PRESIDENT'S REPORT

​Dear Members:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and confidence in electing me as President at our virtual AGM in May 2021. I would also like to thank Maggie Arzani for her dedication and commitment as President over the past three terms. Also, congratulations to the newly elected Board of Directors, whom I will rely on for support and expertise.  You have my assurance that the strong AHIP tradition of protecting the rights and interests of our profession will continue.

The first Board meeting of the term took place on June 15, 2021, when new Chair and Committees members were appointed. I outlined my goals for the 2021 -2022 term, which includes education, public and government relations.

During this challenging pandemic, we have done our best to assist the AHIP membership. This included communicating with all Ontario Public Health Units regarding vaccinations, providing regular membership mailings on the status of COVID-19, and outlining policies regarding back to work protocol, infection control, and telepractice.    

Our first virtual Symposium was an amazing success and provided the opportunity for you to achieve relevant, high-quality continuing education. Thank you, Maggie, and all those who made it possible. As reported, our next Symposium is scheduled for May 4-6, 2022, at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls. We are currently examining the possibility of combining both in-person and virtual aspects going forward. 

I am looking forward to a very positive and productive term.
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 Stay Safe and Have a Great Summer!

Lisa Simmonds H.I.S.
AHIP President ​

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

​Happy fall AHIP members!

Not sure about the rest of you, but fall is my favourite season, and we’re in the thick of it! So, cozy up with your pumpkin spice whatever, fuzzy socks, and settle in the latest edition of the Signal.

Our financial guru John Niekraszewicz is back with his regular advice, and this one might be applicable for a few of you; how to plan for retirement. Next, we have a deep dive systematic review of how we promote hearing aid use and showcase their benefit to adults. Also, a report from Thomas Littlejohns, an Epidemiologist from the University of Oxford provides more insight between dementia and hearing loss in background noise. Want to learn more about temporary threshold shift? Well, you’re in luck; we have an article from Healthy Hearing all about it. One of my personal favourite writers in the hearing health world, Shari Eberts, discusses the IDA approach of person-centred hearing health and how it will shape the future of hearing healthcare. Finally, another look into the future, but this time on the tech side, we have an article about a ‘Hearing Contact Lens’ out of Germany.
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I really hope you enjoy these articles as we are surrounded by fall sports, the leaves changing colour, and those who have already started their holiday plans (you know who you are).

Stay healthy, stay safe!

Chris Arnold 
AHIP Vice President and Signal Editor-in-Chief

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT

​Dear Members:

Congratulations to Lisa Simmonds elected AHIP President, Vice-President (Chris Arnold); Secretary (Kuldip Grewal); Treasurer (Selina Mauro); and to the Board of Directors: Pam Ashton, Angie Chianelli, Adam Perrie, Danielle Rizk, and Demetra Tsimicalis-Valente.

I would like to extend a special thank you and sincere appreciation to Vivienne Saba-Gesa, who chose not to run this term, for her many years on the Board serving the profession with integrity and vision.

Each term brings new challenges for your Board of Directors and sometimes a continuation of a project or items which began the term or several terms before. One of the current President’s goals for this term is to examine a long-term strategic plan for the profession. I think this is amazing as I strongly believe that if there is no self-directed plan, the future/destiny of the profession will be determined for you, not by you. There must be a “really good” Winston Churchill quote somewhere that may better express what I am trying to relay.   

Anyway, on behalf of the AHIP office, we continue to do our very best now and throughout the pandemic to professionally serve you via Board directives while keeping our families and community safe. We look forward to the day we can all meet again in person.

Have a Safe and Happy summer!

Respectfully Submitted,

Joanne Sproule
Executive Director