From Mild to Moderate: A Symposium on Self-Care and Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
A symposium focused on hearing self-care and the use of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids will take place at the University of Pittsburgh on June 7. Experts from pharmacy, audiology, and public health fields will collaborate to discuss the benefits of OTC hearing aids for enhancing patient access to hearing health care in the United States.
With approximately 30 million adults in the U.S. experiencing some level of hearing loss, only a small percentage seek hearing aids despite their potential benefits. To address this issue, the FDA introduced a new category of OTC hearing aids for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss in fall 2022.
During the symposium, pharmacists and audiologists will work together to promote the safe and effective use of hearing health care solutions. Discussions will focus on topics such as public health, regulations, interprofessional practice, and implementation strategies for OTC hearing aids. The keynote speaker, Kelly King, an audiologist and program officer at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, will share insights from the National Institutes of Health.
The University of Pittsburgh has been an early proponent of OTC hearing aid education. They offer an online interprofessional course developed by experts in pharmacy and audiology like Lucas Berenbrok and Elaine Mormer. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) holds an exclusive license agreement to offer the Pharmacy-Based OTC Hearing Aids training program developed by the University of Pittsburgh.
Interested individuals can now register for the symposium, and both pharmacist and audiologist continuing education (CE) credits will be available. For more information about the symposium or registration, reach out to otchearingaids[at]pitt.edu.
In conclusion, this upcoming symposium aims to bring together experts in different fields to discuss how OTC hearing aids can enhance patient access to healthcare in America while focusing on various aspects such as public health regulations interprofessional practice implementation strategies for OTC Hearing Aids that are crucial for its success.
Registration is now open for interested individuals who want to learn more about this topic through continuing education credits that are available both for pharmacists and audiologists who attend this unique event hosted by The University Of Pittsburgh’s School Of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Department Of Speech & Hearing Science & Human Development Center For Rehabilitation & Education In Communication Sciences And Disorders
