Learning Lab Descriptions

LL101 – Making Sense of the Numbers (and Saving Some Taxes) – For Audiologists

Half-Day – 8:30am – 12:15pm

Level II – Intermediate Level

Tracks: Business Practices, Professional Issues

You’ve invested countless hours first to earn your Doctorate Degree and then to enhance your clinical skills. However, you probably haven’t had many opportunities to take courses or spend much time learning about the business side of being an audiologist. This session will help you decipher the numbers needed to effectively run a practice, compare owning your own practice versus working as an Associate, and take steps to minimize your tax burden.

Presenter(s): Andrew Schwartz, CPA, Schwartz and Schwartz, PC

Contributor(s): Annette Burton, AuD, Easter Seals Center for Better Hearing

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

Read and comprehend a basic set of financial reports needed to run an audiology practice.
Understand the tax aspects of working as an Associate at a practice owned by another Audiologist or ENT physician
Save taxes by deducting professional expenses and minimize taxes by taking advantage of various tax-advantaged accounts.

LL102 – The Ins and Outs of Cerumen Management

Full-Day – 8:30am – 4:45pm

Level I – Beginner Level

Tracks: Business Practices, Professional Issues

This workshop, both educational and practical, will cover the anatomy and physiology of the outer ear, conditions of the ear canal, otoscopic examination, properties and characteristics of cerumen, methods of cerumen management, and related issues such as liability, reimbursement, and state licensure. The final hours of this workshop will allow the participants to actually use a variety of cerumen removal instruments and equipment.

Presenter(s): Rita Chaiken, Au.D, Atlanta Audiology Services, Inc.; Jiovanne Hughart, MBA, AuD, Hearing Doctors of Georgia, Inc.

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

describe the nature of cerumen
perform basic or more advanced cerumen management techniques, depending on their previous experience
identify various instruments and/or equipment used to perform cerumen management

LL103 – Update in Vestibular 2012

Full-Day – 8:30am – 4:45pm

Level II – Intermediate

Tracks: Vestibular

The purpose of this session is to provide an update on emerging trends in vestibular assessment and management. Six recognized leaders will discuss several important topics. The morning session includes diagnosis-based strategies for vestibular rehabilitation, overview of bilateral vestibular hypofunction, current standard of care and development of vestibular prothesis technology. The afternoon session focuses on evaluation and intervention for chronic subjective dizziness, as well as physiologic bases and clinical methodology for cervical and ocular VEMP.

Presenter(s): Richard Gans, Ph.D., The American Institute of Balance; Kenton Tarver, AuD, The American Institute of Balance; Charles Della Santina, Ph.D., M.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Jeffrey Staab, M.D., Mayo Clinic; Devin McCaslin, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Gary Jacobson, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Contributor(s): Richard Roberts, PhD, Alabama Hearing & Balance Associates, Inc.

LL104 – The Road to Private Practice

Half-Day – 8:30am – 12:15pm

Level I – Beginner Level

Tracks: Business Practices, Professional Issues

Audiology professional demographics indicate that private practice now constitutes the largest employment sector for our field. This presentation will examine important factors to consider before making the decision to open a private practice in Audiology, as well as the steps necessary to ensure success.

Presenter(s): Bettie Borton, AuD, Doctors Hearing Clinic; Kadyn Williams, AuD, Audiological Consultants of Atlanta; Thomas Borton, PhD, Doctors Hearing Clinic; Helena Solodar, AuD, Audiological Consultants of Atlanta

Learner Outcomes- You will be able to:

identify 3 professional expectations that might influence your decision to start a private practice.
list 3 benchmarks that will assist in monitoring practice progress
describe 3 ratios that are important in the determination of your practice’s performance data

LL105 – Can you Hear Me and Do you Remember? Audiologist’s Role in TBI and Cognitive Decline

Half-Day – 8:30am – 12:15pm

Level II – Intermediate Level

Tracks: (Re)habilitation and Counseling, Adults

Hearing impairment is reported frequently in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and has been associated with communication, social and employment handicaps. Implications of TBI in practice will be presented. Audiologic and cognitive changes with aging are seen in the aging population. Additionally, incidence of dementia increases with age. Implications of aging related cognitive changes on auditory and speech perception will be reviewed. Current research, assessment and rehabilitative options for these populations will be discussed.

Presenter(s): Lindsey Jorgensen, AuD, University of Pittsburgh; Lina Kubli, Walter Reed Medical Center; Patricia McCarthy, PhD, Rush University; Stephanie Sjoblad, AuD, University of North Carolina

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

identify ways one can successfully provide amplification to patients with memory loss
describe the role of cognition in aging speech perception
describe the peripheral and central auditory dysfunction that may be associated with TBI

LL106 – Implantable Devices – An Update for The Non-implant Audiologist

Half-Day – 8:30am – 12:15pm

Level I – Beginner Level

Tracks: Implantable Hearing Devices

Presenter(s): René Gifford, PhD, Vanderbilt University; Michael Valente, Ph.D., Washington University; Kristin Uhler, PhD, University of Colorado

As implantable auditory prosthesis research and development rapidly evolves, staying current on clinical trends, implant criteria, identification of implant candidates and expected outcomes is difficult even for those clinicians intimately involved in implant-related practice. Thus the purpose of this Learning Lab is to provide updated, clinically relevant information for the "non-implant audiologist” regarding available technology, candidacy, and outcomes. Implantable devices including cochlear implants, middle ear implants, and bone conduction osseointegrated implants will be highlighted.

