Events

Congresswoman Berkley Pledges to Fight for Passage of Hearing Aid Tax Credit

From left: Arnie Altman, AG Bell Nevada; Nevada State Sen Terry Care; Carole Rogin, HIA; Laura Richards, AG Bell Nevada; Rep Shelley Berkley; Andy Bopp, HIA; and Corrine Altman, AG Bell Nevada.

A supportive group of some 120 Las Vegas residents met recently to thank Rep Shelley Berkley (D-Nev) for cosponsoring the Hearing Aid Tax Credit (HR 2329) and urge her to champion the bill in the House.

Attendees voiced concern about how the lack of financial assistance for hearing aid treatment stands in the way of addressing their hearing loss. Berkley, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which determines the fate of tax legislation, pledged to fight for passage of the tax credit as part of overall tax legislation she anticipates in early 2009.

Berkley noted the tax credit would cover only a portion of the cost of hearing aid treatment, but says it is important to make headway with the legislation and strive to increase the amount in the future. Nevada State Sen Terry Care, who championed the state's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) legislation, introduced Berkley to the crowd.

The Nevada Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) hosted the event, and Arnie and Corrine Altman, copresidents of the chapter, organized the program.

Local AG Bell chapters and the Hearing Loss Association of America have hosted similar events for Representatives in Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas to highlight problems created by the lack of financial assistance for those who need hearing aids. The Hearing Industries Association sponsored the meeting.

First Ida Institute Seminar Takes Relationship-Centered Approach to Defining Hearing

The Ida Institute convened its first educational seminar, titled "Defining Hearing," from September 25 to 27 in Skodsborg, Denmark. Faculty members Harvey Abrams, PhD; Kristina English, PhD; Christina dePlacido, PhD; and Tine Tjornhoj-Thomsen, PhD, helped create content supporting the institute's commitment to fostering a better understanding on the human dynamics of hearing loss.

The seminar used clinical practice models, theories, and management techniques from related health care disciplines; videos of ethnographic interviews conducted by staff anthropologists; and short theatrical plays highlighting the challenges and experiences in everyday hearing care practice.

Twenty-four hearing care practitioners representing 15 countries participated, and they collaborated in developing a relationship-centered care approach to defining hearing. Institute staff, faculty, and seminar participants will continue to collaborate post-seminar in a series of knowledge-sharing and networking exercises, and by joining an online community via the institute's new Web site (www.idainstitute.dk). For more information on the Ida Institute, see the March 2008 HR Industry Insider.

CareCredit Introduces Online Resource Center

The new online resource center from CareCredit, Costa Mesa, Calif, features educational tools, research studies and articles, and case studies highlighting techniques to help patients accept recommended hearing aid technology. Practices can get advice from practice management consultants on challenging issues, download scripts that provide wording to help patients feel comfortable moving forward with recommendations, and learn how to create an environment that enhances a patient's experience. Enrolled practices can order supplies, request training, and find help managing the CareCredit portion of their practice.

To celebrate the launch of the new online center, the company is giving away a grand prize trip worth $10,000, and five weekly prizes worth $1,000 to enrolled practices. For more information, call (800) 300-3046 ext 4519, or visit www.carecredit.com.

Vivatone Patents Issued with Broad Claims Allowed

Vivatone Hearing Systems reports the US Patent and Trade­mark Office has issued Vivatone patent number 7,421,086, which includes 81 claims encompassing unique features of open fit, receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids.

Leon C. Hirsch, the company's chairman, said it is gratifying to know that, after more than 2 years, the Patent Office has validated its claims for patent protection for the unique product line. According to Hirsch, open-fit RITE products represent the fastest growing segment in the hearing aid industry, and the company plans to protect its intellectual property by vigorously enforcing the patent. Vivatone has patent protection in Japan, and a European patent is expected to be issued soon.

Cochlear Announces Hearing Restoration Milestone

William Shapiro, AuD, audiologist at NYU Cochlear Implant Center, and Susan Grossman.

Cochlear, New South Wales, Australia, recently reached a milestone when Thomas Roland, Jr, MD, of New York University's Langone Medical Center performed the 120,000th cochlear implant device procedure on 72-year-old New York resident, Susan Grossman, who underwent surgery July 25 to receive bilateral Nucleus Freedom cochlear implants.

"Cochlear implants are the most effective treatment for people with severe to profound hearing loss and are becoming the standard of care globally," Roland said. "It is becoming common practice for people to now receive a device in both ears, as the clinical evidence clearly demonstrates the benefit. At NYU, we do more than five implants per week and this continues to grow each year." The NYU team of audiologists manages some 1,800 recipients.

An estimated 1 million people nationwide could benefit from the technology, yet less than 10% of those who qualify have a cochlear implant. Since the first commercial implant in 1982, approximately 400 institutions nationwide provide the technology, which is covered by many private insurance carriers and, in some cases, by Medicare and Medicaid.

AWARDS

AFA Bestows Professional Leadership Awards on Two AuD Grads

Gwen Severance, AuD, (center) receives the AFA's Professional Leadership Award from Tabitha Parent Buck, AuD, (right) ASHS associate professor and audiology chair, and Nancy N. Green, AFA Senior Advisors Council member and ASHS adjunct faculty.

During August graduation exercises at the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS), Gwen Severance, AuD, and Michelle Pollihan, AuD, received Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) Professional Leadership awards. The award honors graduating AuD students nominated by the ASHS faculty.

Michelle Pollihan, AuD, holds her certificate; fellow graduate Catherine Grange is on her right.

Award winners are chosen based on a positive attitude and strong work ethic throughout the AuD program, involvement in professional activities to promote the profession and patient care, and dedication to public service.

Severance, a distance education student at ASHS, is an educational audiologist with the Los Angeles Unified School District. She was recognized for her dedication to students with hearing loss, skill in counseling families, enthusiasm and leadership in making presentations about audiology to middle school students, and her dedicated time as a community volunteer.

Pollihan, a graduate of ASHS's residential program, was recognized for her volunteer work in Mexico diagnosing and fitting hearing instruments; the passion, enthusiasm, and leadership she dedicates to the audiology profession; and her volunteer efforts performing hearing screenings and educating the public in Arizona and Oregon about the importance of hearing protection in noisy environments.

Active Ambient Microphone System Nominated for TEC Award

Sensaphonics Hearing Conservation Inc, Chicago, reports its 3D-HW Active Ambient System has been nominated for the 2008 Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award for outstanding technical achievement. It is the latest version of the 3D Active Ambient IEM System, designed as a stand-alone system for hardwired applications. Suited for drummers, keyboardists, and other stationary performers, the 3D-HW uses a binaural microphone system embedded in custom-fit silicone earphones to capture ambient sound, and combines it with the in-ear monitor mix in a compact bodypack mixer-amplifier with zero latency.

The Mix Foundation presents the awards annually for Excellence in Audio, a charity associated with Mix Magazine. Winners will be announced at the awards banquet this month, scheduled in conjunction with the Audio Engineering Society convention in San Francisco.