ProfessionalHearing

Official Journal of the International Hearing Society

THE

JANUARY–FEBRUARY–MARCH 2010

2010 IHS Conventionand Exposition

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THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 1

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL (ISSN 1529-1340) is published quarterly for members of the Inter national Hearing Society (IHS), 16880 Middlebelt Road, Ste. 4, Livonia, Michigan 48154. Peri-odicals postage paid at Livonia, Michigan and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send ad-dress changes to The Hearing Professional, 16880 Middlebelt Road, Ste. 4, Livonia, Michigan 48154.

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL is the official journal of IHS, a nonprofit association of hearing healthcare professionals. Its purpose is to present authoritative technical and business information that will help hearing aid specialists serve hearing impaired people.

Copyright © 2010 International Hearing Society

IHS members are engaged in the practice of testing human hearing and selecting, fitting and dispens-ing hearing instruments. Special membership categories of the Society offer membership to those who are involved in or have an interest in the hearing instrument profession, but are not actively fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Call 734.522.7200 for information about IHS membership.

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL is circulated to all members of IHS and to selected hearing aid manufacturers and suppliers. Advertising rate cards available on request. Subscription is free to all members of the Society. Paid subscriptions are available for $35 in the United States and Canada and $45 in all other countries. Contact IHS for additional details.

contained in articles, edito rials or paid advertising does not represent the endorsement of any specific product nor is IHS responsible for opinions or interpretations expressed by contributors.

available from University Microfilms, Inc., Serials Acquisitions, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106.

Researchers, practitioners, and others are invited to submit articles and papers for publica-tion. THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.

The Hearing Professional

President

President-Elect

Secretary

Treasurer

Immediate Past President

JANUARY–FEBRUARY–MARCH 2010

President’s MessageBy Chris Gustafson, BC-HIS, ACA

From the Executive DirectorBy Cindy J. Helms

By Douglas Lewis, JD, PhD, AuD

New Members

Chapter Track

15 Soundbytes

19 IIHIS Approved Courses

Building Trust with ACAThe American Conference of Audioprosthology (ACA) is the premier program that helps hearing

instrument dispensers grow their practices, reach higher goals, and establish themselves as respected

healthcare providers.

Offered by the International Hearing Society’s education division, the International Institute for

Hearing Instruments Studies, this advanced program propels you to the highest standards of

excellence in your field.

For more information on this exciting career opportunity contact Carrie Pedersen at 734.522.7200,

ext. 230 or check out the IHS website at www.ihsinfo.org.

A Sound Investment in Your Future

2

“For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look

only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.”

—John F. Kennedy

Times are tough. We hear this every day in the newspapers, on the radio, and on the Internet.

The economy continues to struggle as our country faces difficult challenges at home and

abroad. Many of us are experiencing these tough times firsthand with our sales down for last

year. Perhaps, we have become the sole provider for our families if a spouse lost his or her job.

Now, more than ever, as we enter our offices every day we need to perform at our highest-

possible level. Our wonderful hearing aid manufacturers continue to outdo themselves with

better and better products that are being introduced with increasing frequency. While

wonderful for our patients, this produces a constant challenge to stay up-to-date with the

newest technology, especially if we offer products from multiple manufacturers.

Our patients are asking more sophisticated questions because they are doing their

research on the Internet before they get to our doors. They are asking specific questions and

we must have the answers. Do you have the right answers? Trust me, if you do not have the

answers they are expecting and the ability to recommend appropriate products to meet their

individual needs and lifestyles, you will not be the professional taking care of their hearing needs.

While it is highly important to let them know that we care about them, we also need to be

knowledgeable about the various products that are available and how those products might

enhance their lives by maximizing their access to the auditory world around them. I am not

saying we need to focus exclusively on products, rather, I am pointing out that we can no longer

expect to stay up-to-date based on an occasional visit from factory representatives.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

—Benjamin Franklin

By Chris Gustafson, BC-HIS, ACA IHS President

continued on page 9

Hearing losscould lose you much more than you think.

b e t t e r h e a r i n g . o r g 1 - 8 0 0 - E A R W E L L

Get a free “Guide to Better Hearing” and other help at

Hearing loss can cut you off from people you love and take the joy

out of life. If you have an inkling that you are losing your hearing,

what are you waiting for? Go see a hearing health professional to

find out the options available to re-connect you with the world.

Give yourself the best ears of your life.

©2007 Better Hearing Institute

4

F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

By Cindy J. Helms IHS Executive Director

The beginning

of a new year is always

a good time to…

say thanks all around

for what we’ve

accomplished together.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our members a happy, healthy 2010.

