Search By:
This article originally appeared in The Hearing Professional May—June 2005
By Cindy J. Helms
IHS Executive Director
When I was first introduced to the hearing healthcare industry, I was immediately struck by what a noble profession it is. To enhance the quality of life for so many hearing impaired and their families is to indeed make a wonderful difference in today’s world. So I was puzzled to learn that only about 25% of Americans with hearing loss had actually sought help.
Unfortunately, years later, that number remains about the same.
To address this issue, the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) is orchestrating an initiative that literally brings both consumers and providers to the table in an effort to identify and cross the barriers to hearing help. They are collaborating with the allied associations to conduct a multiyear program that will culminate in the creation of a new hearing healthcare agenda to improve hearing aid and services delivery in the U.S.
The effort will be officially launched in conjunction with Hearing on the Hill in Washington, DC (an HIA-sponsored event to bring hearing care awareness to legislators and Capitol insiders).
The program structure contains three basic components. The first is to gather intelligence about consumer attitudes and experiences employing a series of three focus groups for whom a predetermined set of questions will be asked and evaluated by an unbiased facilitator. The second is a symposium that will provide expert panel dialogue on the key outcomes of the focus groups. The third will be a guidance document outlining the consensus hearing healthcare agenda that will be formally issued to the field, the public and the government in May 2006.
The entire process will be guided by an Advisory Committee comprised of two representatives from each of the participating disciplines. The IHS Board of Governors has accepted the invitation for our participation and we will be represented by Treasurer James Ogurek, BC-HIS, and Governor-At-Large W. F. Samuel Hopmeier, BC-HIS. Other participating organizations include AAA, AAO-HNS, ADA, ASHA, BHI and SHHH.
I believe this concentration of forces could be very powerful and has the potential to penetrate the elusive 75% of the hearing impaired population who have heretofore resisted treatment. This is a unique opportunity for healthcare providers and manufacturers to help motivate a higher volume of individuals to seek the benefit of hearing instruments.
I further believe that our involvement in this coalition will serve to strengthen IHS’s image, foster public relations and further the Society’s goal of coalition-building with the allied organizations.
I commend HIA for spearheading this initiative and expect it will meet with much success.
Ms. Helms can be reached at 734.522.7200 or by email at chelms@ihsinfo.org.
