By: LTC Nancy L. Vause
AAC Website Update!
THE AUDIOLOGY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN (AAC) website is [was] up and running! Where audiologists and information come together !!! Check it out.
Thanks to the creative AAC webmasters: Paul D. Dybala and Glenn Meirs - this website is very consumer-education oriented and user friendly. The link to our MAA website is in progress. The site offers self assessments for hearing loss, games, Question and Answers, and most importantly referral by zipcode to practicing audiologists.
AACs referral system differs from all other professional listings who include all organization members whether or not they still practice. Although active duty military audiologists do not evaluate non-military patients, you may want to include your name in the speakers bureau referral listing or as a hearing conservationist consultant. (Those local Lions clubs and 4th graders need your expertise!) This is a great way to educate the public about total hearing health care and how we military audiologists are multi-talented! It also is a nice local PR aspect for your hospitals and hearing conservation programs. To be included in the zipcode listings, you must sign up.
Share the site address with your patients, commanders, during any publicity you arrange on post or base.
We need hearing conservation experts to join the question and answer experts. If you are interested in answering questions and reviewing answers, AAC needs you. You may answer questions in the area of expertise you feel most comfortable (hearing conservation, hearing aids, pediatrics, etc). Please call or email me to volunteer.
Glen, Paul, and the AAC board are fine tuning the site, but it is ready now! We are very excited about this project and look forward to seeing it grow, and encourage comments and questions about the site!
Misc Project Updates
The AAC Focus on Tomorrow Hearing aid Check off program made history when audiologists and some leading hearing aid manufacturers joined hands by matching donations to AAC for consumer education. Here’s how it works: Participating audiologists donate $1 for each hearing aid sold and the manufacture matches the donation.
Since MAA audiologists dispense but do not sell hearing aids the tax-deductible donation is also an option. To date, MAA members have generously donated over $500 to AAC projects. Thanks!!!!
The toll-free consumer information hot line is moving forward. Dr. Kay Bachman is chair of this committee and is close to releasing a RFP.
Milkboy Recording Company donated all proceeds to a joint album to AAC. ESCO has paid for AAC mailings this year and is generously working to donate proceeds from a credit card.
AAC is preparing a consumer booklet to send upon request from the toll-free phone number or website. If you would like to work on this initiative now is the time to volunteer.
We are sad to report a founding organization (American Academy of Audiology) chose not to replace Dr. Robert Keith as an AAC board member. According to a letter from the president, AAA no longer wishes to be a part of the exciting work AAC is doing. AAC is committed to consumer education and will continue our work with the other founding organizations and is considering requests by other organizations to join AACs noncontroversial efforts. We are thrilled that this is the one initiative which promotes the high quality hearing health care audiologists offer consumers. Most of us pay dues to both MAA and AAA. If you do not agree with the AAA decision, I encourage any interested MAA member to urge the AAA board to reconsider this short sighted decision. AAC continues to promote unity among audiologists and is dedicated to making audiology a household word.
AAC joins the NY League for the Hard of Hearing in promoting Noise Awareness Day. NYLHH announced and posted on its web site all AAC audiologists who offered free hearing tests in April. They received balloons and promotional items for consumers. AAC plans to make this an annual event. Mark your calendars for next year. This is a super opportunity for military audiologists to receive free give-aways.
AAC is your nonprofit foundation and would not be possible without the continued leadership provided by the military audiologists. Let us hear from you!
Thank you for your support,
LTC Nancy L. Vause