Dr. Wafaa Kaf

Biography

An audiologist, Dr. Wafaa Kaf is a professor in the department of communication sciences and disorders. Her influences in research have been shaped by several education and medical training experiences. Kaf's primary teaching and research interests are in the areas of early auditory evoked potential (AEP) using auditory brainstem response and steady-state response to assess hearing function in healthy and special needs populations.

She also conducts pioneering AEP research studies to assess the neural adaptation function of the inner ear and the auditory nerve for early diagnosis of Meniere’s disease and auditory nerve lesions. In addition, Kaf also researches the integrity of the auditory efferent function in children with autism spectrum disorders. She also has a research interest in the evaluation of middle ear function using wideband absorbance tympanometry in normal and abnormal middle ear conditions.

Kaf is recognized globally for her research expertise. She has an active record of publications and presentations at both national and international conferences, as well as service to the community.

Details

Education

• Ph.D., School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2003, University of Pittsburgh
• M.S. in Otolaryngology and Audiology, 1992, Assiut University Hospitals, Egypt
• M.D., Faculty of Medicine, 1987, Assiut University, Egypt

Teaching

• CSD 834 Diagnostic Audiology I
• CSD 850 Pediatric Audiology—Integrated Service-learning course
• CSD 844 Auditory Electrophysiology (EP)                                
• CDS 990 Electrophysiology Laboratory                                             
• CSD 692 Grand Round
• CSD 875 Medical Audiology
• CSD 945 Central Auditory Processing Disorders
• CSD 999 Doctoral Research Thesis
• CSD 899 Doctoral Research Project
• GEP 101 First-year Programs
• UHC 110 Freshmen Honors Seminar—Integrated Service-learning course

Professional experience

Affiliations:

• American Academy of Audiology: Member
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Fellow
• ASHA Special Interest Group (SIG) 6 Coordinating Committee: Elected Member
• Missouri Academy of Audiology: Member
• Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Member

Research and professional interests

• Early auditory evoked potential (AEP) using steady-state response for estimation of hearing thresholds, binaural interaction component and generator sites
• Assessing the neural adaptation function of the inner ear and the auditory nerve for early diagnosis of Meniere's disease and hidden hearing loss
• Investigating the integrity of the auditory efferent system in children with ASD and normals, as well as investigating the validity and reliability of the cochlear microphonic AEP as a potential technique to study the efferent system
• Evaluation of middle ear function using wideband absorbance tympanometry in normal and abnormal middle ear conditions

Awards and honors

Additional resources

• Mind's Eye Research - Did you hear? Students offer free screenings
• ResearchGate

Area of expertise

Media appearances

Improving Diagnostic Test for Ménière’s Disease
Hearing Health Magazine
03/01/2018
Audiologist Dr. Wafaa Kaf explains her research about the use of a novel analysis technique called Continuous Loop Averaging Deconvolution (CLAD) to best improve the sensitivity of ECochG to high click rate for diagnosing Ménière’s disease.

Missouri State professor finds alternate ways to test hearing, such as with infants
Springfield News-Leader
02/16/2014
Audiologist Dr. Wafaa Kaf discusses ways to evaluate the hearing of challenging populations, such as an infant, or an adult with dementia.

Videos