Anna Jilla

Jo Mayo Endowed Assistant Professor of Audiology
Office: Speech and Hearing Building, Room 120-B
Phone: 409-880-7591
Email: ajilla@lamar.edu

Dr. Jilla has medical audiology experience in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders across the lifespan. She comes with a highly unique and specialized knowledge in payer policy, public health, population-based data, and health economics. Dr. Jilla serves as one of few researchers investigating health economic applications in audiology in the United States. Her current professional service includes: Chair of the Coding and Reimbursement Committee for the American Academy of Audiology, Member of the American Academy of Audiology Foundation Board of Trustees, and Member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Academy of Audiology.

Education:

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health
  • Ph.D., Audiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • Au.D., University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • M.A., French and Francophone Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Board Certification/Licensure

  • American Board of Audiology, Board Certified in Audiology
  • American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Certificate of Clinical Competence – Audiology
  • Licensed to practice audiology in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama

Research Laboratory and Interests

Audiology Economics and Rehabilitative Outcomes (AERO) Laboratory

  • Mission: Develop high-quality evidence and training opportunities for professionals and students in four core areas—population health, health economics, healthcare policy, and care models—to address disparities and inadequacies in hearing and balance care
  • Vision: Engage community, regional, and national stakeholders in developing interventions and influencing health policy for adults with hearing and balance disorders
  • Current focus areas:
    • Health policy and patient advocacy
    • Health economics (cost-effectiveness and benefit-cost analyses)
    • Health services and quality improvement interventions
    • Adult diagnostics and management of hearing and balance disorders

Teaching

  • Graduate
    • SPHS 6312: Introduction to Hearing Aids
    • SPHS 6321: Advanced Hearing Aids
    • SPHS 6352: Aural Rehabilitation
  • Undergraduate
    • SPHS 3312: Hearing Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders

Publications

  • Miller, E.L., Jilla, A.M., Arnold, M.L. (2022). Defining Audiology through Occupational and Health Policy Action. Seminars in Hearing. 43(1), 3-12.
  • Jilla, A.M., Arnold, M.L., Miller, E.L. (2021). U.S. Policy Considerations for Telehealth Provision in Audiology. Seminars in Hearing, 42(2), 165-174.
  • Lin, H.H., Willink, A., Jilla, A.M., et al. (2021) Healthcare-Seeking Behaviors Among Medicare Beneficiaries by Functional Hearing Status. J Aging Health. 33(9), 647-660. doi:10.1177/08982643211011799
  • Jilla, A.M., Reed, N.S., Oh, E., Lin, F.R.. (2021). A geriatrician’s guide to hearing loss. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. May;69(5):1190-1198. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17073.
  • Jilla A.M., Johnson, C.E., Huntington-Klein, N. Hearing aid affordability in the United States. [published online ahead of print October 28, 2020]. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. doi:10.1080/17483107.2020.1822449
  • Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E., Danhauer, J.L., Anderson, M., Smith, J.N., Sullivan, J.C., Sanchez, K.R. (2020). Predictors of hearing aid use in the advanced digital era: An investigation of benefit, satisfaction and self-efficacy. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 31(2), 87-95.
  • Sullivan, J.C., Johnson, C.E., Danhauer, J.L., Jilla, A.M., Winkler, K.R. (2018). Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome: Parents’ and Audiologists’ Perspectives. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 30(8), 667-693.
  • Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E., Danhauer, J.L. (2018). Disruptive hearing technologies and mild sensorineural hearing loss I: Accessibility and affordability issues. Seminars in Hearing, 39(2), 135-145.
  • Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E., Danhauer, J.L. (2018). Disruptive hearing technologies and mild sensorineural hearing loss II: Current research on over-the-counter devices and a direct-to-consumer delivery model. Seminars in Hearing, 39(2), 146-157.
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M., Danhauer, J.L., Sullivan, J.C., Winkler, K.R. (2018). Benefits from, satisfaction with, and self-efficacy for advanced digital hearing aids in users with mild sensorineural hearing loss: Preliminary findings. Seminars in Hearing, 39(2), 158-171.
  • Johnson, C.E., Barbee, C.M., Danhauer, J.L., Jilla, A.M., Kimball, S.H., Seever, K.L. (2018). Toward the future of early intervention of adult hearing loss. Seminars in Hearing, 39(2), 221-226.
  • Jilla, A.M., Roberts, R.A., Johnson, C.E. (2018). Teaching patient-centered counseling skills for assessment, diagnosis, and management of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Seminars in Hearing, 39(1), 52-66.
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M., Danhauer, J.L. (2018). Didactic content and experiential aging simulation for developing patient-centered strategies and empathy for older adults. Seminars in Hearing, 39(1), 74-82.
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M., Danhauer, J.L. (2018). Developing counseling skills for addressing adherence issues in auditory rehabilitation. Seminars in Hearing, 39(1), 13-31.
  • Johnson, C.E., Ellis, B.M., Danhauer, J.L., Jilla, A.M. (2016). Hearing Aid Benefit in Patients with Mild Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 27(4), 293-310.