The beginning of a new year is always a good time to take stock of where we’ve been

and look ahead to where we’re going. It’s also a time to say thanks all around for what

we’ve accomplished together.

IHS as a professional association is dependent on its members for its very

existence. You are the heart, soul, and lifeblood of this organization and the continued

support of each and every one of you is vital to our success. That’s why you hear me

say over and over again how much I appreciate your loyalty. We, in turn, repay that

loyalty by working diligently on your behalf from our headquarters offices. Your best

interests are always our highest priority.

How our combined efforts paid off in 2009 will be detailed in our official “Annual

Report to Members” which will be sent to you upon completion and also published in

the next issue of The Hearing Professional. However, here’s a sneak peak at what to

expect as we look at the year in review.

As we’ve struggled through a challenging financial climate, the first question on

most people’s mind is about money. While the year-end audit is not yet final as this

goes to press, the good news is that we did considerably better than our budgeted

projection. The not-so-good-news is that we were working from a deficit budget

to begin with and still finished in the red, but to beat the budget is definitely a reason

to cheer.

Many associations fared far worse than IHS during the economic downturn.

Going back to what I said before, our ability to stay afloat during the tough times is

largely attributable to our membership numbers staying strong. Sure we lost a few,

but overall you demonstrated a fierce commitment to your association and the high

value you place on your membership investment by sticking with us. For that we are

most grateful.

Other 2009 highlights include such things as new education initiatives, a success-

ful annual convention, hearing aid specialist’s upgraded Standard Occupational

Classification, and IHS’s efforts in support of the hearing aid tax credit legislation.

As these and other important homeruns are documented in the annual report,

let’s remember that the Society’s victories are based on a team approach and we can

all take pride in our accomplishments. Together, we are a powerful force for the

greater good.

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 5

Enhance Your Education with ACA!Exciting news! The International Hearing Society would like to bring our American Conference of Audioprosthology

(ACA) program to a location near you. But we need your help to make that happen. A certain number of students

is required to make the class viable so we can’t schedule a program until we have enough interest. Right now, Rochester,

New York is the hot spot—so we’re looking for a few more career-minded individuals and then we’re good to go.

This is your opportunity to earn the highly-regarded credentials that represent the industry’s benchmark for

professional excellence.

ACA is the nationally-acclaimed standard for advanced training in hearing instrument sciences. An advanced program,

it is eligible only to those candidates with two years field experience as hearing instrument dispensers. The program

requires 182 contact hours (14 hours during one weekend per month for 13 months), plus reading assignments and a

practicum. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded the prestigious ACA credential and can demonstrate

with confidence your proficiency and advanced professionalism.

Earning ACA credentials is your key to a successful career:

Invest in your future. Whether you’re in New York or elsewhere we want to hear from you. Simply fill out this form

and mail to the address below or fax to 734.522.0200. Contact Carrie Pedersen at 734.522.7200 x230 or

cpedersen@ihsinfo.org for more details.

I am interested in the Audioprosthology Educational Program. Please send me more information.

Name

Address

Phone Fax

Email

Licensed to dispense hearing aids M Yes M No

Years of field experience (2-year minimum required)

Date submitted

The American Conference of Audioprosthologyis a program of

The International Hearing Society16880 Middlebelt Road, Suite 4

Livonia, MI 48154

www.ihsinfo.org

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 7

By Douglas Lewis, JD, PhD, AuD

This is the first in a series of articles that explores the evolving demographic composition of our soci-ety while noting potential opportunities and pit-

falls that could impact hearing healthcare professionals in meeting the needs of our population and how it impacts our profession.

To further understand the impacts of this age boom, one must understand the demographic mix that personifies our growing older population base. These age-based demo-graphics and their attributes are generally characterized in the following.

Born before 1945, they prize loyalty and prefer a more formalized structure, including a tradi-tional top-down hierarchical approach to most concepts.

Born between 1946 and 1964, they are characterized by their optimism, idealism, and often in-tense work ethic.

Born between 1965 and 1980, they are often characterized as more focused upon life bal-ance with attitudes more centered on their needs rather than structures, hierarchies, or organizations.

Born between 1981 and 1999, they are highly technically savvy and adaptive. While possessing some ideals similar to the boomers, many are early in their careers and periodically lack career direction or financial clout.

Born after 1999 and generally not permanently part of the workforce at this time.

