More than 300 hearing health professionals from the United States gathered in Spain for the 2014 OtiCongress. The event was held to help industry professionals gain a global perspective on the newest research on brain and hearing health from international experts on aging.
The link between hearing health, aging, and cognitive function is a topic that has captured attention around the world. The hearing sense and hearing loss are factors in the overall cognitive health of aging adults. Professor Helen Amieva, a leading researcher in the Neuropsychology and Epidemiology of Aging at the University of Bordeaux, France, shared new insights from her research on cognitive decline in the aging process and how hearing, hearing loss, and use of amplification play a role.
The conference theme, Preserving Professional Care in a Changing Environment, was highlighted through seminar and workshop discussions that emphasized practice-building strategies to engage and motivate consumers in the face of a changing hearing healthcare environment. Experts discussed new ways to promote and communicate the value of hearing healthcare practitioners and how help to build loyal and long-lasting patient relationships.
Patient education, especially as it applies a “brain first” approach to hearing care, was presented by Oticon as a powerful tool. Presenters placed emphasis on the importance of differentiating hearing care as a category of health care that requires the one-on-one involvement of skilled and credentialed professionals. Participants explored Oticon’s BrainHearing™ technology that is helping to provide better hearing with less effort by giving the brain the clearest, purest sound signals to decode. The benefits of BrainHearing™ technology were showcased in Oticon’s ultra-compact wireless solutions that are designed to combine discreet aesthetics, comfort, and excellent performance with reduced listening effort for a high level of patient satisfaction.
“Our aim is to give hearing care professionals a deeper understanding of brain health and hearing health, and to equip them with the technology and the communication tools needed to open a dialogue with patients on an issue that is top of mind for many,” said Oticon President Peer Lauritsen.
Source: Oticon
