Division 7, Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation

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Announcements

Audiology 2008 - Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults

Perspectives is going GREEN to save some GREEN in 2008!

In 2008, Special Interest Division member publications, Perspectives, will be published online only. The Divisions are going to this new format:

To save some GREEN. Increases in content and frequency of publication coupled with increasing postage costs have put a strain on Division budgets. Publishing online only will free up resources that can be allocated to other Division programs and member benefits.
To be more GREEN. Online publishing is a positive step environmentally; it saves resources (paper, energy) associated with publishing hardcopy.
To respond to affiliates' interests in accessing content online.
To provide new benefits (e.g., archived issues).

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation Special Interest Division is to facilitate the ability to minimize or prevent, across the life span, the limitations and restrictions that auditory dysfunctions can impose on well-being, and on communicative, interpersonal, psychosocial, educational, and vocational functioning. This is accomplished by (a) providing a forum for professionals who have an interest in audiologic/aural rehabilitation to exchange and discuss current research and practice information, (b) providing professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills, (c) promoting practices and policies related to the provision of effective interventions and use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, implantable devices, and other hearing assistive technologies, and (d) promoting research related to audiologic/aural rehabilitation.

Goals and Visions

Goals

To meet its mission, the division will strive to attain the following goals:

Advocacy within ASHA wherein we advise and make recommendations about policies, procedures and guidelines relating to aural rehabilitation and sensory aids to the Executive Board and Legislative Council of the Association
Promotion of federal and state policies regarding reimbursement services for aural rehabilitation and sensory aids for consumers with hearing impairment and deafness
Dissemination of information and conduct of public awareness activities to consumers and healthcare professionals, including physicians, which highlight the contribution speech-language pathologists and audiologists make to the health and well-being of hearing-impaired and deaf children, adults and their families
Recognition of research needs and provision of a forum for exchanging ideas and information in order to improve coordination of efforts among clinical scientists
Establishment of study sections for affiliates within or among divisions who share more focused topical area of interests relating to aural rehabilitation and sensory aids including: cochlear implants, tinnitus management, dizziness rehabilitation, developing speech production and reception strategies within children with hearing-impairment and deafness, language development of hearing-impaired and deaf children, communication and psychosocial problems unique to the hearing-impaired elderly, proposal curriculum guidelines in aural rehabilitation for professional degree programs including masters level training and the professional doctorate
Plan and conduct continuing education activities for affiliate members as well as other segments of the Association

Visions

It is our hope to implement our mission and goals by:

Coordinating activities and directions with related professional organizations with overlapping concerns including but not limited to: American Academy of Audiology, Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, Academy of Dispensing Audiologists, American Auditory Society
Interfacing with consumer groups including Self-Help for the Hearing Impaired, Alexander Graham Bell, and Consumer Organization for the Hearing Impaired (COHI)
Collaborating with other health care professional groups in meeting the needs of the hearing-impaired including the American Medical Association, American Geriatrics Society, Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, and the Academy of Pediatrics
Communicating with agencies within the National Institutes of Health including National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to enhance mutual research and research training missions
Working closely with the Congressional Action Committee to promote legislation designed to meet the needs of consumers with hearing impairments and providers of professional services

Affiliate Benefits

Perspectives on Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation, the division's peer-reviewed publication, comes out in April and October and features:

News of division activities
Articles on clinical topics
Articles on professional and practice issues

Division 7 affiliates also receive an issue of Perspectives on Audiology, the publication of the Audiology Coordinating Committee.

Check out the April 2006 issue:

Front page, including In This Issue table of contents [PDF]
Clinical Interpretation of the CPHI [PDF] by Sue Ann Erdman, Audiologic Rehabilitation Counseling and Consulting Services, Jensen Beach, FL

Continuing Education
Division 7 sponsors a Short Course at the annual ASHA Convention. Division affiliates are eligible for a 50% discount on select Short Courses at Convention.

Networking
Affiliates have the opportunity to identify others with interest in aural rehabilitation and its instrumentation.

Representation Within ASHA

The Division 7 Coordinator represents the Special Interest Division on Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation within the ASHA Board of Division Coordinators.
The Steering Committee responds to ASHA requests for input regarding policy, guidelines, committees, and other issues.
Affiliates have the opportunity to provide input to the division leadership and ASHA.

Genetics and Hearing Loss

Genetics was the focus of the first issue of Perspectives on Audiology. The issue, published in May 2005 for affiliates of ASHA audiology divisions, is available from ASHA Product Sales (800-888-498-6699).

Aslo see two articles by Jill Elfenbein: "Genetics of Hearing Loss: Contributions of Mitochondrial DNA" [PDF] and "Genomics: Learning to Read the Instruction Manual."

Steering Committee

Members

Division Coordinator: Sue Ann Erdman, ARCCS
Associate Coordinator: David J. Wark, University of Memphis, Memphis Speech and Hearing Center
Matthew Bakke, Gallaudet University
Terese I. Huber, Atlanta Area School for the Deaf
Nancy Muscato, University of South Florida

Ex Officios

Brian B. Shulman, Monitoring Vice President for Professional Practices in Speech-Language Pathology
Gwendolyn D. Wilson, Monitoring Vice President for Professional Practices in Audiology
Michelle Ferketic, Director, Special Interest Divisions and International Liaison Programs