Have we earned your vote?

People of all ages around the UK are being invited to join the search for the country's top hearing expert. Audiologist of the Year is recognised as the leading accolade for hearing professionals and is judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

The award recognises the work of audiologists throughout Europe who go beyond the call of duty in their quest to deliver a life changing service for their patients and clients. Patients with inspirational stories to tell are encouraged to vote. It may be your hearing professional has provided support at a time of real need or delivered care over many years. Anyone can enter providing you've had a hearing device fitted in the last five years. All you need to do is to tell about the care you received and the difference it has made to your life. If you would like to help us again this year email us for a nomination form which you can download or complete on line.

www.audiologistoftheyear.eu

AIHHP member wins top audiology award

Hertfordshire hearing specialist and founder Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP) member Robert Beiny is celebrating after being named the Rayovac Audio Infos Audiologist of the Year for 2011.

Robert, who runs the Hearing Healthcare Practice in Harpenden, was chosen as the winner by a panel of the hearing industry’s leading figures. He was nominated for the award by the mother of a 20-year-old girl who, with his support, has overcome years of problems to fulfil her dream of becoming a flight attendant. Despite completing a travel and tourism course, she gave up her ambition to become a flight attendant at college after being told airlines would not hire someone with hearing aids.

This changed over a period of months starting in December 2010 when she first went to see Robert who spent time testing several hearing devices that she was happy with and which suited her cosmetically. After eventually selecting a model that suited her hearing requirements, and with her self-confidence transformed, she went for several interviews as a flight attendant, before landing her dream job.

This is the second time Robert has won the award, and marks a tremendous achievement for AIHHP and its membership, which has now provided a total of seventeen different award winners since the awards were launched just four years ago, including three of the four overall winners. Other AIHHP members who received commendations in 2011, included; Jo Rae (The Hearing Healthcare Practice), Nick Chitty (Oxford Hearing Centre), Paul Scigala (Sound Advice Hearing Centre) and Vicki Skeels (The Hearing Care Centre). Our own Stephen Fairfield and Shona Jackson have received commendations in recent years.

AIHHP was established by eleven founder members in 1994 and is a professional association dedicated to promoting excellence within the UK Hearing Care profession. AIHHP members provide a range of high quality services including hearing assessments, hearing aid provision, hearing protection and other specialised services relating to hearing.

Current Chair, Rob Davies commented “Whilst being a fantastic testament to Rob’s skills as a hearing aid audiologist and his professionalism, it is also great news for AIHHP. It shows that if someone visits an ‘AIHHP’ accredited hearing care centre, they can be sure that they will be provided with the best possible standards in hearing care available today.”

For more information on the competition visit www.audiologistoftheyear.eu

GN Resound Centre of Excellence

House of Hearing are proud to announce that they have been made a Centre of Excellence by Danish hearing aid specialist, GN ReSound. ReSound Centres of Excellence are a select, highly skilled professional group who demonstrate exemplary customer care and technical expertise.

Making sure that a client receives the greatest possible benefit from their hearing instruments is a highly skilled job. Each hearing instrument must be delicately tailored to each individual, and often require a significant amount of time and expertise after the diagnosis. They often require adjusting as the client becomes accustomed to their new world of sound. This fine-tuning can take several appointments over a number of months. It ensures that the wearer is getting the most from the hearing aids that they have invested in.

To be recognised as a ReSound Centre of Excellence, House of Hearing were able to demonstrate a commitment to expertise, training and professional development in a clinical and caring background, and a comprehensive aftercare programme.

Stephen Fairfield, owner of House of Hearing says

“I am delighted that the care, service and professionalism of House of Hearing has been recognised by ReSound. Our ethos has always been to put the client first and we spend as much time as necessary ensuring that our customers get the best from their chosen hearing instruments. All our customers receive personalised and ongoing fine-tuning based on their hearing loss, personal preferences and lifestyle. And we offer a service and support package which is second to none in our industry. We know that this level of care makes a real, audible difference to our clients and are delighted to accept this award”.

ReSound are a leading hearing aid manufacturer responsible for many of the major technical advances in hearing aid technology in the past 25 years. Their latest product ReSound Alera enables you to hear effortlessly in everyday situations and on special occasions. It has a natural, rich and accurate sound. It also has first generation wireless streaming that connects to the TV and mobile phones. To find out more contact us on 0131 220 1220.