Within these subgroups, the baby boomers are one of the more intriguing age-based demographic groups that have been the subject of considerable focus and interest for many reasons. They comprise the largest segment of the population (approximately 80 million strong and nearly one-third of the entire population). Between 2004–2006, the number of baby boomers age 55 and up increased over 10.5% with almost 25 million being at least 55 years old and 5.2 million being over the age of 65. The boomers will comprise over 19% of the workforce by 2012. This is a fourfold increase from the overall workforce growth rate. This group will grow to 31.4 million members by the year 2020 and further contribute to nearly 20% of our entire population being over the age of 65 at that time.

This aging of our workforce has created some significant dilemmas for how to manage an increasing number of older individuals actively participating in the workforce ei-ther by choice or necessity. The late Peter Drucker, a man-agement scientist and author, said nearly 15 years ago, “In the developed countries, the dominant factor in the next society will be something to which most people are only just beginning to pay attention: rapid growth in the older population and the rapid shrinking of the younger genera-tion. Politicians everywhere still promise to save the exist-ing pension system, but they and their constituents know perfectly well that in another 25 years, people will have to

Lewis is president and CEO of Excalibur Business Consul-tants, a business, healthcare, and legal consulting company in Ohio. Correspondence: dlewis@excaliburconsultants.com or 740.438.2791.

keep working until their mid-70’s, health permitting. What has not yet sunk in is that a growing number of older peo-ple over 50 will not keep on working as traditional full-time nine-to-five employees, but will participate in the labor force in many new and different ways.”

Traditionally, a fair number of workers have chosen to re-tire at the age of 62 and sacrifice some of the long-term ben-efits of retiring later in order to begin collecting on those benefits sooner along with desiring to leave the workforce. However, the winds of change regarding our economic con-ditions have dramatically shifted, resulting in many more in-dividuals deferring their formal retirement. Estimates pre-dict nearly 70% of baby boomers plan to continue working in some capacity during the traditional retirement years

This aging of our workforce has created

some significant dilemmas for how to

manage an increasing number of older

individuals actively participating in the

workforce either by choice or necessity.

8

resulting in some instances of rather fierce competition for older workers and semiretired baby boomers.

It is paramount for the hearing healthcare industry to recognize the impact of the changing attributes and expec-tations this population will have for our professional ser-vices and products. Many of our past efforts focused upon emphasizing the attributes of hearing well, regarding the quality of life and balance in those golden retirement years. However, we must shift our mindset to providing our ser-vices to assist the boomers and even some traditionalists to their desire and often need to forestall or delay retire-ment. These expectations will rise due to both educated and perceived needs to maintain employability along with quality of life that at least parallels if not exceeds that of their younger years.

Unlike prior generations where individuals were often “lifers” working in one organization or, for that fact one industry, baby boomers have had to react to a very fluid and often evolving environment, often resulting in a desire or even necessity to change jobs or careers. These boomers, through their perseverance and desire to work, are also generally the most affluent of all our identified demographic groups. Despite some recent economic downturns (includ-ing the highest bankruptcy filing percentages of all groups belonging to those older than age 55), the following statis-tics generally characterize our ever-growing boomer group.

annual income and their per capita discretionary spend-ing is 2.5 times the average of younger households;

total in the U.S.;

of all mutual funds ($1 trillion), 60% of annuities, 50% of IRA and Keough holders, and comprise 66% of all stockholders;

-sess 46% of all home equity loans.However, boomers are also consumers of services and

products as highlighted in the following.

purchase 42% of all homeowner’s insurance policies (over 50 million policyholders);

industry);-

cies representing $800 million in annual premiums grow-ing at an annual rate of 23%;

(50 million consumers);

(totaling more than $60 million).From the healthcare side, boomers also exert a consider-

able amount of influence.

year in direct healthcare spending;

lion market;

all physician’s office visits, 1.5 million residents in nurs-ing homes, and 1.5 million in continuing care interest and assisted living residences.The boomers comprise approximately $6.25 billion in

net worth, which is slightly above the $600 billion in net worth possessed by those over age 65 and up. This figure dwarfs the mere $200 billion in net worth possessed by all demographic groups under the age of 45 years old.

These statistics and attributes should serve as a wake-up call to where many of our efforts should be focused or ref-erenced. Much of our efforts has focused upon the “older traditionalists” in enhancing their quality of life beyond re-tirement. While this population does continue to grow, their abilities to often privately fund purchases of hearing aids do wane somewhat while the perception of wearing a hearing aid somehow makes them old persists. While it is important to try to break some of these barriers down, per-haps a more targeted emphasis should now be placed upon our ever-growing baby boomer population. Many tradi-tionalists remain steadfast in their beliefs that they are too old to change or sometimes do not want to change, even when the benefit far exceeds the obvious cost. The boomer population is often characterized as possessing more flexi-bility and open-mindedness, being more innovative, and desiring both a quality of life enhancement in addition to often maintaining professional activities and employment. Boomers desire to maintain a certain standard of living in-cluding a balance in life that is important if not expected.

