We are saddened to learn that Ida Fellow and faculty member Dafydd Stephens has passed away at the age of 70. Stephens was a pioneer of audiology and audiological medicine, and played a key role in establishing audiological medicine in the United Kingdom. His research and publications worked towards establishing more patient-centered and holistic approaches to clinical practice.
Dafydd Stephens (popularly known as Dai) served as a faculty member for the Ida seminar series on Communication Partnerships held in 2009. Stephens was a key contributor to the series, providing an insightful lecture on the positive communication experiences of hearing-loss patients and their partners.
Throughout his career, Stephens contributed significantly to developing a broader and deeper understanding of the human dynamics of hearing loss. He was a prolific author, having written several books and published over 400 articles in peer reviewed scientific journals and books. Recently, Stephens co-wrote several articles with Ida Fellow Vinaya Manchaiah that increased our knowledge of the patient’s perspective of hearing loss and their own journey. The articles served to further develop our understanding of the Ida Patient Journey tool and the Ida Communication Partners Journey tool.
Born in Caerfyrddin (Wales), Stephens started his audiology career as a research fellow at the University of Iowa in 1962. His work took him to London, Cambridge, Southampton and Denmark before he took up a post as consultant in audiological medicine at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London in 1976. In 1986 he moved back to his native Wales, where he assumed the position of director of the Welsh Hearing Institute, where he worked until his retirement in 2005.
At the time of his passing, Stephens served as an Honorary Professor of Audiological Medicine at the Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University and Visiting Professor at Swansea University and University of Bristol.