Widex Congress presents the latest research in paediatric audiology

At no other time in history have the opportunities for children with hearing loss been better. This was highlighted by participants at the 4th Widex Congress of Paediatric Audiology, which took place from 19 to 21 May 2006 in Ottawa, Canada.

The congress gathered top-level experts from all over the world to present state-of-the-art research on a broad range of subjects for an audience of more than 300 hearing professionals from over 40 countries.

One of Widex’ most important tasks

Under the heading “Helping Children Hear Better”, the biennial Paediatric Congress is part of Widex’ continuing effort to give children with hearing loss the same opportunities for a full and active life as those with normal hearing.

Tom Westermann, Executive Vice President at Widex says, “What is more important for the coming years than our children? We rely on their future capabilities to function in an increasingly complex and hasty world. We rely on their abilities to communicate and understand, so that we all can live in a peaceful and prosperous world. So we have to make an extra effort to give our children the maximum possibilities to perform. One of the platforms on which we develop our own skills to better help our children is to participate in discussion and learning forums such as this congress. We view the arranging of this congress as one of our most important tasks.”

A multitude of challenges

Although spectacular progress has been made in paediatric audiology over the past years - with newborn hearing screening, cochlear implants and the development of more effective hearing aids - there is still plenty of work to be undertaken in this field. And new knowledge does not only provide answers; it also raises new questions: “With newborn hearing screening we are all of a sudden faced with the challenge of fitting hearing aids and cochlear implants to very young babies who cannot provide you with subjective feedback”, said Lisa Davidson from the Central Institute for the Deaf at Washington University, USA.

Enthusiasm across borders

What made the congress special was the enthusiasm and shared commitment of all the attendees, across geographical and academic borders, to the cause of hearing impaired children. The congress is a key component of the Widex Paediatric Partnership, which dedicates significant resources to providing hearing impaired children with better opportunities for a lifetime of learning, giving and experiencing.