AAA Holds Convention in “Capitol of Hearing Health Care”
AudiologyNOW!, the convention and exposition of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), brought together a reported total of 7,065 people to the Minneapolis Convention Center, including 3,893 audiologists—the second highest number of professionals in the past 5 years. The Academy also welcomed employees of local manufacturers who were able to experience the event for the first time. Often referred to as the “Capitol of Hearing Health Care,” Min­neapolis remains the worldwide and US headquarters for several major hearing health care manufacturers and service providers. Prior to the convention, several of these companies offered open houses and provided attendees with an opportunity to see first-hand their manufacturing facilities, as well as meet important support personnel.

In addition to AudiologyNOW!’s three days of exhibits that featured almost 200 companies and organizations, the convention also offered “WOW!Sessions” with legends of auditory science William Brownell, Peter Dallos, Robert Galambos, and Jozef Zwislocki. Additionally, three symposia—a kind of conference within a conference—were convened during the convention on the subjects of stem cell research, gene therapy, and electrophysiologic evaluation of infants. In total, there were 30 special featured sessions, seven interactive learning labs, more than 50 learning modules, as well as manufacturer presentations and poster sessions.

General Assembly: Audiology is About Now
James Jerger, PhD, provided the keynote speech at the General Assembly, and in his characteristic understated way, was both insightful and entertaining in recalling the early history of AAA. As one of the founding fathers of the Academy, a distinguished researcher in the field, as well as the editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Jerger recounted the events that led to the formation of the AAA.

He said that the idea of forming a new organization for audiologists took root in a 1987 ASHA convention seminar moderated by Rick Talbott, with a panel consisting of Jerger, Lucille Beck, James Hall III, George Osborne, and Charles Berlin. During the panel discussion, Jerger suggested that perhaps the time had come to form a separate professional organization. After the seminar, he says he was “shocked by the positive reaction” to his statement.

Despite formidable opposition to greater independence for the profession, Jerger said that founding the organization was less difficult than he anticipated. Although he said 1988 was an uncertain time and no one knew if their efforts would pay off, by the end of that year there were already 1,500 members, and AAA was well on its way to becoming an important organization by 1989. He made special mention of Brad Stach, the first secretary-treasurer, and H. Gustav Mueller, for doing much of the hard work in those early years.

The first annual meeting of AAA, which was organized by Fred Bess, had the theme Audiology:A New Beginning. “A bright future lay ahead of us,” Jerger says, “and there was no looking back...The future of audiology is in our hands.”

Following Jerger’s presentation, Patrick Feeney, this year’s convention program chair, provided a humorous look at what AudiologyNOW may look like in 2023, joking that it is bound to be warm and muggy due to global warming. He said that audiology is still writing its own history, and that history is about active participation in the Academy. “AudiologyNOW! is about active learning and professional development,” Feeney said.

Extending Jerger’s ideas about AAA’s conception to the 2006 AudiologyNOW! theme, AAA President Gail Whitelaw and President-Elect Paul Pessis provided “the Top 10 reasons why Audiology is now.”

10. Audiology is almost a household word. Media attention during 2006 included CNN, NPR, and Parade and Prevention magazine’s coverage of hearing- and balance-related topics with specific reference to audiologists. Additionally, Whitelaw says the Academy’s marketing committee has been reorganized into a Public Relations Committee and Business Enhancement Strategies and Tools (BEST) Committee.

Whitelaw awarded Presidential Awards to Jerry Northern, editor of Audiology Today, and David Kirkwood, editor of The Hearing Journal. According to Whitelaw, “Northern has a keen sense to distill to the membership myriad topics that impact our profession...regardless of their level of controversy,” and Kirkwood covers the hot topics in the profession, and “is a strong advocate for the Academy.” She says audiology has reached the tipping point with “interest in our profession reaching a critical mass.”

9. Leadership. Strong leadership is the foundation of successful organizations, according to Whitelaw, and AAA dominates hearing health care issues through its commitment by and contributions of its past presidents: James Jerger, Fred Bess, Jerry Northern, Lucille Beck, Robert Kieth, Carol Flexer, Barry Freeman, Deborah Hayes, Sharon Fujikowa, Robert Glaser, David Fabry, Angela Loavenbruck, Brad Stach, [and Richard Gans and Whitelaw].

In summarizing the efforts of the AAA Board of Directors, Whitelaw says the organization has had a very productive year “thanks to each [board member] connecting with members and strengthening AudiologyNOW by creating a strong foundation for the future.” Whitelaw also thanked her family and the faculty at Ohio State for the help they have provided during her tenure as president.

