Dr. Tom Thunder is both an audiologist and an acoustical

engineer. He heads a professional practice that specializes

in hearing and acoustics. He has consulted on a variety of

issues that include hearing problems, audibility of warning

devices, occupational noise, hearing conservation,

environmental noise, speech intelligibility, acoustical privacy,

building mechanical noise, ventilation noise, and room

acoustics. He also conducts independent examinations to

assess the work-relatedness of hearing loss.

 

Education:

PCO School of Audiology, AuD (Audiology) 2002

Illinois Institute of Technology, Post Grad (Acoustics) 1979-1982

Northern Illinois University, M.A. (Audiology) 1976

Northern Illinois University, B.S. (Communication Disorders) 1974

Illinois Department of Professional Regulation – Licensed Audiologist

Institute of Noise Control Engineering – Board Certified Noise Engineer

Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation – Certified Director

Experience:

Dr. Thunder has over 25 years of experience in the fields of hearing and acoustics. Because of his training in both audiology and acoustics, he has been called upon to testify as an expert witness in cases involving occupational noise, environmental noise, audibility, and hearing loss. The diversity of his experience has given him a unique perspective in solving hearing conservation and acoustical problems.

Dr. Thunder began his career as a research assistant with Northern Illinois University where he studied hearing protectors. During this time, he completed internships at University of Chicago's Billings Hospital and at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital. He later served in a variety of positions including clinical audiologist for a metropolitan speech and hearing center, noise control engineer for a major engineering firm, manager of acoustics for a major noise control manufacturer, applications engineer for a worldwide supplier of acoustical instruments, and audiologist for a large medical practice. He began his own practice in 1988 to offer services in both hearing and acoustics.

Dr. Thunder is on staff at Rush University and Northern Illinois University and teaches courses in hearing science, audiology, noise assessment, classroom acoustics, psychoacoustics, and hearing conservation. He also teaches on-line courses for the PCO School of Audiology in Philadelphia. He regularly offers seminars on audiometric testing and hearing conservation, which have been recognized by CAOHC as the leading course in Midwest.

Membership:

American Academy of Audiology (Fellow)

Illinois Academy of Audiology (Past President)

Acoustical Society of America (Past President of the Chicago Chapter)

Institute of Noise Control Engineering (Board Certified)

National Hearing Conservation Association