Michigan Academy of Audiology

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Michigan Academy of Audiology
2843 E Grand River #264
East Lansing, MI 48823

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Welcome to www.mi-hearing.org, the website for the Michigan Academy of Audiology.

This website will be updated on a regular basis to provide you with current information on legislative issues, educational programs, employment opportunities and other special features. Your input is welcomed and needed. You may contact MAA via e-mail, through a board member, or the new "contact us" feature.

MICHIGAN ACADEMY FELLOW AND STUDENT MEMBERS ONLY: Input your name and information to the member section as soon as you can. Your information will be placed into a queue for membership review and activation. When you receive a confirmation email, you will have access to the member area. There you will see a download section for forms, license information and breaking news. Please check this area often. If you were a member in the past, we will keep your web infomation active until April of the following year. We're sorry to say if you haven't renewed your membership we will have to delete your information.

The Michigan Academy of Audiology is organized for the purpose of promoting the public good by fostering the growth, development, recognition, and status of the profession of Audiology and its members within the State of Michigan.

As a professional, member based organization the actions of the Academy should be based upon the welfare of its members. It is assumed that the recipients of audiology services can best be served if the needs of the Academy membership are properly met.

The Academy's core purpose is to enhance the professional autonomy, stature, development, and knowledge of the Audiologists in Michigan. To this end, the Academy was created to be the preeminent organization in Michigan whose core membership is limited to audiologists. Through its actions, the Academy is desgined to promote and enhance the practice of audiology in Michigan and ultimately improve the quality of care provided to the public thereby served.

Member Spotlight

Tom O’Connor

tom_oconnor Tom O’Connor completed his Bachelor’s and Masters degrees at Michigan State andfinished his Clinical Fellowship Year in the Department of Otolaryngology at MichiganState in 1980. His professional experience began with the National Health ServiceCorps in Florence, South Carolina and continued as an officer in the US Army. Afterleaving the military and a short stint in a United Way center in Aiken, South Carolina, hejoined the Michigan State faculty as a clinical supervisor in 1990. In 1994, Tom joinedthe staff of the University Of Michigan Division Of Audiology in the Department ofOtolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He managed the adult hearing aid programuntil 2007.

Owning a private practice has always been a goal for Tom. The stars aligned when hiscurrent business partner, Claudia B. Williams, joined the U of M staff in 2005. After ashort time, they decided it was time to venture out into the business world and openedO’Connor Hearing Center in 2007. The practice is located on Zeeb Road in Ann Arborand has been growing day by day.
Tom has been active in Michigan audiology affairs most of his career. He was afounding board member of the Michigan Academy of Audiology in 1994 and hasserved as a Member at Large and President over the years since then. He continuesto be involved as Chair of the Reimbursement and Legislative Committee. Tom is onthe Board of the Michigan Audiology Coalition. O’Connor Hearing Center is a privatepractice site for Au.D students from Wayne State University. In 2011, Governor RickSnyder appointed him to the State of Michigan Board of Audiology. Tom was electedChairperson of the Board in 2012.
He is married and has two daughters, a son and three grandchildren (all in Georgia).

CALL TO ACTION!

Hello!

A key to the professional success and survival of audiology is and will be related to our autonomy and our ability to serve our patients in a cost effective and expedient manner. Currently Medicare rules require a physician referral to see an audiologist for audiologicmanagement.

As most of you know, the audiology community has been trying to secure direct access to audiologists by Medicare patients for several years. To date there are 51 co-sponsors of HR 2140, the Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2011. The only Michigan representative to be a co-sponsor is Rep. Dale Kildee (D-5^th District).

The Michigan Academy of Audiology urges you to take a close look at the issue and consider contacting your Congressional Representative to request their support as a co-sponsor of HR 2140. AAA has provided all the information you need to easily send an e-mail in support of this effort. This website (http://capwiz.com/audiology/issues/alert/?alertid=48026501) will provide the means to send an email in a matter of minutes. For more information on HR 2140, please see this site: http://www.audiology.org/advocacy/federal/congressionalissues/Pages/DirectAccess112thCongress.aspx

Take a moment to support our profession. It is only by adding our personal voices and influence will we be able to shape the course of our future.

Thanks!

Tom O’Connor

Chair, Legislative and Reimbursement Committee

Michigan Academy of Audiology

A message from the president of the American Academy of Audiology

A message from the president of the American Academy of Audiology regarding an update on Health Insurance Hearing Benefits, Internet Testing and Sales

http://www.audiology.org/advocacy/Pages/UHC_letter_resources.aspx

The first ever Michigan Student Leaders in Audiology Meeting

The first ever Michigan Student Leaders in Audiology Meeting, hosted by theMichigan Academy of Audiology was held in Lansing, Michigan September 16-17,2011.

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Three students from each of the Doctor of Audiology programs in the State ofMichigan were nominated to attend the meeting by the faculty of their programs. Nine students and three faculty members representing, Central Michigan University,Wayne State University and Western Michigan University attended the meetingto learn about advocacy issues in the profession of audiology and also how toinnovatively think and ensure a vibrant future for the profession of audiology.

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Speakers at the meeting included Dave Fabry, Director of Sales at StarkeyLaboratories, Brad Stach, Head of the Division of Audiology at Henry Ford HealthSystem, Virginia Ramachandran, Clinical Education Coordinator at Wayne StateUniversity and President-Elect of the Michigan Academy of Audiology, KristenHuizdos, President of the Michigan Academy of Audiology, and Tom O’Connor, aprivate practice audiologist from Ann Arbor, MI. During the meeting, attendeeswere also given the opportunity to meet with Callie Collins, Chief of Staff to SenatorTupac Hunter who is a supporter of the Hearing Aid Tax Credit Bill and also take atour of Michigan’s State Capitol Building.

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Attendees at the meeting included:
Gerald Church, Ph.D. of Central Michigan University
Gary Lawson, Ph.D. of Western Michigan University
Tom Simpson, Ph.D. of Wayne State University
Nina Brennan, Wayne State University
Shaleta Havard, Wayne State University
Robbie Michels, Wayne State University
Sara Young, Central Michigan University
Ashley Waldock, Central Michigan University
Robin Barnes, Central Michigan University
Tiffany Sexton, Western Michigan University
Charles Pudrith, Western Michigan University
Alyssa Eminhizer, Western Michigan University

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Welcome

What Exactly is an Audiologist?

An Audiologist is the professional who specializes in evaluating and treating people with hearing loss.

Questions To Help Detect Hearing Loss

The following questions may help you to detect a hearing loss.