During a wintry weekend in February the executive committee of IAPA enjoyed the generous hospitality of Professor Karin Schorn in Munich, Germany. The sound of the Caribbean drummers outside in the street conveyed the beating pulse of the carnival festivities. Despite some distraction, the board and the invited representatives, tried to focus on the main subjects - the future of audiological medicine in Europe, the upcoming IAPA symposium in Padua and the revision of the constitution of the IAPA.
One of the main purposes of the IAPA is to advocate the speciality of audiologcial medicine. This, in order to benefit patients with hearing disorders and to encourage research and developments in the field of audiology and to function as a forum between collagues working in the filed of audiology. To pursue this aim general recognition of the speciality of audiological medicine is of significant importance.
Previously representatives of the IAPA and the Union of European Phoniaricians (UEP) had met in November in Brussels. Both associations have attempted to obtain specialist recognition by the European Union withour sucess. Today 37 specialities are officially recognised by the European Union and there seems to be some pressure to reduce that number.
In Munich we continued the discussions with Prof. Ulrich Eysholdt from Erlangen, Germany, and Elisabetta Genovese from Padoa, Italy as the representatives for the European phoniatricians. It was understood that there was little chance of obtaining full recognition of both specialities under current circumstances; this would most probably require a joint application. A prerequisite for suc an application would be an amalgamaion of the specialities of audiological medicine and phoniatrics into the speciality including hearing and speech disorders - a process, which probably will taka a long time. The definition of such a speciality - if it were to emerge - would necessarily have to allow for a different emphasis within the UEP area.
The officers all agreed that in preparation for such a process there was - for both specialities - a need to respectively define
- The field of the speciality
- The current situation in the European countries
- The presence of medical societies
- The prevalance of diseases within the field
- The scientific production within the field
To continue the discussions two representatives from each association were appointed. From IAPA: Prof. Dai Stevens and Konrád S. Konrádsson and from UEP: Prof Ulrich Eysholdt and Willy Wallens.
The forthcoming IAPA symposium in Padua, Italy, to be organized by prof. Eduardo Arsian, was also discussed. The dates for the meeting are October 14th to the 17th 2002. The main round tables will include "Central disorders of hearing and balance", "The use of audiotry evoked responses" and "Genetic hearing impairment in childen".
The General Assembly of the IAPA will taka place October 1th. The presiedent of IAPA Prof. Dai Stephens declared during the previous General Assembly in Manchester that he would be stepping down in Padua. One of the two vice-presidents of IAPA Prof. Agnete Parving suggested that the board of executives should recommend the election of the present vice-president Jose Barajas to the post of president in Padua. The officers unanimously accepted Prof. Parving's suggestion.
For the 2004 IAPA symposium the invitations of L Collet, Lyon (France) and N Eleftheriades, Thessaloncia (Greece) were discussed.
The treasurer of IAPA, Bo Walter, informed the executive that number of active IAPA members is steadily increasing. The great majority of members are resident in Europe.
The need for revison of the constitution of IAPA was discussed, especially the role of the national representatives. The importance of establishing clear relatinonships between the IAPA and the affiliated societies of audiological physicians in different countries would be incorporated in the proposals, which would then be submitted for consideration by he membership.
An uppgrade of the present homepage of the IAPA was also discussed and it was agreed to apply for the new domain of www.iapa-online.net
Konrád S Konrádsson
