The 6th Arab Hearing Health Conference of the Advanced Arab Academy of Audiovestibulogy (AAAA) took place from 8 to 10 November 2018 in Marrakesh, Morocco. Hearing aid acousticians and audiologists from all over the Middle East came together at the hearing health conference on further and continuing vocational education and training.
Under the leadership of audiologist Prof. Dr. Khalid Abd Al Hadi from Qatar, the AAAA brings together the medical and audiological interests of more than 25 North African and Arab countries in the area of rehabilitation for the deaf or hard of hearing. He regards the training provided by the Academy of Hearing Aid Acoustics (afh) based in Lübeck as exemplary and has been engaged in professional exchange with the organisation for some years. This is focused on aspects relevant to training as well as the reciprocal recognition of country-specific qualifications. The afh is led by director Jakob Stephan Baschab, who is also general manager of the Federal Guild of Hearing-Aid Acousticians (biha) which supports the academy.
Made in Germany
Both the training concept for the vocational training in hearing aid acoustics under the dual system and the implementation in practice set the highest of standards. The afh is the world's largest college in this sector. 3200 students are currently completing training there. In addition to training for hearing aid acoustician journeyman status, the afh regularly provides advanced and continuing education and training—including on an international level. Demand is especially high for practical training in the provision of hearing systems.
In Marrakesh, lecturers from the afh delivered talks on the provision of hearing systems for children and introduced digital innovations in the processing of ear moulds, known as otoplasty. Director Jakob Stephan Baschab accompanied the trade mission.
"The Academy of Hearing Aid Acoustics based in Lübeck is an international model of outstanding initial and continuing vocational education training of hearing aid acousticians," explains Marianne Frickel, president of the biha. "In such trades where risk is involved, such as hearing aid audiology, it is particularly important to standardise high quality trading—worldwide. These trades alone can ensure the best possible care for hearing-impaired adults and children."
Prof. Dr. Khalid Abd Al Hadi from the AAAA adds, "For us it is important to strengthen public awareness of good hearing and to increase knowledge together. The hearing aid acousticians from Germany consistently provide us with excellent ideas for our work."
The afh arranges the summer academy in Germany for specialists from around the world every year. The continuing education measure takes place over several days at the academy in Lübeck. Owing to the latest technical equipment and the extensive expertise of the experienced lecturers, experts from around the world are able to complete continuing training and engage in dialogue in specific areas such as paediatric acoustics and hearing aids for children.
It is estimated that 276 million people worldwide suffer from impaired hearing. The causes vary from sudden hearing loss, to injuries and age-related hearing impairment. Those who hear very little often feel cut off from the outside world. Hearing aid acousticians help by providing individual, high-quality hearing systems.
Hearing aid acousticians already supply more than 3.5 million people across Germany with the latest, fully digital hearing systems. They provide a comprehensive consultation, conduct hearing tests and select the hearing system together with the hearing impaired person. They fully customise this to the hearing loss and personal requirements of the hearing-impaired individual. They produce ear moulds and provide preventative advice on hearing protection. Hearing aid acousticians can also help with tinnitus and sudden loss of hearing. They support patients following the implant of a hearing system (cochlea implant) and assist them with hearing training.
Continuing education as a paediatric acoustician enables them to also provide for the needs of the very youngest patients in the event of hearing loss in the first months of their life. In Germany, only hearing aid acousticians are permitted to supply a complete hearing system.
More background information on the hearing aid acoustician craft trade and on the Academy of Hearing Aid Acoustics (afh): In Germany there are approximately 5.4 million people with an indicated hearing impairment. And the trend is increasing. Deafness is one of the ten most common health problems. With 6200 hearing aid audiology businesses and approximately 15,000 hearing aid acousticians, the hearing aid acoustician craft trade already provides approximately 3.5 million people in Germany with high-quality, fully digital hearing systems. The Federal Guild of Hearing-Aid Acousticians (biha) represents the interests of hearing aid acousticians in Germany.
The federal guild regulates and monitors the training of hearing aid acousticians and conducts the journeyman examination. It supports the Academy of Hearing Aid Acoustics (afh) in Lübeck for this purpose. The afh is Germany's central educational institution for hearing aid acousticians. It is responsible for inter-company training, master craftsman training as well as further and continuing vocational education and training.
Since 1971, the audiology campus has served as a shared educational venue for the afh, the National Vocational School for Hearing Aid Acousticians (Bundesoffene Landesberufsschule für Hörgeräteakustiker) and the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule Lübeck) with its Hearing Acoustics bachelor's programme in Hearing Acoustics. In the form of a learning location cooperation, the academy and the National Vocational School work hand in hand in the implementation of intercompany training.