The ability to provide products and services to facilitate our population’s ability to obtain and maintain a high-level continuity and success in both their personal and profes-sional activities cannot be understated. Additionally, the increase in hearing-related issues secondary to lifestyle choices (i.e., music, recreational, and industrial noise), along with an increased presence of pharmacological and other therapeutic agents possessing further potential dele-terious impact upon the hearing mechanisms is growing exponentially. Our population’s overall hearing capabilities are essentially aging at a much faster rate than our chrono-logical aging. These factors further characterize a popula-tion at risk for more hearing-related anomalies, yet pre-sents an enormous opportunity for hearing healthcare professionals to assist those in need while furthering their own professional self-actualization. Our recognition of these trends and both the ability and desire to work with our expanding potential patient base will determine whether the age boom will be either of the following: a “Big Bang” by moving forward in facilitating a desired personal and professional quality of life or; a “Big Flop” in not defining, educating, and serving the needs of produc-tive parts of our society who are very results oriented and possessing high expectations with any forthcoming assur-ances of attaining said and delineated expectations.

We as hearing healthcare professionals must continue to strive on a daily basis in maximizing our efforts and due diligence to remain viable and productive while simultane-ously strengthening our professional presence in the health-care arena. THP

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 9

continued from page 2

Most of us started our careers with training from our bosses or a trainer as we prepared for the licensing exam. We have continued our education through classes provided by IHS, classes by state/provincial chapters, and periodic classes offered by manu-facturers. Many IHS members have taken IHS’s American Conference of Audioprosthology (ACA) program. This course of study encompasses top-ics such as acoustics and measure-ment, anatomy and physiology, psy-choacoustics, professional patient communication, marketing and man-agement, legal aspects, auditory reha-bilitation, and much more. Sound in-teresting? Do you want to grow your practice, hone your professional skills, develop a professional referral pro-gram, and increase the traffic to your office? Then this is the program for you. In talking with graduates of the ACA program and hearing their sto-ries, I have come to realize that I am not alone in feeling that every penny spent on the tuition and texts and every minute spent in class and study-ing the materials, as well as the net-working with fellow students, were very worthwhile. The benefits of the class include a higher level of confi-dence in regard to communicating with our patients and other profes-sionals and in marketing and office management. Just ask any ACA grad-uate. They will tell you about how valuable the classes were, how great the camaraderie with classmates was, and the wonderful experience of tak-ing what they learned back to their of-fices and applying it every day. If you have not taken advantage of this pro-gram, contact IHS headquarters and let them know you want to join a class or start an ACA class in your area.

Or, perhaps now is the time to in-vest even more in your education and your profession. More and more states are requiring an associate’s degree in hearing instrument sciences as a re-quirement for licensure. As a result, more community colleges across the country are offering two-year degrees in hearing instrument sciences. Many of these programs can be completed

online with only occasional on- campus requirements. As time passes, we will probably see more programs available at the bachelor’s degree level as our profession continues to grow and evolve.

“Change will not come if we wait

for some other person or some

other time. We are the ones we’ve

been waiting for. We are the change

that we seek.”

—Barack Obama

After becoming a licensed hearing healthcare professional, you will need the experience that only time can give to become an expert and professional dispenser. Advancing your education will raise your starting baseline and

expedite the path to higher levels of knowledge and proficiency in your profession. I encourage you to pursue advanced education toward a better future as a professional dispenser. I would be remiss if I failed to point out that the IHS’s Hearing Aid Founda-tion has funds available for scholar-ships for students in the ACA program as well as the second year students en-rolled in any accredited associate’s de-gree program in hearing instrument sciences. THP

“In the long run, we shape our lives,

and we shape ourselves. The

process never ends until we die.

And the choices we make are

ultimately our own responsibility.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt

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10

Think family fun.The IHS Convention and Exposition is headed

for Orlando, Florida, September 29–October 3. It’s the perfect vacation destination for combining business and pleasure—for you and the entire family. Against the magical backdrop of sun-drenched days and dazzling views, you’ll have your choice of more fun things to do than you can possibly imagine.

Orlando is famous for its theme parks, roller coasters, and screaming passengers; however, it’s also known for its beautiful surround-ings. At any time you may see wildlife peer from their habitat and canoes glide down the river that meanders through the unspoiled backwoods.

