EUHA ON A (Swiss) ROLL - World’s biggest audiology conference close to its target of 10,000 attendees

This high figure grazes the 10k target identified as a future target attendance by EUHA President Beate Gromke and colleagues.

The return of international visitors post-pandemic – especially from Asia – added to organisers’ joy at high footfall around exhibition stands, abundant knowledge transfer, and an atmosphere imbued with an Alpine air: for the first time, there was a partner for the Congress – Switzerland – represented by the country’s association of audiology professionals, AKUSTIKA. Each day of the Congress brought a lecture or tutorial featuring an expert from Switzerland.

Auracast, OTC, and hidden hearing loss

A richly varied but extremely on-topic programme delivered intriguing depth on issues such as the new broadcast audio streaming protocol, Auracast, and a review of OTC devices one year since their introduction in the USA. A roundtable discussion focused on Changing hearing aid acoustics: The European perspective on the future of better hearing and intelligibility, also highlighted the Swiss perspective.

Following the first ever inauguration of EUHA from within the industry exhibition itself, Christoph Schwob, advisory member of the Swiss audiological commission and member of the Paediatric Audiology professional group of the Federal Social Insurance Office, held a lecture on Specialist shops will always be needed – or will hearing aids soon only be available online?

EUHA Sponsorship Awards were ceremoniously handed out, Sonja Tänzer, winning first prize with a study – Effectiveness of hearing aid fitting for patients with almost normal pure-tone audiograms to reduce tinnitus. She looks at an exciting phenomenon known as hidden hearing loss. Marianne Frickel received the FDHA Foundation Award, honouring her for her outstanding commitment to audiology.

The afternoon of Future Friday on October 20 brought four keynote presentations, following a morning during which 70 apprentices and students took part in a guided tour of the exhibition. A special lecture given by Peter Mestel focused on Social media for young professionals. His advice: young people should also get a LinkedIn account. He regards WhatsApp as the strongest social media channel. The tool will also become increasingly important in customer communication, he told his audience.

The lectures held at the Congress will soon be available on the EUHA Learning Hub.

Editorial and sales staff from Audiology Worldnews and Audio Infos Germany reported a marked increase in international visitors and stands at this year’s exhibition.

Back to Hanover in 2024 – and welcome Denmark

The 68th EUHA, in 2024, is scheduled to be held in Hanover from October 16 to 18, featuring hearing tech-rich Denmark, home of Demant (Oticon), and GN Hearing, as the event’s partner country.

Source: EUHA

Source: GOV.UK/Demant