HS204 - Future Forecast- Audiology Under Siege: Industry and Audiologists Working Together to Safeguard and Promote the Profession, Now and in the Future

Thursday, April 18, 2024

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST

Location: Halls A1-A2

Earn 0.1 CEUs

Moderator(s)

Patricia A. Gaffney, AuD (she/her/hers)

Professor
Nova Southeastern University- AAA Incoming President
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Presenter(s)

Jeff Geigel

Chief Sales Officer
Starkey

Disclosure(s): Starkey: Employment (Ongoing)
Mikkel Knudsen

President
ReSound

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Jason Mayer

Vice President
Phonak

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Soren Nielsen

President
Widex USA, Inc.
Hauppauge, New York

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Mike O'Neil

President
Signia USA
Iselin, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): Signia: Employment (Ongoing)
Gary Rosenblum

President
Oticon Inc.
Somerset, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): Oticon Inc: Employment (Ongoing)
Patricia Trautwein, AuD (she/her/hers)

Vice President
Cochlear
Lone Tree, Colorado

Disclosure(s): Cochlear Americas: Employment (Ongoing)

In the United States, approximately 49 million adults have under or untreated hearing loss with this level expected to grow by 30 million over the next four decades. Key stakeholders committed to reducing the rate of untreated hearing loss include manufacturers, audiologists, physicians, and policymakers but the role of audiologists is not always recognized as clinicians that can play an instrumental role in not only treating hearing loss but also improving overall health outcomes. Audiologists offer comprehensive diagnostic and audiological services including evaluations, diagnostic testing, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. However, there are a variety of threats to the future of the audiology profession, such as lack of recognition by Medicare, physician views of hearing health, variation in audiology practice, narrow insurance provider networks, and lack of public awareness of audiological services. Audiologists must be ready to stand together, clearly differentiate themselves, protect their future, raise their profile among lawmakers and other healthcare professionals, and ensure more adults are seeking out audiologists and their services moving forward.

During the Future Forecast session, leaders from the hearing amplification industry will offer their perspectives on how to promote the critical role the profession plays in a patient’s healthcare journey and how manufacturers and audiologists can reduce untreated hearing loss. They will discuss the vital and interdependent relationship between manufacturers and audiologists and the opportunity to work together to advance a common goal of demonstrating the benefits of audiological services, including how to raise awareness among primary care providers and overcome obstacles in referring patients. The panel will also describe how audiologists can differentiate themselves through technological innovations combined with the services they offer ultimately leading to improved hearing health care for millions and treatment of other comorbidities, and how best to ensure policymakers fully understand what policies are needed to reduce untreated hearing loss.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to describe how their services and innovate technology can improve patient outcomes.
Participants will be able to list 3 cutting edge technologies available from manufacturers.
Participants will be able to describe how healthcare policy impacts patients.