The choices just don’t stop. Regardless of age or vacation in-terests, Orlando offers every member of your family a favorite pas-time that can be cap-tured forever on film and in memories. Breathtaking theme park rides and awe- inspiring shows bring high technology to the cutting edge and will leave you wanting more. And, don’t forget the splashing excitement found at the water parks, the mixture of fun and food at the many themed dinner theaters, and the exhilaration of auto racing, hot-air ballooning, scuba diving, and many other recreational options.

But, Orlando is even more than all that. Many v i s i tor s f rom around the world are delightedly discovering that Orlando’s fast-paced attractions, combined with the serenity of the area’s natural

beauty, man-made works of art, and spirited performances, make it a complete and exciting vacation experience. Add great, year-round weather to all of this and it’s no wonder there are nearly 50 million visitors annually.

This year’s host venue is the opulent Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort. It’s a vacation wonderland in and of itself, with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a four-star/four-diamond property. This lux-urious property of-fers on-site accom-modations, superior service, and unique Walt Disney World® resort benefits. The hotel is located in between Epcot ® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios,™ and close to Disney’s Animal Kingdom,® and Magic Kingdom.®

The Walt Disney World Dolphin and the connecting Walt Disney World Swan Resort have 17 spectacular res-taurants and lounges, five pools, a white sand beach, two health clubs, tennis, nearby golf and many special Disney benefits, including complimentary transportation to all Walt Disney World® Theme Parks and attractions, and ex-clusive “extra magic hours” in the theme parks. For more information about the Walt Disney World Dolphin visit www.swandolphin.com.

A short walk from the Walt Disney World Dolphin takes you into the amazing world of Epcot, a theme park in-spired by Walt Disney’s vi-sion for staging innovation and human achievement on a grand scale. The park’s 300 acres include attrac-tions, shows, interactive presentations, dining, shop-ping, and architectural wonders. It’s an amazing

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 11

celebration of both technological accomplishments and in-ternational culture.

Epcot was designed as two universes of discovery. Fu-ture World features the land, the seas, communication, imagination, energy, and technology. World Showcase is a kaleidoscope of villages portraying the cultural heritage, arts, and entertainment of nations throughout the world.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of Hollywood-style action with live shows, thrilling attractions, backstage tours, and special events. The glitz and glamour of the Hollywood heydays from the 1930s and 1940s are captured by the neon, chrome, art deco, and modern architecture throughout the park. The streets and sections of the four areas of the park blend to-gether like a large, bustling movie set.

Step into the action with new attractions like the Ameri-can Idol Experience that might put you center stage and under the spotlight. Feel like a star, or come face-to-face

with one! Collect autographs and pose for photos at spe-cial events or at character greeting locations.

Live out your desire for stardom by participating in parades, being part of a rock ’n’ roll fantasy, and experi-encing spectacular attractions based on blockbuster movies and top TV shows.

It’s never too soon to start planning. Make it a priority to attend the most important industry event of the year. This year’s convention will feature an action-packed program of events—from top -rated seminars , cutting-edge technology, and the latest products to spectacular social events. For more information call IHS at 734.522.7200 or visit www.ihsinfo.org. THP

12

What’s On Your Mind?

You Can Make a Difference!Help fund the ongoing fi ght for your rights before governmental bodies.

Contribute to the

IHS Advocacy Allianceand do your part to protect the profession and the hearing impaired you serve.

It’s your future and theirs.

Please accept my contribution to the IHS Advocacy Alliance.

Name:

Company:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Phone: Email:

Circle amount:

$1,000 $500 $250 $100 Other $

M Check attached M Cash attached

M Charge my: M Visa M MasterCard M AMEX

Account Number:

Expiration Date:

We’d like to know. We welcome your submis sion of articles for publication in The Hearing

Professional. If you have something to say, this is the place to say it—your opportunity to share

with prac titioners throughout the hearing healthcare field.

As long as the topic is relevant to the hearing health industry or general business management,

the specific nature of the subject matter is entirely up to you. Feel free to write from a very

personal perspective or from a broad industry overview.

So get creative. And don’t worry about your writing skills or the “roughness” of the

draft. The job of our editors is to make you and your article look good.

Email a Word document to Autumn Kovach at akovach@ihsinfo.org. Length should

be approximately 500–1,000 words. Graphics, including photos, charts, diagrams, etc.

that are not incorporated into the Word document, should also be sent electronically, if possible.

All submissions will be considered for publication, but not all are guaranteed for acceptance. All copy is subject to editing at

our discretion. We will make every effort to allow your review of edited copy prior to publication, but cannot guarantee it.

Photos are welcome and will be returned. Hard copy documents and CDs will not be returned.

