LETTER FROM THE EDITOR | How and Why the “Future of Audiology” Mini-Seminar Came to Be

By David Fabry

This article is a part of the January/February 2018, Volume 30, Number 1, Audiology Today issue.

In 1987, Dr. Rick Talbott was head of the Division of Exceptional Children at the University of Georgia, and was sitting in his office working on how to finance the three departments and a 40-bed ICFMR under his administrative responsibilities when he received a call from Mike Dennis, the audiology program coordinator for the upcoming American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) Convention to be held in New Orleans. Mike asked if Rick would facilitate a mini-seminar session at the convention addressing the future of audiology—a topic that had often been debated with former classmates and, at that time, still relatively young professional colleagues, at ASHA meetings for several years.

It had been some 25 years since the historic Highland Park Conference, and there were several organizations and committees of ASHA, CAPCSD, ADA, and state associations, to mention a few, working on addressing the future course of the profession. Since the ASHA national convention was attended by a large representation of audiologists, it seemed the logical place to offer the opportunity to hear the perspectives of well-known leaders in the field and have opportunity for reaction from those in attendance.

The meeting was scheduled for an auspicious Friday the 13^th of November, from 12:00–1:30 pm in the Sheraton Grand Ballroom. To optimize the potential for a good turnout, Rick’s first thought was to invite Dr. James Jerger, who was a prolific and well-respected researcher/clinician and had also been a participant in the Highland Park Conference. Jim enthusiastically agreed to participate, and also provided encouragement/support in planning. The rest of the panel (Drs. Lucille Beck, James Hall, and George Osborne) comprised nationally recognized professionals and opinion leaders that represented a broad spectrum of academic, clinical, research, and private practice settings.