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Ethics

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Amplification and Assistive Devices (AAD)

Future Forecast: Strategies to Promote Hearing Health-Care and the Audiology Profession

HS203 - Future Forecast: Strategies to Promote Hearing Health Care and the Audiology Profession

Thursday, March 27, 2025

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM CST

Earn 0.1 CEUs

Moderator(s)

Brenna Carroll, AuD (she/her/hers)

Clinical Audiologist
Swedish Medical Center
Issaquah, Washington

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

Presenter(s)

Miles Aron, PhD

Co-Founder and COO
Neurotone AI

Disclosure(s): Financial: Neurotone AI: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose
Mikkel Knudsen

President
ReSound, US

Disclosure(s): Financial: ReSound: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose
Jason Mayer (he/him/his)

Vice President, Commercial Sales
Sonova

Disclosure(s): Financial: Phonak: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose
Søren Hvidberg Nielsen

President
US Wholesale, Widex
Hauppauge, New York

Disclosure(s): Financial: Widex: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose
Mike O'Neil

President
US Wholesale, Signia
Iselin, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): Financial: Signia: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose
Gary Rosenblum

President
Oticon Inc.
Somerset, New Jersey

Disclosure(s): Financial: Oticon: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose
Brandon L. Sawalich

President and Chief Executive Officer
Starkey
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Disclosure(s): Financial: Starkey: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose
Patricia Trautwein, AuD, MA (she/her/hers)

VP, Market Access & Clinical Affairs
Cochlear America
Lone Tree, Colorado

Disclosure(s): Financial: Cochlear: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial: No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Abstract:
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, to clearly differentiate themselves, protect their future, raise their profile among lawmakers and other health care professionals, and ensure more adults are seeking out audiologists and their services moving forward.

Summary:
During the Future Forecast session, leaders from the hearing rehabilitation industry will offer their perspectives on how to promote the critical role the profession plays in a patient’s health care 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 policy makers fully understand what policies are needed to reduce untreated hearing loss.

Learning Objectives:

Describe how their services and innovative technology can improve patient outcomes.
List 3 cutting edge technologies available from manufacturers.
Describe how healthcare policy impacts patients.