Professional

HearingOfficial Journal of the International Hearing Society

THE

JANUARY–FEBRUARY–MARCH 2010

2010 IHS Convention

and Exposition

Discover the Magic

of Orlando

Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 13

The International Hearing Society Extends a Cordial Welcometo the Following New Members:

Thomas Adams, Colorado Springs, CO

Rocco Andreozzi, IV, Bangor, ME

James Barrows, Lowell, MA

William Bass, Hobbs, NM

Jacob Beamesderfer, Hemet, CA

George Begley, II, Lafayette, LA

Carolyn Binger, Huntsville, AL

Anthony Brooks, Florence, AL

Daniel Calvert, Edmond, OK

David Calvert, Anchorage, AK

Alexis Cassatt, Fargo, ND

Scott Chaput, Beverly Hills, FL

Cynthia Clabaugh, Gary, IN

Tyne Clark, Scottsbluff, NE

Sheila Cockman, BC-HIS, Pleasant Hill, MO

Linka Conkle, Zanesville, OH

Pamela Currier, Palm Desert, CA

Sandie DelaCruz, Cerritos, CA

Carolyn DeSpain, BC-HIS, Owensboro, KY

Jerry DeSpain, Owensboro, KY

Philip Dietz, Florence, AL

Neil DiStefano, Middletown, CT

JoAnn Dunn, Castle Rock, CO

Perry Ebel, Warwick, RI

Zachary Ebel, Woonsocket, RI

Andrew Elliot, Lititz, PA

Michelle Elliott, Spokane, WA

Robert Francoeur, East Longmeadow, MA

Katherine Gilman, CCCA, Jackson, NJ

David Gligor, Greenwood Village, CO

David Goodyear, BC-HIS, St. Joseph, MI

Douglas Green, BC-HIS, El Monte, CA

Chris Gulick, West Lebanon, NH

Patrick Hagan, Monroe, NY

Caroline Harris, Frederick, MD

Steven Heinze, Bountiful, UT

Matt Hellmer, Fond Du Lac, WI

Doug Henheffer, BC-HIS, Yorkton, SK, Canada

Laura-Lee Hives, Red Deer, AB, Canada

Ryan Hughes, Florence, AL

Jeffrey Johnston, Kenosha, WI

Dan King, BC-HIS, ACA, Gresham, OR

Martin Kingsbury, Evansville, IN

Camalitha Kirby, Barrouallie, Saint Vincent

Fred Kraft, Coral Springs, FL

Toby Laws, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

Lisa Layden, Camrose, AB, Canada

William Lenz, Brawley, CA

Samantha Lincoln, Murray, KY

Brian Manning, Florence, AL

Sean Mark, BC-HIS, Mechanicsburg, PA

Tim Martinez, Marshall, TX

Jerry Meinders, New Ulm, MN

Sharon Molendyk, Miami, FL

Sandra Monteagudo, Boca Raton, FL

Laurie Moody, BC-HIS, Rothesay, NB, Canada

Mary Mueller, Evansville, IN

Cheryl O’Garro, West Indies

Vicente Ortega, Miami, FL

Tiffany Parret, Happy Valley, OR

Jessica Passarelli, Virginia Beach, VA

Barbara Patenaude, Saint Petersburg, FL

Connie Patton, BC-HIS, Fort Collins, CO

Adam Perrie, Ayr, ON, Canada

Miriam Phillips, The Villages, FL

Russell Phillips, Frankfort, KY

Klinton Pilling, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Jesus Plasencia, Hialeah, FL

Michael Pratt, Toledo, OH

Kenneth Pruyn, Jr., Middleboro, MA

Tony Rayhorn, Florence, AL

Melanie Richart, Hopkinsville, KY

Deborah Rivera, Lighthouse Point, FL

Theresa Robin, Watertown, SD

Laurie Romei, Chatham, NJ

Kristy Rosner, Farmington, NM

Frederick Ruffen, PhD, Glen Cove, NY

Michael Ruffen, Glen Cove, NY

Kemita Samuel, Kingstown, Grenardines, Saint Vincent

Terri Samuelson, CCCA, Defi ance, OH

Barbara Sanders, Hobart, IN

Yvonne Sandoval, Hemet, CA

Angela Sass, Lakewood, WA

Douglas Schultz, Oconomowoc, WI

Douglas Shepard, BC-HIS, Frederick, MD

Thomas Sholten, BC-HIS, Birmingham, AL

Ivan Siler, Corbin, KY

Christopher Sisneros, Delhi, CA

Jenifer Stoltz, Virginia Beach, VA

Don Strange, Marengo, IN

Patricia Strnad, ACA, Wooster, OH

Steven Strnad, ACA, Wooster, OH

Laurel Taylor, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Petr Tene, Encino, CA

