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The meeting of the Legislative Council Audiology/Hearing Science Assembly of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association was held in the Commonwealth Ballroom C of the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, with Coordinator George O. Purvis and Associate Coordinator Kelly Kaufman presiding. The Assembly was called to order at 12:30 p.m. on November 17, 2007.
Introductions and roll call were taken with 21 members present. The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the March 2007 meeting were approved.
Coordinator Purvis provided opening remarks and reminded councilors about their role as leaders in recruiting individuals for the 53 positions on the Audiology Advisory Council. This will be true not only in our own states but in other states as well where currently there is no representative on the Audiology/Hearing Science Assembly.
The Membership Forum was time-ordered for 12:45 p.m. and no members were present to speak.
Reports were given on Assembly committees, the 2007 Audiology Convention, and planning for the 2008 Audiology Convention. Robert Turner, chair of the Audiology Convention for 2008, could not be present at the meeting but sent a written report to the Assembly prior to the meeting. He included the status of the ASHA Audiology Convention and provided a list of issues and ideas for the 2008 convention. The floor was opened for discussion by the members of the Audiology Assembly. The following issues were discussed:
- The VP for Quality of Service in Audiology reported on the work of the ad hoc committee that has been looking at the Audiology Convention at ASHA. He reported that the committee concluded that to increase audiology attendance at ASHA Convention, we need to identify a niche for the programming and increase exhibitors. Professional assistance in marketing and strategic planning will be utilized.
- There was discussion about the value of the CCCs and how we can continue to promote them to the membership.
- A concern was expressed that ASHA CEUs were not available for a session at this convention (2007) that was planned at the last minute due to "late breaking issues" (session was a collaborative effort of several agencies/associations and centered around the recently released Joint Commission on Infant Hearing report).
The Assembly (future Audiology Advisory Council [AAC]) has received "invited presentation status" for the 2008 convention. Montano (NY) has volunteered to coordinate a session at the 2008 ASHA Audiology Convention for the Audiology Advisory Council. He has agreed to gather the information and to submit the proposal in the appropriate format. Councilor Purvis opened the floor for suggestions for this session:
- Audiffred (LA) reported that the PAC and GRPP Board are planning to present a session related to current legislation and what is going on with that legislation at the time of the convention. He invited the AAC to consider partnering with them as many of the legislative issues are related to audiology/audiologists.
- Specific topics suggested were:
- Basic science (example: cochlear physiology)
- Coding and reimbursement (a suggestion was made to make sure that this session was truly applicable to the practitioner and that it be innovative and combine information about the issues and how to translate that into the clinical practice)
- Bi-modal hearing (HA on one side/ CI on other side)
- Audiologic rehab (crossover topics for both professions)
- Clinical application of basic science
- Auditory processing disorders (again, suggested to address it for both AUDs and SLPs)
- The relationship of a "clinical diagnosis of APD" and "school eligibility for services" issues (Note: APD is not a recognized handicapping conditions in and of itself in many state special education regulations – there needs to be some work to educate practitioners on both sides of the issue – the clinical side and the school side)
- Cochlear implants
- Health Care Economics Committee might work with AAC for a presentation on the topic of coding/reimbursement
- Dangerous Decibels (Billy Martin)
- Noise induced hearing loss – In summer 2008 ASHA will co-sponsor the International Congress on Noise – there could be a report at the 2008 Convention on this Congress meeting and the outcomes of the meeting.
There was a request that every effort be made to engage the newly elected members of the Audiology Advisory Council (transitional year) in this conversation as soon as possible for their input.
Assembly elections were conducted and the results are as follows:
- The name of 1 Councilor was placed in nomination for election as the 2008 Chair of the Audiology Advisory Council. George Purvis was announced as having been elected by acclamation.
- The name of 1 Councilor was placed in nomination for election as the 2008 Vice Chair of the Audiology Advisory Council. Joe Montano was announced as having been elected by acclamation.
- The names of 3 Councilors were placed in nomination for election to the 2008 Committee on Nominations and Elections. Following balloting, Fred Britten and Ryan McCreery were announced as having been elected.
Jim Potter (NO) updated the Assembly on 3 legislative issues related to Audiology. The issues were: Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), tax credit for hearing aids, and direct access to audiologists.
An Assembly Forum was conducted and members presented comments and questions on a variety of issues including:
- Spivak (NY) – concern expressed about the "unavailability" of specialty recognition via ASHA for Audiologists (ABA has specialty certification in cochlear implants). Is it possible that the lack of ASHA specialty recognition in audiology could erode the importance of the CCCs?
Nunez (NO) reported that the current ASHA model for specialty certification is "grassroots driven" meaning that requests to create a certain specialty certification has to come from a group of members. Last year there was a petitioning group for pediatric specialty but they withdrew their application. Nunez urged the Assembly to give feedback to ASHA on whether or not there needs to be a different "process" (currently specialty certification has to be self supporting).
- Foster (NC) – commented on how important it is for the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Councils to set "precedence" early – and that working together will be critical.
- Audiffred (LA) - asked for clarification on when the Advisory Council Chairs/Vice Chairs would be elected for 2009 – Natalie Wilson (NO) clarified with the following information:
- The nomination period for members to the 2009 Advisory Councils will be open November 27, 2007 to January 18, 2008.
- The elections for the 2009 positions on the Board of Directors and members to the Advisory Councils will occur in June 2008.
- After the 2008 election results are known (July/August 2008) the 2009 chairs/vice chairs for both Advisory Councils will be elected via electronic means.
The Vice Presidents for Audiology presented updates on their activities and responded to questions by members of the Assembly.
Pam Mason (NO) updated the Assembly on the work of the ASHA Audiology Practices Unit over the past year. She reported that there have been successful interactions between Sharon Beamer and the Military Audiology Association and Anne Oyler and the Educational Audiology Association (EAA). EAA will be meeting in conjunction with ASHA Schools Conference next year.
There being no further business, the Assembly adjourned at 3:10 p.m.
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