Myriam Westcott

Myriam Westcott

Audiologist

DWM Audiologist Myriam Westcott

Myriam Westcott is a director of DWM Audiology, having joined the clinic in 2000.  She is an experienced Audiologist, with specialised interests in aural rehabilitation and tinnitushyperacusisacoustic shock disorder evaluation and therapy. 

Myriam started her audiological working life at National Acoustic Laboratory (NAL, now known as Hearing Australia) for six years.  Her commitment to hearing rehabilitation, including hearing aid fitting and supporting the emotional reactions to hearing problems, stemmed from this time. 

While working at the Victorian Deaf Society HEAR (Hearing Education and Aural Rehabilitation) Service she was drawn to the challenge of providing effective tinnitus and hyperacusis management.  Myriam had the opportunity at HEAR Service to focus intensively on tinnitus and hyperacusis therapy for five years, co-ordinating the HEAR Service Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Program for most of that time. 

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne, 1973
  • Postgraduate Diploma of Audiology, 1974 – the first year an academic qualification in audiology was available in Australia
  • Melbourne, 2000: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) course run by Professor Pawel Jastreboff, who developed the neurophysiological model of tinnitus and, with Dr Jonathan Hazell, developed TRT
  • Melbourne, 2001: Advanced TRT course run by Professor Pawel Jastreboff

Myriam has been working with acoustic shock patients on a frequent basis since 2002, making her the most experienced audiologist internationally in the provision of acoustic shock evaluation and therapy. She offers online video consultations, workplace consultancy and regularly lectures in tinnitus,  acoustic shock, hyperacusis and TTS.  She is committed to the research and development of new and innovative approaches to tinnitus, hyperacusis, acoustic shock disorder, TTS and misophonia therapy, utilising her clinical experience of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness psychological strategies. Myriam is closely involved with the Tinnitus Association of Victoria and the formation of Tinnitus Australia.

In 2023, Myriam was awarded as an Audiology Australia Fellow, joining a small group of 11 others to achieve this recognition.  A Fellow is defined as a person who has made a substantial and original contribution to the advancement of audiological knowledge or practice in Australia, either by their own research or by organising and developing the work of others.  The award was given in recognition of Myriam’s clinically based research publications, and providing presentations and workshops that foster an increased understanding of her areas of specialty across the profession.

Publications

Westcott M: “Case Study. Management of Hyperacusis associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”. In: Patuzzi R, editor. Proceedings of the Seventh International Tinnitus Seminar, Fremantle, 5th-9th March 2002. Perth: Uni of W.A, 2002;280-285.

Westcott M: “Acoustic Shock Injury (ASI)”. In: Acta Oto-Laryngologica Vol.126 Supplementum 556, December 2006, containing a selection of papers from the VIIIth International Tinnitus Seminar, Pau, France 6th -10th September 2005.

Westcott M: “Acoustic Shock Injury (ASI)”. Audiological Society of Australia. Audiology Now. Issue 25.

Westcott M: “Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome – an explanation for everyday sounds causing pain in tinnitus and hyperacusis clients”, Poster, IXth International Tinnitus Seminar, Gothenburg, Sweden, 15-18 June 2008.

Westcott M:“A perspective on tinnitus, hyperacusis and acoustic shock injury research” ENT News, Vol 17, No 5, November/December 2008.

Westcott M: “Somatosensory tinnitus and tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS)” Poster for 3rd Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference, Stresa, Italy, 24-26 June 2009.

Westcott M: “Acoustic Shock Disorder” Tinnitus Discovery – Asia and Pacific Tinnitus Symposium, Auckland, 11-12 September 2009. Conference Proceedings published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

Westcott M: “Hyperacusis: a clinical perspective on management” Tinnitus Discovery – Asia and Pacific Tinnitus Symposium, Auckland, 11-12 September 2009. Conference Proceedings published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

Westcott M, Sanchez T G, Diges I, Saba C, Dineen R, McNeill C, Chiam A, O’Keefe M, Sharples T. “Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Patients: A Multi-Clinic Prevalence Study” Noise and Health Journal, Mar-Apr 2013, Volume 15, Issue 63 pp117-128.

  • Oral and poster presentation of preliminary results at the Xth International Tinnitus Seminar, Florianopolis, Brazil March 2011, where the scientific committee selected this research as the best electronic poster, winning the inaugural Jack Vernon Award for originality, innovation, study design, analysis and ultimate impact on the field of tinnitus.
  • 5th Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference, August 19-21, 2011, Buffalo, NY, USA, published in a special edition of Noise and Health Journal, dedicated to a selection of papers from this conference

Westcott M: “Middle Ear Myoclonus and Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome”. Chapter in “Tinnitus: Clinical and ResearchPerspectives” edited by David M.Baguley, MarcFagelson, Plural Publishing Inc, 2015.

Westcott M:“Hyperacusis-induced Pain: Understanding and Management of Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS) Symptoms”. Journal of Pain Relief 2016, 5:2.

Westcott M: Medical Republic are a media group providing GPs with a fortnightly online magazine with articles aimed at improving Australian healthcare delivery.


Myriam’s articles can be found at these links: