You, Knowing Misophonia: Take Charge Of Your Coping Strategies And Minimise Fallout (with Adeel Ahmad)
Ryan Ebnali Harari
Professor, Research Scientist
Ryan Ebnali Harari, PhD, is a Research Scientist and faculty member at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School. With a background in Systems Engineering, Computer Sciences, and Cognitive Engineering, Dr. Ebnali Harari has developed extensive and multidisciplinary skillsets in tackling clinical problems within a variety of large-scale and federally funded research projects funded by NIH, NSF, NASA, and DoD. Dr. Ebnali specializes in the application of machine learning and sensing technologies to explore and develop clinical decision tools, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment outcomes, and patient care.
Presentation:
Machine Learning for Misophonia Diagnosis (MIQ)
Amy Headrick
Presentation:
Earplugs: Personal Experiences (with Lisa G. Fox-Thomas, Ph.D.)
Mandana Jafarian
Multidisciplinary Researcher
Mandana is a multidisciplinary researcher. Her research interests lie in the intersection of psychology, education, and technology. Mandana received her Bachelor’s (BSc) and Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She brings more than 15 years of diverse professional experience in various technological fields including software development. She has published journal papers in the field of Computer and Electronics Engineering and is currently a doctoral Student in the Department of Applied Psychology & Human Development at OISE, University of Toronto.
Presentation:
Misophonia & Students’ Academic Performance
Dr. Jaelline Jaffe
Licensed Psychotherapist
Jaelline Jaffe, PhD, has been a Licensed Psychotherapist for 45 years. Her doctorate is from USC, and she has worked with more misophonia clients in the past decade than probably any other therapist in the US. She utilizes a multidimensional program she developed to meet the needs of misophonia clients and their families. In addition, she sees a variety of couples and relationship issues. She is a co-founder and Board Member of The Misophonia Association. Her practice is now a completely telehealth format. Dr. Jaffe is co-author of The Language of Emotional Intelligence (2008, McGraw Hill) and The Heroic Journey: An Adolescent Rite of Passage Program. She is now providing training to other therapists to increase availability of quality services for misophonia patients and families.
Presentations:
What Causes Misophonia: Science And Speculation
Partners Of Adults W Miso
Goldilocks: Family Accommodation For Misophonia – Too Little, Too Much, Just Right
Sensitive to Sound – Counseling/Coaching for Tinnitus & Misophonia
Dr. Marsha Johnson
Audiologist
Marsha Johnson, AuD, is founder and president of the Misophonia Association and has been devoted to the care of patients with tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia for 25 years at her audiology clinic in Portland, Oregon. Her clinical background includes the terminal degree in her field, the Doctorate of Audiology (AuD). Dr. Johnson has collected stories from families now since 1997 and has said that misophonia is a family disease, which also affects friends, co-workers and social groups.
Presentation:
Adults With Misophonia (with Dr. Cindy Simon)
Fatma Betul Kula
Audiologist
Fatma Betul Kula, MSc, BSc in Audiology, obtained an undergraduate degree in audiology from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. She began working as a clinical audiologist for Med-EL Turkey in 2018. She got a scholarship from the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of National Education, to pursue her Master`s and PhD degrees in the UK. Fatma Betul completed a master’s degree in Advanced Audiology studies from the University of Manchester in 2020. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD at the University of Surrey under the supervision of Dr Hashir Aazh and Prof Mark Cropley. Her research interest is tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia.
Presentation:
Misophonia Impact Questionnaire (Miq): Validity & Reliability
Lisa Loeb
Singer-Songwriter
Lisa Loeb is a GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter, who is also affected by misophonia. With nearly 20 studio albums and EPs, multiple entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures, Loeb continues to cement her status as one of the entertainment industry’s hardest working, creative and most revered musical artists, and a venerated influencer.
Presentation:
Lisa Loeb – Music & Misophonia (Lisa will perform her Grammy award-winning songs, plus an interview by John Smoot)
Freya Noonan
MSci Management with Innovation
Freya Noonan, MSci Management with Innovation, and Mabel Forward are recent graduates of the University of Bristol who spent their final year research project studying and investigating Misophonia. Join Freya and Mabel to hear about how they’ve used a different lens, that of human-centred design, to explore Misophonia and create solutions with Misophones themselves.
Presentation:
Human-Centered Design Approaches To Misophonia (with Mabel Forward)
The Novel Condition: Using Human-Centered Methods to Explore Misophonia
Jena Northen
Occupational Therapist
Jena Northen is an Occupational Therapist and the Owner/Manger of Spot On Therapy Group in Richmond, Virginia. Jena earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Management from Winthrop College. She moved to Richmond, where she was introduced to an occupational therapist. The rest was history. She attended VCU/MCV and earned her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1993. Jena has experience in a variety of settings and has had the pleasure of working with people of all ages. Her philosophy includes empowerment of the individual to better understand their illness, injury or disorder and to give them the tools or skills needed to reach their potential.
She uses both top down (cognitive) and bottom up (body based and biofeedback) approaches to treating misophonia.
Presentation:
Addressing Misophonia In Occupational Therapy (with Tana Carson)
Dr. Prashanth Prabhu
Assistant Professor in Audiology
Dr. Prabhu is currently working as an Assistant Professor in Audiology at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, INDIA. He has completed his Masters and Ph.D in Audiology from All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore. Dr. Prabhu’s research interests are in the area of tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonia, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, hidden hearing loss/cochlear synaptopathy. Dr. Prabhu has completed a specialized course on audiologist delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia.