Greg Thompson, Owensboro, KY

James Thompson, Rhinelander, WI

Lynn Townsend, El Cajon, CA

Susan Turano, Mentor, OH

Richard Underwood, Hamilton, OH

Richard Uzuanis, Naperville, IL

Thomas Valashinas, Cincinnati, OH

Carole Van Straten, Green Bay, WI

Melissa Vikse, Red Deer, AB, Canada

Celina Wai, BC-HIS, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Megan Webb, Saint Petersburg, FL

Karen Westhrin, South Daytona, FL

Robert Westhrin, Jr., BC-HIS, South Daytona, FL

John Whetstine, Glenwood, FL

Jason White, Enterprise, AL

Paul Wimp, Elizabethtown, KY

Gary Winton, Chantilly, VA

Belinda Wladyka, Saint Petersburg, FL

Sharon Wright, Sarasota, FL

14

MEETING DATE CONTACT

Joel Cmiel, BC-HIS cmiel@theriver.com

LeAnn Jackson, CCCA leann@hughes.net

866.793.5727

Brenda Roling 573.636.2822 info@missourihearingsociety.org

Nonean Price, BC-HIS

Neil Waingrow, BC-HIS nlwhearing@yahoo.com

Michael Lane 217.528.5230 m.lane@illinoishearingsociety.org

Debra Drewry 859.283.5404 midamericaconferenceonhearing.org

Chip Herb, BC-HIS, ACA chipaherb@yahoo.com

Fred Goossen, BC-HIS goossen@roadrunner.com

Ned Schauer 701.222.3278 ned.schauer@hotmail.com

Joanne Sproule ahip@bellnet.ca

Rosalind Sinclair-Sjue, BC-HIS rsjue@msn.com

Claude Forest

Dan Smith, BC-HIS dmsmith@sd.value.net

Scott Pospisil scott@texashearingaids.org

Mike Littlefield, BC-HIS mikel355@comcast.net

Jan Parker, BC-HIS westerncanadiansymposium.com

If you have an upcoming chapter meeting that you’d like listed in the above roster, please contact IHS headquarters at 734.522.7200.

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 15

Three gubernatorial terms of office expired December 31, 2009. All incumbents ran for a successive term of office and all were re-elected by acclamation. The three-year terms of office for these territories, beginning January 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2012, are as follows.

in the Northeast Coast Territory. The territory includes Connecticut, Maine, Mas-sachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

in the Southeast Territory. The territory includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

in the Northwest Territory. The territory includes Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Ne-braska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

In officer elections, the Board of Governors voted to have and

remain as the Society’s secretary and treasurer respectively for another one-year term of office.

Michele Tucholke has recently joined the IHS staff as the membership and marketing manager. Tucholke comes to

the position with a great deal of nonprofit experience with an emphasis on member-ship retention and growth.

Tucholke earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Lawrence Technological Uni-versity and most recently was the member-ship and sponsorship manager for a local

chamber of commerce.“Since 2001, I have worked primarily for chambers of

commerce and my favorite aspect of my job has been serv-ing our membership. The energy that goes into member-ship retention and growth satisfies my desire to be both creative and analytical—to understand the needs of those we serve and innovate for them. We can never forget that we exist for our members, and at the same time we serve them best by continuing to grow and develop who we are and what we have to offer,” said Tucholke.

IHS Executive Director Cindy Helms says Tucholke’s role is a critical one especially in the membership area. “Michele has the talent and initiative to excel in this posi-tion and she will be a tremendous asset to our operations,” she said.

The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) elected Gordon Walker as president for a one-year term of office. Walker has been the vice president, general manager of the hearing compo-nents division of Knowles Electronics since 2005 and has been with Knowles since 1997 in a wide range of responsi-bilities, from product development/product management on both the hearing components and consumer businesses to component manufacturing.

Walker said, “I am thrilled to take a leadership role with BHI and look forward to making a difference in people’s awareness of hearing loss as a problem and the solutions that are available. The year 2009 was a good one for BHI. I believe 2010 will be an even better year as we launch a discussion forum for people with hearing loss, explore the use of Internet banner advertising, and radio public service announcements to promote the BHI website, establish more relationships both within and without the hearing health industry, publish additional installments of the MarkeTrak VIII publications series, and issue a series of new eGuides and educational articles for consumers.”

Additional election results included Cathy Jones (Phonak) as vice-president, Jeff Taylor (Sonion) as secretary/treasurer, and Peer Lauritsen (Oticon) as a Board member. THP

Goossen Moore Sharp Farris

HR 1646, the Hearing Aid Tax Credit legislation in the House of Representatives, shattered previous co-sponsorship records when Representative Tom Perriello (D–VA) became the 113th representative to co-sponsor the bill. The biparti-san Hearing Aid Tax Credit legislation was introduced by Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D–NY) and Vern Ehlers (R–MI) to provide assistance to some of the 32 million people who need a hearing aid to treat their hearing loss. If enacted, this legislation would provide a $500 tax credit per hear-ing aid for children and people age 55 and older.

IHS has been an active supporter of this legislation. IHS President Chris Gustafson, BC-HIS, ACA, said, “Reaching this new threshold for the Hearing Aid Tax Credit is tangi-ble evidence that lawmakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of improving access to the benefits of am-plification for their hearing impaired constituents. IHS is pleased to be working jointly with providers, patients, and manufacturers in support of this legislation.”

IHS

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 17

NAME (Last, First, Middle): SS/SI Number:

Company Name: Date of Birth:

Street Address: Business Phone:

Business Fax:

City: State/Province: Country: Zip/Postal Code:

Home Address: Home Phone:

City: State/Province: Country: Zip/Postal Code:

Email: M Male M Female

Help strengthen the Society by encouraging membership growth.

This application form can be submitted to IHS headquarters or individuals can join online

at the IHS website where they’ll find detailed information on the benefits of membership.

M $275—Professional (Individuals engaged in the practice of testing human hearing and selecting, fitting, counseling patients and dispensing hearing instruments)

M $150—Associate/Affiliate (Individuals such as office staff, receptionists, or any other support staff, educators, physicians, counselors or those employed by a hearing industry manufacturer or supplier)

M $135—Student (Individuals pursuing an academic or vocationally-based program of study in the practice of hearing instrument sciences or other related professions)

What year did you begin dispensing hearing instruments?

Credentials: M BC-HIS (Certificate No.) M CCCA (Certificate No.)

Education Level: M High School M College/Trade (Degree) M Post-Graduate (Degree)

Visa/MasterCard/AMEX #: Exp. Date:

Check #: Amount: Signature:

I agree to abide by the bylaws and code of ethical practices as established by the International Hearing Society.

Signature/Title: Date:

/ /

THE HEARING PROFESSIONAL 19

This is a partial list of approved courses. For a complete roster, contact IIHIS at 734.522.7200.

This workshop is a follow-up to the “Miracle-Ear Experience: A Recipe for Selecting and Fitting Hearing Aids” and will walk you through the fitting portion. (7 hours)

Mary Sunnarborg, 763.268.4149

You will be pushed to the edge of your belief system, challenged by unfamiliar theories, asked to check your ego at the door, and be tempted to quit. Those who survive the 16-week course will discover that they have the skill set to develop into stronger leaders. (35 hours)

Jessica Palacios, 360.816.2922

This course is designed to be a hands-on tutorial for the assembly and repair of hearing instruments. The goal is to teach an effective method for providing superior service to the end user of the instrument, while maintaining the highest standards of the hearing industry. (40 hours)

Barbara Crotty, AuD, 407.331.0077

This is for intermediate and experienced fitters. Attendees will receive instruction on ethics in hearing health care, case studies of difficult digital fittings, review of trouble-shooting major fitting issues, and software solutions of troubled fittings, theories of neuro-linguistic programming, and applying neuro-linguistic programming techniques to hearing impaired patients. (8 hours)

Bernadette Londberg, 847.832.3300

Topics will include a presentation on MarkeTrak, improving practice productivity, and wireless technology in a classroom setting. (10 hours)

Nonean Price, BC-HIS, 720.353.0574

June 18–19, 2010

This course will provide attendees with a basic understanding of tinnitus, the evaluation of tinnitus, and the application of ReSound Live TS as part of an effective tinnitus management program. (1 hour)

Melinda Sandoval, 952.769.8402

Multi-day event filled with educational topics ranging from technology solutions to motivational interviewing. (10 hours)

Peter Michael Pearlman, CCCA, 502.459.4327

June 3–5, 2010

This session provides an introduction to open canal fittings. A thorough discussion will take place on what an open fitting means, real-ear basics to verify an open fit, and the types of instruments that are considered open. (1 hour)

Lisa Perhacs, 800.766.4500

This seminar is designed to motivate and encourage attendees to dispense increased knowledge of personal interactions, the hearing mechanisms/pathologies, and hearing instrument technology so as to improve hearing for the client/patients they serve in their professional practices. (20.5 hours)

Jan Parker, BC-HIS, 780.458.4727

April 28–30, 2010

20

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Hearing Aid Specialist/Audiologist

Established practice of 30+ years with 16 locations seeks a licensed Hearing Aid

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