HeAL 2024 is part of a series of biennial audiology conferences that have garnered significant attention over the past two decades, establishing themselves as a premiere platform for showcasing cutting-edge developments in audiology and related fields. Setting them apart from national conventions and even the largest gatherings of traditional audiology societies, these conferences attract a truly international audience, representing more than 45 countries. Thanks to meticulously organised events, appealing venues and opportunities for leisure activities, they have become renowned for their ability to bring together professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of audiology at large.
A distinctive aspect of the Lake Como Conferences, as they are often referred to, is their inclusive approach, embracing not only professionals within the medical model but also those engaged in hearing care. This broader perspective sets them apart from many events that tend to focus solely on medical aspects.
The scientific committee is made up of Dr Ferdinando Grandori, Dr Sophia Kramer and Dr Alessia Paglialonga, who have programmed approximately 15 sessions dedicated to what can be considered 'classic topics', including epidemiology, speech perception/discrimination, genetic issues, early identification, auditory processing disorders, speech and language development, implantable devices, cognitive decline, listening effort, intervention and rehabilitation, auditory training, person-centred care and auditory neuroscience. Alongside these are sessions dedicated to emerging areas such as remote care, data-driven hearing models, auditory modelling, computational audiology, e- and m-health solutions, artificial intelligence applications, quality of life and hearing loss, and patient and family empowerment.
HeAL 2024 will showcase several structured sessions coordinated by leading clinicians and researchers, including a symposium on ‘Community-delivered hearing Care: bringing WHO guidance into practice,’ organised by De Wet Swanepoel and Carrie Nieman).
There will also be the following special sessions: ‘Applications, strengths, and pitfalls of ecological momentary assessment’ (coordinated by the EMA Methods in Audiology Working Group); ‘Precision diagnostics and therapy across the lifespan – Hearing4All’ (Birger Kollmeier and Thomas Lenarz); ‘Empowering healthcare professionals in supporting older adults with comorbid hearing and cognitive impairment’ (Dona Jayakody and Rob Eikelboom) and ‘Listening effort and affective responses: exploring the multidimensional aspects of hearing ‘(Alessia Paglialonga and Edoardo Maria Polo).
Finally, many internationally renowned experts will offer keynote lectures: ‘Objective measures at different stages of cochlear implantation’ by George Tavartkiladze (Russian Federation); ‘Universal hearing screening and intervention programs for people with intellectual disability in their live environment’ by Katrin Neumann (Germany); ‘Extended high frequency hearing loss hiding underneath a normal audiogram’ by Srikanta Mishra (USA); ‘The importance of global partnerships for multiple disabilities’ by Karen Keyes and Roxanna Spruyt (DeafBlind Ontario Services, Canada); and ‘Auditory situation awareness: the conundrum when your life depends upon hearing and your hearing depends on your hearing protector or earphone’ by John G Casali (USA).