8. Victories in reimbursement and legislation. Pessis says AAA scored big in 2005 on the regulation front. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had proposed what would have been a major reduction in reimbursement to audiology services by categorizing these services in the “Non-physician Work pool” (see ADA Convention report, Nov 2005 HR, p 52-53, and December 2005 HR News, p 8). CMS had elected to change its fee structure as of January 1 of this year, with a projected reimbursement reduction of over 21% for audiologists during the next 4 years. The Academy, along with the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists (ADA) and the American Speech Language Hearing Assn (ASHA), petitioned CMS and succeeding in obtaining a 1-year moratorium in order to find a more equitable solution. “This was an unprecedented request,” Pessis says, “but I’m pleased to tell you that we are successful in procuring a moratorium that would [otherwise have resulted] in major financial ramifications.”

The Academy, through this interaction, has also fostered an excellent relationship with CMS, according to Pessis. “The kneejerk reaction of CMS was to speak with leaders from other associations, but they now recognize the Academy as the association of, by, and for audiology...We are meeting with players within the CMS system and are enjoying productive dialog. This has significant ramifications and benefits, considering that CMS policy becomes the template for most third-party payors.” Pessis says that CMS has not solved the Non-physician Work-pool issue yet, but is seriously considering the Academy’s recommendations.

Direct access, which would allow Medicare beneficiaries to seek hearing and balance care directly from audiologists without physician referral, remains one of the Academy’s primary objectives (see last year’s AAA convention report, May 2005 HR, pgs 18-19, 74-76). Pessis says AAA has made progress in both the legislative and regulatory fronts, and he urged members to contact legislators about direct access, and to encourage patients to do the same.

7. iPods. “To paraphrase the National Rifle Association,” Whitelaw says, “our message is clear: ‘It’s not iPods that kill hair cells, but how people use iPods that kill hair cells.’” She says the issue of personal music listening systems has provided a remarkable opportunity not only to educate the public about hearing loss prevention but also promote a wide range of audiology services. With this in mind, the Academy has teamed up with the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) to get the word out about preserving the hearing of both children and adults.

6. Political Action. “A mature profession’s success is predicated on legislative support,” Pessis says. “In that vein, each of us has to take responsibility for securing the stability and growth of our profession.” Pessis says that, because of the success of the 2005 convention in Washing­ton, DC, in which members visited a large number of Con­gressional offices, the Academy has developed a plan for an annual legislative day, and is inviting members to attend this year’s event. “We need to correct the misinformation that our legislators are receiving relative to what is in the best interests of our patients and their constituents,” Pessis says. Because it is an election year and legislators will be campaigning, the dates for the event have not been finalized yet, but they will be announced soon.

The AAA Political Action Committee (PAC) fund is also a significant component of AAA’s legislative strategy, and the PAC has targeted those legislators who it believes will take a sincere interest in the organization’s objectives and promote its causes. “Yes, we have to play well with others and partner with other professional groups,” Pessis says, “and seek consensus without compromising our leadership role. But this doesn’t lessen the need for a strong PAC. Whether we like it or not, money talks.” He pointed out that AAA has a membership of 10,000 but only 835 AAA members contributed to the PAC in 2005 for a total of $76,978; however, chiropractors with 2,000 members contributed $408,000; optometrists with 34,000 members contributed $951,000; and AAO-HNS with a similar membership to AAA contributed $350,000 to their respective PACs.

5. Education and standards. Development and maintenance of audiology accreditation standards have been contentious issues in recent years. The long-established Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (CAA), which has been funded by ASHA and represents the historic, lone accreditation vehicle for audiologists and SLPs, has locked horns with the newer Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE), which has been created and funded by AAA and ADA. These two organizations were the driving forces behind making the AuD the entry-level degree in the profession (in opposition to ASHA), and they have argued that ASHA—through the CAA—should no longer be in control of the accreditation body for the field of audiology. With this in mind, AAA created the ACAE, which would also unlink the ASHA CCC-A certification from accreditation. The battle has been acidic at times, with neither side yielding much ground. Even in the unlikely event that, for example, CAA yields and leaves audiology accreditation to ACAE, it might prove to be a difficult task for the the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CACSD) to find a way to unlink audiology programs with SLP programs since, in most universities and colleges, these programs are integral to one another.

“The mission of the Educational Standards Committee is more challenged now and will be in the upcoming years,” Whitelaw says. “Now, audiologists have created the mechanism so that we take ownership of our destiny. The Academy interfaces with two other groups in a process for shaping a strong future for audiology. One is the ACAE, for promoting and recognizing high-quality performance in AuD programs through a rigorous accreditation program. The other is the American Board of Audiology, or ABA, which is forging special certification options as a process for developing evidence-based examinations that set the requisite skills for practicing the profession of audiology” (for information on the ABA, see the article by Deconde Johnson & Chute in the January 2005 HR, p 62).

Whitelaw presented Presidential Awards to the ACAE’s Angela Loavenbruck, and the ABA’s Melanie Herzfeld, citing Loavenbruck’s “persistent and no-nonsense approach [that] has truly raised the bar of audiology accreditation nationally...[and] established the ACAE as a bona-fide player in acreditation,” and lauding Herzfeld for her foresight and dedication on behalf of the ABA.

4. Denver in 2007. April 18-21 marks AudiologyNOW 2007, with Sharon Sandridge, PhD, as the chair of the convention committee.

3. A bright future. US News and World Report recently placed audiology at No. 1 in its “Excellent Careers for 2006,” saying audiology’s “pay and prestige are excellent, and the job market will be strong because as Baby Boomers age, their hearing fades. And audiologists will be offering ever better hearing aids.” (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060105/5careers_excellent.htm).

2. Vision. Ethics and professionalism have been a major focus for AAA during the last 3 years, as the organization has published an updated ethics guidelines and presented several sessions on the topic during AudiologyNOW. “Professionals put the person they are serving first,” Pessis says, “and that professional must be moral and hold to higher standards of behavior than non-professionals. Professionalism is the ideal to be pursued. A professional organization needs to define, proclaim, and protect, and refine professionalism. Professional standards are the Academy’s focus now. Professional standards will serve as the guidelines that will be instrumental in securing our future and legitimize us as a profession with the public, third-party payors, and our legislators.”

Related to ethics and professional progress, the thorny issue of the perceptorship year for AuD students is one that evokes strong feelings from some AAA members. “The Academy will facilitate a venue for discussions and even provide recommendations,” Pessis says, “but ultimately universities granting the AuD degrees must develop the solution.” The Academy has formed a task force, led by Alan Desmond, to strategize a resolution to this issue.

1. Academy members. “The success of the Academy, and ultimately our profession, is predicated on Academy members,” Whitelaw says. She invited those attending the General Assembly to take a more active role in AAA by joining committees, take courses that elevate understanding in a professional topic, write a legislator, etc. “This organization and this profession needs the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills that each of you contribute. Be influential...Audiology is dynamic and challenging and fun.

“Audiology being selected as the No. 1 career in US News and World Report was no accident,” continues Whitelaw. “It was based on the skill and commitment that each of you bring to this profession every day. Ultimately our patients are the winner. There is no greater satisfaction than positive patient outcomes and the patients’ appreciation of the services that you provide. No longer is the term ‘audiology’ met with the response, ‘Huh?’ We have reached that critical mass, and we are well on our way to making audiology a household word.”

The Value of Improvisation
John Sweeney, a Minneapolis comedian and author of the book Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation, provided food-for-thought during the Opening Session about accepting new ideas and how improvisation plays a vital role in life. Sweeney is the owner and executive producer of Brave New Workshop Comedy Theater, and has performed more than 1,500 live shows for the Brave New Workshop and Second City Communi­cations in Chicago, and more than 500 corporate shows (including over 50 performances for Fortune 100 companies, including Microsoft, General Mills, and Target). Brave New Workshop is the nation’s oldest satirical comedy theatre and concentrates on the art of improvisation. His portion included a demonstration of improvisation by two of his colleagues, as well as a harrowing short speech about deferring judgement, in which he put an exclamation on all his points by having a colleague hurl knives into small 8” x 10” pieces of cardboard.

New AAA Officers Are Elected
Alison Grimes, AuD, has been elected as AAA’s new president-elect. Grimes is the coordinator of clinical audiology for UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Following her term as president-elect, she will assume the office of president July 1, 2007, for a one-year term.

Three new members have been elected to the American Academy of Audiology’s Board of Directors and will begin their 3-year term in July. Bopanna Ballachanda, PhD, is the director of audiology for Premier Hearing Centers, Albuquerque, NM. He has extensive experience both as a clinician and instructor, and is perhaps best known for his book, The Dynamic Ear Canal. Kris English, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She has extensive experience in educational audiology. Patrick Feeney, PhD, is chief of audiology in the department of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington in Seattle.

They join current Board Members-at-Large Karen Jacobs, Craig Newman, Helena Solodar, Debra Abel, Carmen Brewer, and Theresa Walden. Completing their board memberships in 2006 are Theodore Glattke, Lisa Hunter, and Sharon Kujawa.

Next Year
AudiologyNOW! 2007 will be held in Denver on April 18-21. For more information, contact AAA at 11730 Plaza America Dr, Suite 300, Reston, VA 20910; Web site: www.audiologist.org.

