Chair's Update January 2024

Dear members,

Happy new year to all BSA members and I hope that everyone had the chance for some relaxation time over the festive break.

I would like to begin the year by encouraging some good will and positivity! Many of the BSA awards were created to honour remarkable individuals; pioneers in the profession and are a great way to identify and celebrate the achievements of new individuals that promote excellence in hearing and balance and I know there are many of you out there that go above and beyond on a daily basis. While nominations for BSA awards can now be made throughout the year we are getting close to the time where we will be reviewing all the nominations received. So, anyone thinking about making a nomination please do so before 1^st March 2024. The Thomas Simm Littler Lectureship, The Denzil Brookes award and The David Baguley mentorship award can all be nominated by BSA members and don’t forget to let patients/clients and their families know of the George Harris People’s Choice award. All nominations are reviewed by the BSA Council at the March meeting and the winners announced at the AGM, which will take place during the 2-day scientific meeting on 17^th and 18^th June in Birmingham – please do save the date and join us!

Shortly before Christmas we held the last BSA Council meeting of 2023, thank you to all the advisors and trustees for submitting their reports and to all members involved in the BSA groups. As well as planning their content for the scientific meeting several SIGs are looking to deliver specialist events to provide learning and inform practice. The updated Recommended Procedure for Visual Reinforcement Audiometry has been published by PAIG and the PGG and is now available on the website, thank you to all involved in the review. The Recommended Procedure for Tympanometry & Acoustic Reflex will also be published early in 2024. On the 8^th January a new consultation began inviting comments on the existing Recommended Procedure for Pure Tone Audiometry, prior to a major review of this document taking place. Now is the time to comment on this document and help highlight new and emerging evidence that should be considered in the review.

Over the next couple of months there will also be information released regarding our activity around World Hearing Day on 3^rd March 2024 which is being led by our trustee for external relations Gaby Saunders and lead for Global Outreach Ned Carter. And, an exciting new small research grant led by Amanda Hall (chair of RDG) to support members to undertake applied research activities to benefit people with hearing, tinnitus or balance problems.

Kind Regards

Donna Corrigan

BSA Chair

To review this month’s e-Update in full please click here – January 2024 e-Update

For access to a copy of a previous month’s e-Update, please contact bsa@thebsa.org.uk