Internet Groups

        Wishing does not make “IT” happen.  In this case I would like to think that the blogs here at Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM) are able to satisfy the needs of our readers for information about the hearing industry; unfortunately that ain’t so.
         And before I go any farther, I have always been annoyed by the term “The Hearing Industry.”  I believe what we are and what we do can not be lumped into a category such as the “car industry” or the “scrap metal industry.”  We are a profession and a service.  I don’t think crisis counselors think of themselves as an industry, so why should we think of ourselves as an industry?
         Okay…now that I’m off that soapbox I’ll get back to our/your need for good up to date information.  We all know what an explosion of information has been caused by the Internet.  But with every explosion there can be collateral damage.  In this case we each need to decide what information is true and accurate and what is “Ax to Grind” or “Sales Promotion” information, or simply inaccurate.
        Peer group discussions on the Internet are a good way of separating the wheat from chaff.  I am by no means an expert on this subject, but using the professional/peer LinkedIn site you can join in several good hearing aid/audiology specific groups.  Listed below are a few of the many groups available:
Hearing Health & Technology Matters                     Audiology Marketing
Hearing Aid Professionals                                            Audiology Europe
Hearing Loss Association of America                        Audiology Economics
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Professionals                       Audiology Jobs
Telehealth in Audiology                                               International Audiology
ZipAud Audiology                                                          Audiology Australia
…And more.
       We all have questions or issues.  Why not join a group or three and share your solutions as you look for answers?  If any of this helps, drop me a line in care of this blog or LinkedIn.  Also, let me know if you belong to a group that I have not listed that you think is a great source of information for other professionals.