Directions
It has long been a theorem that knowledge runs from the university to the clinic, in a seemingly unidirectional manner. This was certainly true of the beginnings of our field and still was when I was in school during the 1970s and early 1980s. But more and more, this theorem of directionality is being called into question.
The last 30 years or so has seen more of a reversal of this directionality and in many cases, a bi-directional pattern. Clinical issues and problems arise in the clinic and in some cases the solutions came from academe and from industry and in other cases, it came from the clinic.
I suspect that we are at a state where as many innovations derive from the clinic as from the universities and I would argue that this bi-directionality is not only good for the field of audiology but attests to the overall health of our profession.
In this issue of Canadian Audiologist we have a number of articles from the researchers from Western University and the National Centre for Audiology. This was orchestrated, with thanks, by Dr. Susan Scollie, who incidentally was awarded the Richard Seewald Career Award at the most recent annual conference of the Canadian Academy of Audiology in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The focus on Western begins with an interview with Dr. Scollie and then six articles summarizing some of the research performed at that university.
These articles summarize nicely the bi-directional manner of knowledge and development that we see in our field. Marketing issues of over-the-counter hearing aids are examined as are telepractice. Other issues derive directly from the clinic such as bone conduction hearing aids and a new teaching tool to assist students in learning how to properly insert probe tubes.
And... Well just read the issue!
I wish you all a pleasant and safe holiday season that will soon be with us.