The International Hearing Society (IHS) and National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS) have announced the signing of an affiliation agreement that brings together each organization’s complementary expertise under one roof in Livonia, Mich. While each organization maintains itself as a separate entity with individual governance and budgetary structures, affiliation and co-location allows for greater collaboration and exploring synergies that help support hearing aid specialists in their professional journey, and ultimately positively affect those with hearing challenges.

The two organizations—IHS being the national professional organization and NBC-HIS being the primary certification organization for hearing aid specialists—have worked together for decades and have often shared leaders.

With forthcoming changes in the hearing aid market, new technology, and delivery modes, hearing aid specialists are seeking ways to distinguish themselves in this environment, reports IHS.  The new collaborative relationship is said to allow IHS and NBC-HIS to team up and offer superior resources that assist dispensing professionals in the rapidly changing hearing healthcare landscape. Customers of both organizations benefit from new marketing programs and tools already in development to help further their professional goals, plus premier-level service, expert staff, and greater efficiencies across the board.

“Hearing healthcare professionals may be concerned about changes in the market, but this is also a time for opportunity for everyone who dispenses hearing aids,” said IHS President Todd Beyer, ACA, BC-HIS. “This new affiliation between IHS and NBC-HIS will allow both groups to direct our talents and efforts toward one goal—helping IHS members and NBC-HIS certificants achieve even greater success in their businesses and careers. Together, we are the premier organizations that hearing aid dispensers can turn toward for solutions, support and advocacy.”

“It’s an exciting endeavor to join forces with IHS and still maintain our autonomy,” said NBC-HIS Board Member Scott Lau, ACA, BC-HIS. “NBC-HIS has access to the talents and skills of the IHS staff, which increases our ability to offer high-value benefits to our certificants, as well as an increased level of service. NBC-HIS customers have achieved the top tier of certification in hearing aid dispensing. We’re developing, with the IHS team, impressive programs to support board certificants in their careers and businesses.”

Both organizations have new programs in production to benefit their customers, as well as products that will help hearing healthcare professionals who are neither IHS members nor board certified.

For more information visit, the IHS and NBC-HIS websites.