Dona Jayakody

Dona Jayakody serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of Western Australia Medical School and is affiliated with the UWA Centre for Ear Science. Her research focuses on the intersection of hearing health and cognitive function, particularly examining how hearing impairment relates to dementia, mental health, and frailty in aging populations. She maintains active collaborations across multiple institutions and has secured significant research funding from national health organizations.

Dr. Jayakody's research interests center on hearing impairment, particularly age-related hearing loss, and its complex relationship with cognitive decline and dementia. Her work spans clinical studies, systematic reviews, and intervention trials examining how hearing rehabilitation might mitigate cognitive decline. She has made significant contributions to understanding hearing loss in diverse populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Chinese-speaking older adults. Her research demonstrates how hearing loss affects mental health, social isolation, and quality of life, with particular focus on how cochlear implantation can alleviate anxiety and stress symptoms.

Her publication record reveals a strong trajectory of high-impact research connecting audiology with neuroscience and gerontology. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches addressing hearing loss as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. Her studies increasingly incorporate diverse methodologies from clinical trials to community-based participatory research, with growing attention to cultural considerations in hearing healthcare delivery.

• Hearables and behavioural activation for mental distress and social isolation in hearing impaired older adults (NHMRC, 2022-2026)
• Jayakody, Dona - WANMA EL 2022 (Department of Health WA, 2023-2024)
• RPH MRF Career Advancement Fellowship (Royal Perth Hospital, 2022-2025)
• Correction of hearing loss and cognitive function: a randomised controlled trial (Equity Trustees, 2018)

Dr. Jayakody has supervised four research students and contributed to policy through submissions to government committees, including an appearance as an independent expert in January 2021. Her work with the HearCog trial represents a significant contribution to understanding whether hearing rehabilitation can prevent cognitive decline. She maintains active research networks with collaborators across multiple countries, reflecting the global significance of her work on hearing health and cognitive aging.