PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | What I’ve Gained by Giving Back
Volunteering for professional organizations has been incredibly rewarding throughout my career. People often ask me about my volunteer service and what motivates me to stay involved. My path to becoming president of the American Academy of Audiology began during my time as an AuD student.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE | Retune Your Passion for Audiology
This year’s AAA 2025+HearTECH Expo takes place in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. Much like jazz, audiology thrives on innovation, adaptability, and collaboration. This conference is your opportunity to embrace the same spirit of creativity that musicians embody—and bring it back to your practice.
AUDIOLOGY ADVOCATE | The Critical Role of Key Congressional Committees in Shaping Audiology and Health-Care Policy
The U.S. Congress, through its various committees, plays a vital role in shaping health-care policy, including issues involving audiology. Among the most influential are the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senate Finance Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and House Ways and Means Committee.
ACADEMY NEWS | Nadene Cherry on the Importance of Giving Yourself Permission to Pause
American Academy of Audiology President Patricia Gaffney, AuD, MPH, spoke with Nadene Cherry, the AAA 2025+HearTECH Expo keynote speaker, about the impact of meditation on her life, her connection to audiology, and her upcoming speech in New Orleans. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
The Future of Audiology: Surviving and Thriving
The future of audiology holds immense promise for improving hearing and balance care. Advancements in technology—coupled with a growing awareness of hearing loss, shifts in health-care delivery, and demographic change—are driving significant changes in the field.
Audiology Assistants: Navigating Ethical and Legal Issues
Legal and ethical issues surrounding audiology assistants spark ongoing discussion in professional audiology circles. Knowing how state regulations, codes of ethics, and supervision requirements intersect with the unique aspects of the audiology assistant role can help audiologists successfully integrate them into care teams and improve patient care.
The Diversified Audiology Practice
A diversified private audiology practice can help increase earning potential. By diversifying your practice, you insulate yourself from negative outside forces, increase your potential for success, and bring your services to a wider range of patients.
Shifting The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Landscape: How Audiologists Can Promote Timely Diagnosis and Intervention
For families who want their children born with hearing loss to develop spoken language and literacy skills, prompt access to appropriately selected and programmed hearing aids or cochlear implants is mandatory.
Overlooked Variables Regarding Hearing Aids and Dementia
Potential cognitive benefits of hearing aid use are reported in the literature in four widely-publicized studies (Glick and Sharma, 2017, 2020; Lin et al, 2023; Sarant JZ et al, 2024). However, some of these studies have been criticized for their methodological limitations (Dawes, 2024; Sarant J et al, 2024).
AuD Externship Applications: Trends Across Time
The Student Academy of Audiology periodically distributes surveys to AuD students to document their experiences during the externship application process. This article places previous published survey results in context with the most recent survey, administered in the summer of 2024, to inform students and relevant stakeholders, evaluate trends across time, and examine potential explanatory factors.
CODING AND REIMBURSEMENT | Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Payment Policy History and Updates
Since 1992, Medicare payment to clinicians and certain suppliers has been made under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). Prior to 1992, Medicare payment was based on the reasonable charge method, a payment method that had been in place since 1966. Services paid under the MPFS are federally funded and furnished in various settings.
ON TREND | Tips for Great Financial Conversations
Financial conversations can often feel stressful and awkward due to the sensitive nature of discussing costs. To help, CareCredit has created a valuable resource for providers and their teams that offers helpful insights on how to make these conversations comfortable for patients and help them move forward with hearing health care recommendations. Here are some key tips mentioned in the Tips and Scripts resource.