From the Editor: Try On the COAT and Meet ELVAS!

Dear Colleague,

Try on the COAT: Want to be more efficient in your hearing aid evaluation and counseling process? Then you should "try on" the COAT. It is a brief 9-item measure that serves as a springboard for counseling, promotes accountability and provides guidance in the selection of devices by assessing a broad range of variables that influence hearing aid success. This tool was developed and refined at the Cleveland Clinic by AO Contributing Editors Drs. Sharon Sandridge and Craig Newman and published this month on our web site.

Improve your hearing aid "income methods" by downloading a free customizable copy of the Characteristics Of Amplification Tool (COAT) while reading the Newman & Sandridge article - Improving the Efficiency and Accountability of the Hearing Aid Selection Process.

ELVAS Lives! What is the future of hearing aids? This is a tricky question, but I offer my vision of where I think hearing aids may be going by talking about Ear Level Voice Activated Systems (ELVAS). Take a look at some new devices that may change your thinking about what the "hearing aids" of the future may look like in ELVAS Sightings - Hearing Aid or Headset?.

Contributing Editors:
Just a quick mention of two additional submissions we have on the web site from our expert panel of Contributing Editors that would be of special interest:

• Fitting Hearing Aids to Babies: Three Things You Should Know by Susan Scollie, Ph.D.
  
  NOTE: We also have a recorded version of Dr. Scollie's live online presentation on the same topic.
  
  
• Cochlear Implant Hybrids: Who Is a Candidate? You May Be Surprised by Myles A. Kessler, Au.D.

As always, if you have any comments or questions related to Audiology Online, please feel free to contact me directly. We want to hear how we can make AO better for YOU.

Best regards,

Paul Dybala, Ph.D. - Audiologist
President & Editor-in-Chief, Audiology Online