Choose Your Educational Track
Customize your convention experience by attending the seminars right for you! You can either choose to stick to one educational track or mix and match different seminars. In order to attend the following seminars, you must register with the Premier Package or the Friday Only Package.
Friday, September 29, 2023
Clearly the most common complaint of all patients/clients is the inability to understand speech in noise (SIN). Unfortunately, it appears that only 1 in 5 hearing care professionals assesses this very important parameter. In this presentation, we will review the added value of SIN testing in the OTC era, how to test SIN, what the results mean and how to use the results to maximally fit and assess amplification. Definitions and protocols will be reviewed in detail. PDF handouts will be available and a Q&A period will be provided.
Doug Beck, AuD, F-AAA, CCC-A

Douglas L. Beck began his professional career in Los Angeles at the House Ear Institute in cochlear implant research and intraoperative cranial nerve monitoring. Eight years later he co-founded an audiology and hearing aid dispensing practice in St Louis, Missouri. Dr. Beck joined Oticon Inc. in August 2005. Throughout his 17+ years of on-going full-time employment at Oticon Inc. he also served as Web Content Editor for the American Academy of Audiology 2008-2015, Senior Editor for Clinical Research at the Hearing Review from 2016 and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Communication Disorders at the State University of New York, Buffalo (since 2016). In April 2022, Dr. Beck became the Vice President of Clinical Sciences at Cognivue Inc (Victor, NY).
Dr. Beck is among the most prolific authors in audiology with 215+ publications, interviews, and op-eds written for the AAA (2008-2015), Hearing Review (1990-2022), Audiology Online (1999-2005) and many other professional publications addressing a wide variety of audiology and professional topics. Dr. Beck is a sought after lecturer globally and has presented more than 1000 lectures, keynote addresses, webinars and other professional presentations.
Making the sale is just the starting point to a successful hearing aid fitting and satisfied patient. Providing a home hearing aid exercise (HEP)program at the initial fitting with follow-up aural rehab (AR) within one week will be demonstrated and the tools to carry it out also provided. Group aural rehab classes form the integral part of the aural rehab program with new and experienced hearing aid users. The HEP combined with AR is the key to reduce returns and provide the best patient care follow up.
Paul Sobel, AuD

Dr. Paul Sobel is a bilingual (Spanish) dual certified (CCC) audiologist and speech-language pathologist with over 30 years’ experience in various work settings that include private practice (currently), skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, Veterans Administration, school systems and private hospitals. He has provided a wide array of evaluations and treatments with hearing impaired and communication
disordered children and adults from 3 years to over 100 years of age. Dr. Sobel has developed skills in establishing and maintaining interdisciplinary working relationships with physicians, nurses, administrators and my own employees. His patient outcomes have been rewarded with the VA Hands and Heart award, the highest peer-selected honor in the VA. Additionally, he was awarded the Professional Leadership Award from the doctoral faculty at ATSU upon graduation with a doctor of audiology degree.
While disorders that affect the hearing and appropriate treatment of patients is often understood, many disorders can also affect balance. Balance disorders are not as well understood which makes making appropriate treatment plans challenging. This presentation will look at non-ear, middle ear and inner ear causes of dizziness as well as provided guidance into creating appropriate treatment/referral plans for our patients.
Julie Purdy, PhD

Julie K. Purdy is the Manager of Audiology at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, California. She completed her Master’s Degree in Audiology in 1985 at Brigham Young University, located in Provo, Utah and her Doctoral Degree in Audiology from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, in 1990. She specialized in multi-cultural and aging populations. Prior to joining Rady Children's Hospital she was the Director of Education for Starkey Hearing Technologies for the Canadian office where she provided technical and educational support. In 2018 Julie was instrumental in opening the eight pediatric vestibular lab in North America. While designed to primarily serve children, both pediatric and adult patients are able receive assessment and treatment to mitigate balance/dizziness concerns.
In a changing industry landscape, diversification and competitive advantage are more important than ever for hearing healthcare professionals. Tinnitus management, done effectively, provides an avenue for practice growth for experienced practitioners. In this course, a successful tinnitus practice owner will discuss the ins and outs of attracting and working with tinnitus patients.
John Hoglund, ACA, BC-HIS

John Hoglund has been in the hearing healthcare business since 1982. He is nationally Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences, completed the American Conference of Audioprosthology (ACA) program, and has held a certificate from IHS as a Tinnitus Care Provider since 2016. In fact, he was involved in developing IHS’ Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program!