The details of a study into the viability of changes in the way hearing care is provided in the Netherlands were given by Dr Manuela Joore of University Hospital, Maastrict and Maastrict University. She explained how she sought to establish the benefits and disadvantages of providing hearing care through the private sector in a country where 85% of aids were dispensed in public hospitals or hearing aid centres. Key to the process was deciding what conditions required referral back to the state system. The project almost floundered when no agreement could be reached between the various interested parties and then, did not have sufficient material to reach a scientifically based conclusion about the health-cost benefits. She said further study was needed to properly answer the questions she had posed. Download Manuela's Presentation

“Do hearing aid audiologists need evidence-based practice” was the question posed by Brian Taylor, Global Professional Training Manager for Amplifon. He said health care had evolved from the days of “you have a disease, here is a pill” to “Let’s learn as much as we can about your condition, and match the treatment to the disease, using the best available evidence to guide us.” Hearing care was no different and dispensers should make their recommendations based on current best evidence. It would lead to more efficient appointments, less time wasted doing unnecessary tests, better selection decisions (relying less on hunches), improved confidence in recommendations, and higher levels of patient satisfaction and business revenue. He urged delegates to challenge marketing claims presented by manufacturers and to ask for the evidence.  Download Brian's Presentation.

The final afternoon concluded evidence based practice with a session by Robert W. Sweetow, Director of Audiology and Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of California, San Francisco. His hypothesis was that the biggest mistake audiologists may be making was making hearing aids the focus of their attention when their role was really enhancing the communication of their patient. All patients should be told at the outset of the appointment (even during the scheduling) that they will be receiving a Communication Needs Assessment (CNA) and that hearing aids were just one of the options open to the dispenser. He also asked the question if hearing aid audiologists should start charging for their services rather than include it in the cost of a hearing instrument.Download Robert's presentation

In his closing comments, President Mark Georgevic said the Congress has been extraordinary not least because it had begun with the announcement of the abolition of the HAC and then the welcome to the HPC. There had been strong partnership messages from the BAA and the RNID; Robert Sweetow’s communications plan had raised our sights to improve the quality of life of the hearing impaired and not be just salesmen. He welcomed input to Society thinking on the Consumer Code, including from AIHHP and urged delegates to “watch this space” for further information on introducing the BSHAA conciliated complaints procedure which members had asked for, and for consultation on the Consumer Code and its (very reasonable) costs. He said the Society would be following the progress of the Consumer Protection Regulations and would take further advice and feedback to the membership. Finally the President said the event had been so successful, the Council would consider requests that the Congress become an annual event.