The annual European Audiologist of the Year awards event was due to be held later this year. Officials have announced the cancellation of this year’s competition, in recognition of the challenges audiologists across the continent are experiencing as a result of coronavirus COVID-19.
The decision to cancel the annual award has been made by the event’s organisers RAYOVAC®, a division of Energizer Holdings, Inc., which runs the annual event in partnership with leading international audiology industry publication Audio Infos, the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) and the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH).
Entries were due to close on Friday 26 June with the European winner being announced at the EUHA International Congress of Hearing Aid Acousticians in October. Organisers have confirmed that applications already received will be included in next year’s judging process.
Paula Brinson-Pyke, Director of Marketing at RAYOVAC®, said: “RAYOVAC® is committed to supporting the hearing industry. In light of the developments around COVID-19 we have taken the difficult decision to cancel this year’s European Audiologist of the Year awards.
“As COVID-19 continues to impact on people’s lives around the world, the ability to hear is a vital part of keeping people connected with friends, family and colleagues.
“We know that audiologists and hearing professionals across Europe are working extremely hard, under very challenging circumstances to ensure that their customers have access to essential hearing technology and audiology services, while balancing these needs with their health and that of their staff.
“We would like to thank our competition partners and judges for their ongoing support and reassure audiologists and patients who have submitted entries for this year’s competition, that these will be included in the 2021 judging process.
“In the meantime, we want to encourage all of our contacts to follow government and industry guidelines to stay safe. We are proud of the efforts the industry is making to ensure this, and we look forward to celebrating the exceptional work audiologists across Europe are carrying out now, in next year’s Audiologist of the Year awards.”