ARO Holds Annual Meeting in Baltimore
The 29th annual Mid-Winter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) was held in February at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Md. Daila Dobson, executive director of ARO, reported an attendance of over 1,500 scientists and noted that ARO now has over 2,400 members, 30% of whom are international.

“The social aspect of science is very important,” says ARO President Robert V. Shannon, PhD. “Learning works best when one is in a socially relaxed atmosphere.” Asked about so many differing opinions in some subjects, Shannon says, “Part of science is to disagree with people. We first disagree and then work for a mutual agreement. It always works best when you disagree with friends than with foes...ARO is a great atmosphere with high quality intellectual discussions and a good social environment. Around 75% of our members attend the meeting, which means we have a real loyal following.”

When asked what he would like to see more of in ARO, Shannon said, “Recently more than 50% of researchers are in the area of molecular biology and genetics. However, to fully understand hearing, we have to go beyond the cochlea and understand the role of the brain as well. Further, I would like to see more research that has closer connections to clinicians. We’re not taking full advantage of the synergy that can exist when clinical issues influence basic science and vice versa.”

David Lim, MD, is a cofounder of ARO, and since its inception in 1973, he has been closely associated with the organization as an officer (he now serves as its historian). “The ARO Mid­-Winter Meeting is the most comprehensive scientific forum in the world in both basic science and the clinical research aspects of otolaryngology, including neuroscience, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, genetics, psychoacoustics, audiology, auditory and vestibular physiology,” Lim says. “It not only brings in the scientists interested in peripheral sensory organs, but also central nervous system researchers...To me, ARO’s scientific program reflects all the cutting-edge approaches to a variety of research questions. We have begun to understand the molecular basis for normal function, as well as diseases, which include brain function. ARO is doing a good job keeping the balance of incorporating clinical and basic sciences, as well as other disciplines related to the mission of the organization.”

Over 1,000 studies were presented at ARO in various forms. As only one example, Aniket Saoji, PhD, of Advanced Bionics, recently won the Young Investigator Award at the 2005 Conference on Implantable Auditory Prostheses for his poster presentation, “Spectral Modulation Transfer Functions (SMTFs) in Cochlear Implant Listeners,” which was co-authored by Leonid Litvak and Gulam Emadi of Advanced Bionics, and Tony Spahr of Arizona State Univ. The researchers used SMTFs to measure the ability of cochlear implant listeners to identify different spectral patterns. The results indicate a strong correlation between the spectral resolution ability of CI listeners and their vowel and consonant recognition scores. Furthermore the SMTFs offer a nonlinguistic method to measure spectral resolution across non-native speakers of English using CIs.

Sugata Bhattacharjee is a contributing writer for The Hearing Review. HR thanks Paul J. Willoughbee for the photos used in this article, and Beth Ann Jacques for help in editing this article.

ARO is an international association of scientists and physicians dedicated to scientific exploration in the field of otolaryngology. Research efforts involve the ear, nose, head, neck, and related functions including hearing, balance, speech, taste, and smell. A wide range of scientific approaches is represented including biochemical, physiological, behavioral, developmental, and evolutionary. In view of the fact that many dispensing professionals are unaware of ARO activities, HR posed some basic questions to ARO Secretary Steve Rauch, MD, regarding some of the organizations’ recent meetings:

Q The meeting has experienced some bad luck in terms of timing and cities over the past few years, right?

Rauch We fought the post-9/11 drop of attendance. Next we were victims of an unfortunate business deal, which compelled us to move from Daytona. Just when we thought it was great to be in New Orleans, we were victims of Mother Nature [Hurricane Katrina]. But the best part is that we have a loyal group of researchers who have continued to stick with us and followed us all the way to Maryland.

Q Why have you chosen Denver for next year's meeting?

Rauch Although it is difficult for us to keep changing venues, we wanted to select a place where the hotels are affordable for the attendees. Our main objective is to have as many delegates as possible either within the main hotel or within close vicinity. Ultimately, this conference is about the interaction of researchers which leads to better chemistry between the researchers.

Q Why are there fewer exhibitors represented at a conference like ARO than there are at, say, AAO-HNS?

Rauch Exhibitors do not sell as much in conventions like this. We have a core group, and as it is not a clinical meeting, most companies have little interest. The convention is not a typical marketplace. In big clinical meetings, the exhibitors are more prominent than in the more scientific research programs.

Q How do you feel about being the secretary of ARO?

Rauch I value ARO as a great group. My involvement is because of “good citizenship.” Helping ARO grow is my prime objective...It’s more of a payback.

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