Spotlight on Special Interest Group 8, Public Health Issues Related to Hearing and Balance

Abstract

You have accessThe ASHA LeaderSIG Spotlight1 Mar 2014Spotlight on Special Interest Group 8, Public Health Issues Related to Hearing and Balance Ingrid BloodPhD, CCC-A Ingrid Blood Google Scholar More articles by this author , PhD, CCC-A https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.SIGS.19032014.np SectionsAbout ToolsAdd to favorites ShareFacebookTwitterLinked In How many affiliates does Special Interest Group 8 have? As SIG 8 celebrates its fourth anniversary, the number of affiliates continues to grow. Approximately 150 ASHA members affiliate with SIG 8. Originally, SIG 8 focused on hearing conversation and occupational audiology. Newly restructured, SIG 8 expanded its scope of interests which, in turn, is attracting affiliates from multiple disciplines from a broad and global community. Why did you originally choose to affiliate with SIG 8? SIG membership provides a dynamic venue for networking. I consider our online community forum (http://community.asha.org/home) important for sharing ideas for research, teaching and clinical practice. (Keeping up with the latest in our field is important to me because I teach courses on audiology and hearing loss at Pennsylvania State University.) Perspectives on Public Health Issues Related to Hearing and Balance and the SIG 8 Community forum provide timely and practical resources for curriculum development. What is the most important issue surrounding SIG 8 right now? Preventing falls was our thematic focus for 2013. Recent issues of Perspectives and online discussions also focus on changes in hearing health care delivery, innovative hearing conservation programs and outreach initiatives, the influence of genetics on hearing loss, and dizziness. The latest conversations question whether hearing loss contributes to cognitive decline in an aging population … and the implications for audiologists. What upcoming events related to or sponsored by SIG 8 should everyone know about? SIG 8 will sponsor educational sessions in collaboration with other audiology SIGs during the 2014 ASHA Convention in Orlando, Fla. We are planning a short course and seminars on genetics and hearing loss, and on the connection between cognitive decline and hearing loss. Presenters will review recent research findings and lead discussions on the influences and implications of these discoveries for audiologists. Which of your recent Perspectives articles is a must-read for CSD professionals, and why? Falls are a substantial hazard to the health and independence of older adults in the United States. The following articles are related to falls prevention and/or dizziness: Fall Risk Assessment and Intervention, by Angela K. Smith and Amy Porter (November 2013, Vol.14, 4–10). Falls Among Older Adults: A Public Health Concern, by Jaynee Handelsman (December 2011, Vol.12, 13–18). Audiologists' Role in Assessing Risk of Falls, by Robin E. Criter, Jessie N. Patterson, and Julie A. Honaker (November 2013, Vol.14, 22–34). Interdisciplinary Approach to Dizziness: Roles of Audiology and Physical Therapy, by Faith W. Akin, Courtney D. Hall, and Kristal M. Riska (November 2013, Vol.14, 11–21). Innovative learning experiences help develop healthy hearing practices necessary for a lifetime. Related articles include: Noise and Public Health, by Ann Dix (December 2011, Vol.12, 19–23). Promoting Hearing Loss Prevention in Audiology Practice, by David C. Byrne, Christa L. Themann, Deanna K. Meinke, Thais C. Morata, & Mark R. Stephenson (December 2012, Vol.13, 3–19). For Those About to Rock, by Jennifer Tufts (December 2012, Vol.13, 29–35). Podcasts, Google, and YouTube—Oh My! An Innovative Online Course for University Students on Preventing Hearing Loss by Ingrid M. Blood and Gordon W. Blood (December 2011, Vol.12, 4–12). Author Notes Ingrid Blood, PhD, CCC-A, is professor of communication sciences and disorders at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. She is coordinator of Special Interest Group 8, Public Health Issues Related to Hearing and Balance. ·[email protected] Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Advertising Disclaimer | Advertise With Us Additional Resources FiguresSourcesRelatedDetails Volume 19Issue 3March 2014 Get Permissions Add to your Mendeley library History Published in print: Mar 1, 2014 Metrics Current downloads: 102 Topicsasha-topicsleader_do_tagasha-article-typesleader-topicsCopyright & Permissions© 2014 American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationLoading ...