The promising future of the offical journal of the association the JAM was discussed. The present editiors stated their intensions to increase the number of issues per year from the current three to four, as well as their plans of broadening the subscriber-basis. A special issue, on the topic of newborn hearing screening is planned for this year. Ways of increasing the IAPA Web presence, both to promote contact between the association and its members as well as between the members themselves were also discussed.
The ongoing discussions with the European Union of Phoniatricians regarding the joint speciality in Europe of audiology and phoniatrics were brought up to date.
The IAPA is involved in the preparation of a new textbook on audiological medicine to be published by Taylor & Francis.
Various courses in the field of audiology are planned by the national societies of audiological medicine. The British Association of Audiological Physicians (BAAP) is planning a meeting in Gregynog 25-26th of April. One of the main topics will be Early management of the child and the faimily after diagnosis of sensorineural hearing impairment following universal newborn hearing screening. Further information can be obtained from the website www.baap.org.uk. In Italy professor Alessandro Martini is planning the next European course in September under the auspices of IAPA, on the subject of Basic sciences of audiology-otoneurology-plasticity, regeneration and ageing in the audiovestibular system. Again, further infromation can be found on www.unife.it/clinica_ORL.
One of the main subjects of the executives meeting was the forthcoming XI International Symposium on Audiological Medicine to be held in October in Padova/Albano Terme in Italy and hosted by Professor Eduardo Arsian. The symposium will focus on three main areas: Central disorders of hearing and balance, ERA stategy in in the audiological diagnosis in children, the genetics of the inner ear disorders. The location is in the cultural-historic area of the Republic of Venice, not forgetting the nonemporary and ancient academic and cultural tradition of padova itself. Albano Terme is renowned since Roman times for its thermal waters and treatments. According to the available information the symposium promises a treat for the body as well the audiological spirit.
The executive committe decided that the next international symposium in audiological medicine, will be held in Lyon in 2004 and hosted by Professor Lionel Collet.
Finally the executive discussed a revision of the IAPA constitution as well as an increase of membership fees to ? dollars/? euros 50. The current constitution can be found on www.barajas.vanaga.es/iapa/constitu.htm. The General Assembly of the IAPA will take place during the upcoming symposium in Padova to elect the new executive committee and vote on the present committee’s proposed modifications of the IAPA constitution.
The next meeting of the executive committee of the IAPA will be in association with the XI international symposium in Padova, Italy.
Konrád S Konrádsson