Dr. Prabhu has published more than 80 articles as author and co-author in reputed peer reviewed National and International journals.
Presentation:
Test Batteries For Assessment Of Misophonia From Audiological Perspective (with Sajana Aryal, MSc)
Troy Rysedorph
Troy is a parent of a daughter with misophonia and was a volunteer for the Misophonia Association for many years, always ready to help with all the hours of set-up needed to plan the conventions. In 2020, the Misophonia Association awarded him the Jaxson Award because of his tireless efforts to help with the conventions. In his words he says, “I attended my first Misophonia Convention in 2018 and I was hooked. What a wonderful way to meet others like me, share resources, and feel a sense of hope.”
Presentation:
Parents Of Kids With Miso
Eliyahu Serkez
Counselor
Eliyahu Serkez, Counselor, LAC, MHC, is a clinician at the Center for OCD & Misophonia. In his own words he says, “Throughout my career I have dedicated myself to treating those who feel stuck and controlled by anxiety, OCD, misophonia and past traumas because I recognize the profound impact these conditions can have on one’s life.
As a therapist, I have guided clients through similar journeys of healing. Drawing from my post-graduate training, I use empirically supported treatments – primarily cognitive behavioral, acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches (CBT, ACT, MBCT and ERP) to treat anxiety, OCD, misophonia and complex trauma.”
Presentation:
EASE Your Miso: An Acceptance-Based Protocol for Misophonia (with Dr. Ezra Cowan)
Julia Simner
Neuropsychologist and Researcher
Prof. Julia (‘Jools’) Simner is a neuropsychologist and researcher in the field of sensory differences, including misophonia. Her education and career have taken her to the Universities of Oxford, Toronto, Edinburgh and Sussex, and her work focuses on psychological and neuroscientific differences in sensation and perception.
She has published around 100 peer-reviewed articles over the last two decades, and written or edited definitive guides to her field (e.g., Oxford Handbook of Synesthesia). She is the host of the misophonia hub, the Science Officer for the UK Synaesthesia Association, and Director of the ERC/MRF-funded MULTISENSE lab.
Presentation:
The Misophonia Hub: Research & Online Tools for Positive Outcomes
Dr. Cindy Simon
Audiologist
Cindy A Simon, Au.D. is an Audiologist Specialist at South Miami Audiology Consultants and has over 30 years of experience as a licensed audiologist. She is an expert in misophonia diagnosis and treatment and serves on the Misophonia Association’s board.
Dr. Simon earned her Doctorate in Audiology at the University of Florida and a Master of Arts in Audiology at Wayne State University. She received Board Certification in Audiology by AAA (ABA) and a Certificate of Clinical Competence In Audiology by ASHA (American Speech & Hearing Association). Dr. Simon offers a wealth of experience to all patients at her office and also serves on a number of professional boards, both locally and nationally, advocating for hearing healthcare. She also enjoys teaching students at Florida International University in the Communication Sciences & Disorders department
John “The Smooter” Smoot
Misophonia Association Board Member
John Smoot joined the Misophonia Association Board this year and has been a huge source of inspiration and help for the upcoming annual convention. He is the Administrator of the Western and Pacific Misophonia Support Group, as well as the non-region-based group, Misophonia Without Borders. On May 24, 2020, John created Misophonia Without Borders, for which location is not a part of the membership criteria.
Just recently, John launched a YouTube channel called Misophonia Without Borders Channel, which runs a stream called Things I Hear, in which John introduces himself by announcing “I’m just a guy who has Misophonia and I’m here to talk about it.” The channel also streams YouTube Shorts, called Misophonia Without Borders Channel Quick Talks.
Presentations:
- Special Guest– Music And Misophonia (tentatively scheduled) (Interviewed by John Smoot)
- Interview The Interviewer: Adeel Ahmad Of The Misophonia Podcast (Interviewed by John Smoot)
Western and Pacific Misophonia Support Group
Misophonia Without Borders Channel (“Things I Hear” Youtube shorts)
Jadon Webb
Psychiatrist, Medical Director
Dr. Jadon Webb, M.D., Ph.D., is a psychiatrist Board Certified in both Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and is the founder of Bloom Mental Health, a psychiatric center helping clients across Colorado since 2015. Dr. Webb is actively involved in the academic community and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine where he teaches upcoming psychiatrists. He strongly believes in family-centered mental health and serves as a Board Member for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado. Dr. Webb has held prominent medical leadership roles in Colorado, serving as the Medical Director for the Colorado Office of Children, Youth, and Families; and also, as Acting Chief Medical Officer for the Colorado Department of Human Services. Dr. Webb has an M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience and has published peer-reviewed research articles related to neuroscience and psychiatry, and articles about misophonia. His work has been featured at national scientific conferences as well as on TV, radio, and major print publications.
Presentations:
- Misosensorium: A Proposal For A New Definition (with Afton Williamson)
- The Use Of Medication In Treatment Of Misophonia (with Afton Williamson)
Afton Williamson
Clinical Director & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Afton Williamson, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, DNP, is Clinical Director & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Bloom Mental Health in Denver, Colorado. She is a dual board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner. She started her career as a nurse practitioner in 2012 and brings experience in providing care to patients across the lifespan. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Masters in Nursing from the University of Washington and her Bachelors in Nursing from St Olaf College.
Presentations:
- Misosensorium: A Proposal For A New Definition (with Dr. Jadon Webb)
- The Use Of Medication In Treatment Of Misophonia (with Dr. Jadon Webb)