Select Refereed Presentations

  • Jilla, A.M., Reed, N.R. (2020). Hearing loss and health care satisfaction. Poster presentation, Geriatric Society of America Annual Conference. Virtual. November 4 – 8, 2020.
  • Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E., Huntington-Klein, N. (2020). Hearing Aid Affordability in the US: How much is too much? Poster presentation, Academy Health Research Conference. American Academy of Audiology Meeting. New Orleans, LA. July 28 – August 6, 2020. Conference cancelled.
  • Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E., Huntington-Klein, N., Baldwin, J. (2020). Willingness to Pay for Hearing Aids, Over-the-Counter Devices, and Associated Services. Podium presentation, American Academy of Audiology Meeting. New Orleans, LA. April 1-4, 2020. Conference cancelled.
  • Park, J.H., Huddleston, J., Wilkerson, C., Rock, K., Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E. (2020) Use of the APHAB in randomized-controlled trials and longitudinal studies. Poster presentation, American Academy of Audiology Meeting, New Orleans, LA. April 1-4, 2020. Conference cancelled.
  • Rock, K., Donnell, M., Huntington-Klein, N., Park, J.H., Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E. (2020) Affordability of hearing aids for low-income hearing-help seekers. Poster presentation, American Academy of Audiology Meeting, New Orleans, LA. April 1-4, 2020. Conference cancelled.
  • Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E., Huntington-Klein, N., Baldwin, J., Danhauer, J.L., Park, J.H., Smith, E., Huddleston, J. (2020). Willingness to Pay for Hearing Aids, Over-the-Counter Devices, and Services. Poster presentation, American Auditory Society Meeting. Scottsdale, AZ. March 4-7, 2020.
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M., Barbee, C.M., Kopke, R., Danhauer, J.L. (2020). Development of a Test Battery for Cochlear Synaptopathy. Podium presentation, American Auditory Society Meeting. Scottsdale, AZ. March 4-7, 2020.
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M., Huntington-Klein, N., Danhauer, J.L., Park, J.H. (2020). Affordability of Hearing Aids for Hearing Help-Seekers with Low Incomes. Podium presentation, American Auditory Society Meeting. Scottsdale, AZ. March 4-7, 2020.
  • Park, J.H., Huddleston, J., Wilkerson, C., Rock, K., Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E. (2019) Use of the APHAB in randomized-controlled trials and longitudinal studies. Poster presentation, Canadian Academy of Audiology Meeting, Nova Scotia, Canada. October 14-17, 2019.
  • Rock, K., Donnell, M., Huntington-Klein, N., Park, J.H., Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E. (2019) Affordability of hearing aids for low-income hearing-help seekers. Poster presentation, Canadian Academy of Audiology Meeting, Nova Scotia, Canada. October 14-17, 2019.
  • Jilla, A.M., Roberts, R.A., Johnson, C.E. (2019). Teaching Patient-Centered Counseling Skills for those with BPPV. Poster presentation, 8th Biennial CSD Teaching Conference, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Pittsburgh, PA. June 13-15, 2019.
  • Jilla, A.M. Johnson, C.E., Huntington-Klein, N. (2019). A Study of Hearing Aid Affordability in the US: How much is too much? Podium presentation, American Academy of Audiology Conference. Columbus, OH. March 27-30, 2019.
    *Also accepted for presentation at the Academy Research Conference at AAA 2019
    **Awarded Academy Research Conference Student Poster Presentation Scholarship at AAA 2019
  • Bush, K.M., Jilla, A.M., Johnson, C.E., John, A.B., Huntington-Klein, N. (2019). Socioeconomics Impacts of Hearing Loss: Big Data from the American Community Survey. Poster presentation, American Academy of Audiology Conference. Nashville, TN. Columbus, OH. March 27-30, 2019.
  • Jilla, A.M., Roberts, R.A., Johnson, C.E. (2018). Facilitating Student Counseling of Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Mini-Module Podium presentation, American Academy of Audiology Conference. Nashville, TN. April 18-21, 2019.
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M., Smith, E.M., Park, J.H. (2018). Health-Related Quality of Life Benefits from Entry-Level Digital Hearing Aids for Low-Income Adults. Poster presentation, American Academy of Audiology Conference. Nashville, TN. April 18-21, 2019.
    *Awarded AAA 2018 Poster Award for Excellence in Hearing aids and Amplification
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M., Danhauer, J.L., Sullivan, J.C., Sanchez, K.R. (2018). Advanced digital hearing aids and mild loss: Outcomes and self-efficacy. Podium presentation, American Auditory Society Meeting. Scottsdale, AZ. February 28 – March 3, 2018.
  • Johnson, C.E., Jilla, A.M. (2017). Didactic content and experiential class simulations for developing patient-centered informational counseling strategies for older adults. Podium presentation, 7th Biennial CSD Teaching Conference, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Pittsburgh, PA. June 15-17, 2017.

Select Invited Presentations

  • “Teleaudiology: The Evidence Base and Solutions for Your Clinic” invited Learning Lab for American Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting. (March 2022)
  • “Coverage: An Integral Component of the Reimbursement Equation” invited podium presentation for American Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting. Lead presenter. (March 2022)
  • “Audiology Coding and Reimbursement in Review: 2020-2021” invited podium presentation for American Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting. Lead presenter. (April 2021)
  • “Point-Counterpoint: The Role of Telepractice, Post COVID-19” invited panel discussion for American Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting. Moderator: Dave Fabry, PhD (April 2021)
  • “Applying Health Economics in Audiologic Practice: Affordability and Willingness to Pay” invited virtual podium presentation. American Speech-Language Hearing Association Annual Conference: Audiology 2020—Evolving Clinical Practice: Present and Future Considerations. (November 2020)
  • “Coding Updates for 2020” invited podium presentation for the American Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting. Co-Lead Presenter. (April 2020)
  • “Medicare Basics” invited podium presentation for the American Academy of Audiology Annual Meeting. Co-Lead Presenter. (April 2020)

Professional Organization Memberships

  • AcademyHealth
  • Gerontological Society of America
  • American Academy of Audiology
  • American Speech-Language Hearing Association
  • International Society of Audiology
  • Texas Academy of Audiology
  • American Auditory Society
  • Hearing Healthcare Collaborative