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

identify current cochlear implant criteria for adult and pediatric recipients
identify expected outcomes for adult and pediatric cochlear implant recipients
recognize all available cochlear implant options for adult and pediatric recipients

LL107 – Probe-Mic Hearing Aid Verification: Can You Afford NOT to Do It?

Half-Day – 8:30am – 12:15pm

Level II – Intermediate Level

Tracks: Amplification and Assistive Devices, Adults

Can you really "fit” a hearing aid without probe-mic measures? This lab will review the research evidence supporting the use of probe-mic measures, and discuss the underlying rationale. We will describe and demonstrate live (performed without a net) various protocols using speech mapping procedures to verify hearing aid performance. We also will show how this testing can be used to assess special features of hearing aids, and what modifications are needed for special fitting applications.

Presenter(s): H. Gustav Mueller, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University; Todd Ricketts, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

describe the underlying rationale for conduction probe-mic measures
describe the use of speech-mapping for determination of appropriate gain and output
describe the procedures for real ear assessment of special hearing aid features and fitting arrangements

LL108 – Baby Love: Family Centered Care from NHS to CIs

Half-Day – 8:30am – 12:15pm

Level II – Intermediate Level

Tracks: Pediatrics, (Re)habilitation and Counseling

This session will focus on meeting the needs of our youngest patients. We will discuss the history of collaborative care at Mayo Clinic, how that shapes us as providers and influences our care. Case presentations will outline the family centered experience that we strive to provide as hearing loss is identified and evaluated. We will emphasize NHS and CI evaluations as families navigate their hearing journey and understanding the impact of their decisions.

Presenter(s): Melissa DeJong, AuD, Mayo Clinic; Joscelyn Martin, AuD, Mayo Clinic

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

list the necessary components for the creation of a family centered newborn hearing screening program
describe how to successfully implement family centered care in a busy clinic practice
describe the efficacy of a team approach to evaluating infants for cochlear implantation

LL109 – Help! I’m Surrounded, New and Unique Ways to Survive and Even Thrive in the Face of Increasing Competition

Build Your Own Full –Day (8:30am – 12:15pm), must also select an afternoon session

Level II – Intermediate Level

Tracks: Business Practices, Professional Issues

Running a business isn’t easy, especially when competition is increasing everywhere! It may not be easy but it certainly is possible to compete and make your practice grow in the face of increasing competition. While you may have heard her ideas before, Dr. Kasewurm has put together new concepts and ways to prosper and grow in today’s challenging marketplace. And… there will be surprising new ideas from successful practitoners operating practices across the country. 2012 can be THE year you separate yourself from your competition!

Presenter(s): Gyl Kasewurm, AuD, Professional Hearing Services, Ltd.

Contributor(s): Surprise Guests, Various practices across the country

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

identify three effective ways to make make revenue grow and increase profitablity
outline simple ways to make your marketing efforts stand out from the competition’s
describe unique ways to make your practice one that attracts new patients

LL110 – Audiology Marketing University – Having a Plan is the Silver Bullet

Build Your Own Full –Day (8:30am – 12:15pm), must also select an afternoon session

Level II – Intermediate

Tracks: Business Practices, Professional Issues

Marketing is often a mystery to audiology practices. This Lab is designed for practices desiring the stability and growth that comes from establishing goals, designing a balanced marketing plan to meet those goals, executing that plan and keeping track of whether goals are met or missed. Participants will leave with an actionable marketing plan customized to the unique aspects of your marketplace, skills needed to refine that plan and a simple approach to tracking results.

Presenter(s): Steve VanPoolen, kreativeMotive

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

execute a marketing plan
track the effectiveness of their marketing plan
make decisions regarding ongoing marketing opportunities

LL111 – Convincing Your Patients to Say "Yes”

Build Your Own Full –Day (1:00pm – 4:45pm), must also select a morning session

Level II – Intermediate Level

Tracks: Business Practices

This session is based on the idea that we do not really “sell hearing aids.” The heart of the patient relationship requires the skills of a true counselor. Ask questions so the patient can realize the true consequences with which they are currently living. Connect the audiogram and the science to their real world experiences. Help them visualize your solution as creating a new, positive life experience for both them and their family.

Presenter(s): Robert Flynn, BA Psychology and Communications, Legacy Frontiers, Inc.

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

Engage patients and families with skills to reduce tension and engender trust.
Analyze patients and their families to adapt conversation to the their communication or buying style
Employ consultation skills to gain agreement regarding the patient’s needs and motivations and help them accept recommendations

LL112 – Measuring Quality in Your Practice. First Rate Clinical Practices = Unsurpassed Business Success

Build Your Own Full –Day (1:00pm – 4:45pm), must also select a morning session

Level III – Advanced Level

Tracks: Business Practices, Amplification and Assistive Devices

Raising the bar on quality in your practice is a necessity in today’s competitive marketplace. This course will examine three key drivers of quality in a clinical audiology practice, along with 7 proven ways to improve it. Key messages will be related to how improving quality generates more word of mouth referrals, commands a higher average selling price and can be used to differentiate your service from low price businesses.

Presenter(s): Brian Taylor, Unitron

Learner Outcomes – You will be able to:

identify key indicators of quality
define quality in your practice
implement quality procedures