Texas Academy of Audiology

Thanks for being part of the magic!

Our conference was a huge success—
the best yet.

Thanks to our 2011 Conference Sponsors!

Texas Academy of Audiology - 12th Annual Conference Success!

The 2011 Annual Conference of the Texas Academy of Audiology brought together the largest attendance in the history of the Academy. Attendees were rewarded with a broad and strong program that earned many positive comments about our high-caliber speakers, including:

"Very knowledgeable speakers... use of case studies extremely helpful... engaging format and the presentations were useful to a wide range of audiologists- regardless of practice setting."

"Research presented in an unbiased format... very interesting, fast-paced presentation and great sense of humor on the part of the presenter."

During the business meeting, four new members of the TAA Board were elected and members heard a review of the Texas Academy's busy legislative year in 2011 (including new changes in the licensing act). In the end, attendees were not only able to earn 1.1 continuing education units (11 clock hours, including Tier 1 hours and Ethics training), but were also able to re-fuel their enthusiasm for their audiology practices!

In addition, the conference afforded time for networking with 54 exhibitors representing 26 companies (whom we thank for their outstanding support) and 57 students (27 of these students supported the conference in critically-needed volunteer roles). Hat's off to everyone who contributed to the success of this conference, now one of the largest state audiology academy meetings in the nation.

Why not add our 13th Annual Conference, November 8 - 10, 2012, to your calendars right now with this note: "MUST ATTEND TAA CONFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO!"

Promote your pediatric audiology facility!

Be recognized in the new EHDI PALS Directory. DSHS asks you to complete this online survey.

EHDI Pediatric Audiology Links to Services (PALS): A National Pediatric Audiology Facilities Directory

EHDI PALS is designed to help families of children, birth to 5 years of age, locate appropriate pediatric diagnostic audiology and hearing technology services. It is anticipated that the directory will be available in 2012.

Your participation in this survey will help ensure that the EHDI PALS Directory is comprehensive and accurate. This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. We appreciate your help. Take the survey now.

Download TEHDI Follow-up and Intervention Form.

Update regarding United Healthcare

November 2, 2011—The American Academy of Audiology has now posted this update from President Therese Walden, who will be briefing us personally at our TAA conference in Richardson:

From President Walden—An Update for Members: Health Insurance Hearing Benefits, Internet Testing and Sales

United Healthcare

October 13, 2011—The Texas Academy of Audiology has been monitoring and working with the AAA with regard to the UHC (United Healthcare) situation. Here is today's correspondence from Academy President Walden:

Absolutely the Academy (AAA) and the ADA are reviewing this situation very closely and have been in discussion.

As you can tell, there are many unanswered questions that we all have. The FDA regulates hearing aids and they have weighed in on PSAPs (personal sound amplification products) but have limited jurisdiction over those kinds of products. The FDA can make recommendations and have indicated that the 'purpose' and subsequent labeling of hearing aids and PSAPs is key.

We are seeing all kinds of 'boundaries' being pushed...from the product (hearing aid or PSAP), to the testing (face-to-face, online, or none at all!), to licensing and state regs, to interstate commerce, to just about any delivery system you can think of in order to go 'direct to consumer'. Not all good and certainly most of this is not in the best interest of the patient...we know that.

The Academy and the ADA are staying close to this UHC issue and the broader issue of 'alternative delivery models' as well as all the other permutations listed above.

We have to just keep providing great Audiology care to our patients. "The rest (as my mother always says) "will come out in the wash".

Stay tuned!!

Therese Walden
President
American Academy of Audiology

Texas Academy of Audiology News

Our candidate wins

12/14/2011 - With the help of TAA’s PAC, our friend and candidate for the Texas House of Representatives John Raney won a special election last night. John was outspent 3 to 1 and had most of the Austin money going against him.

Thanks again for your support and we will look forward to bringing your issues to his attention in the future. Details to follow...

~Brad Shields

Congrats to the new board members!

Cristen Plummer, Connie Stephens, Karen Ditty and Jackie Clark have been elected to the TAA Board of Directors. Congratulations, all!

Join/Renew Your Membership in the
Texas Academy of Audiology for 2012

Are you a current member of the Texas Academy? Membership is on the calendar year, January 1st–December 31st.

Note: To join our Facebook group page, you must be a current TAA member.

TX Flag Join us!

Joining or renewing is quick and easy.
First, get your password and log in,
then join for 2012!

AAAF Science Fair

Amber Morgan (far left) and Janet Krueger (far right) of the Texas Academy of Audiology present Elise Harais with an award for her AAAF Science Fair project, How Does Age Affect the Frequency at Which a Person Can Hear? More...

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