Da Vinci student wins Illinois Academy of Audiology award

Posted May 16, 2011 11:00 pm

Da Vinci Academy

Charlotte O'Sullivan of St. Charles, a seventh-grader at Da Vinci Academy in Elgin, received an award from the Illinois Academy of Audiology for her science project on presbycusis, or hearing loss. The award was given at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science Fair State Finals held May 7 in Champaign.

O'Sullivan, age 13, began her research project wondering what could cause hearing loss, and if age and gender have an effect on hearing loss. With the help of a St. Charles audiologist, O'Sullivan

created a method and procedure to conduct her research.

Using a portable audiometer and supra-aural headphones, she tested children, age 5-15, and adults, age 40-55, from both genders. Her findings supported her hypothesis that older adults will have more occurrences of hearing loss compared to children. In awarding the $150 prize, the ILAA noted O'Sullivan's thorough research and well-prepared presentation.

Da Vinci Academy is located at Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin and enrolls 130 students in prekindergarten to eighth grade. For information, visit www.dvacademy.org or call (847) 841-7532.

For more information about the ILAA, visit www.ilaudiology.org

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