29 November 2024

Calls for unification at audiology conference

by Hannah Williams

There were calls for greater collaboration within audiology at this year's British Academy of Audiology conference in Telford.

Kevin Munro, audiology professor at Manchester University, shared the stage with clinicians and providers in a question and answer session called 'It's time to talk about hearing'.

Prof Munro likened the NHS to an elderly relative: "You love them, but they are in need of care."

Addressing the shortage of audiologists to meet the growing demand for hearing care, he pointed out that people across the profession needed to stay united to have a clear voice.

He said the message should be: "We don't just help people hear better. We know that hearing better helps us to live better and think better. Healthy hearing results in healthy ageing."

He said the NHS had passed a tipping point. "Throwing money at it won't be enough. We as audiologists have to take charge and be proactive," he told the audience. "This isn't somebody else's problem; this is your problem."

Gordon Harrison, Specsavers' director of audiology, backed calls for a united front, pointing out that persuading policymakers to help the sector would not be easy when competing with vital health demands, such as cancer care and mental health support.

"If we are shouting with four or five different voices, it doesn't help," Mr Harrison said. "It leaves the door open for other 'disruptive services' to do the job audiologists should be doing."

Asked by an audience member if Specsavers, a conference sponsor, was one of the disruptors, Mr Harrison said: "We are putting things out there to discuss and make it better, keeping audiology at the centre of hearing care. We are part of the status quo."

He added that audiologists might have to accept the help of associates and assistants with procedures such as hearing tests and wax removal, so they could use their expertise to focus on interpreting results.

Susannah Goggins, BAA board member, said there was sometimes too much focus on what was wrong with the profession when there was lots of good practice and innovation in the NHS. "We shouldn't reinvent the wheel, and we should learn from existing practice," she said, but joined the call for professional bodies to work together.