Decision time in search for Europe's top hearing professional

Patients were invited to nominate their hearing care professional for the prestigious award, with people from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, and the Netherlands submitting their hearing stories.

Celebrating a decade of recognising hearing care excellence, the competition is run in partnership with leading* hearing aid battery manufacturer Rayovac, Audio Infos, the international hearing publication, the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers’ Association (EHIMA) and the European Association for Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH).

With the competition closing at the end of June, a respected, independent panel of hearing professionals from across Europe are hard at work narrowing down the hundreds of submissions to just one winner from each of the countries taking part. The criteria looks in particular to reward audiologists who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional levels of support and service to their patients.

Country winners will be announced in September, before the elite group goes head-to-head to battle it out for the title of 10th European Audiologist of the Year who will be revealed at the upcoming EUHA Congress in Germany this October at an ‘Evening of Excellence’.

Paula Brinson-Pyke, Marketing Director at Rayovac, said: “Over the past 10 years Audiologist of the Year has grown to become one of the most sought-after accolades in the hearing industry and we’re proud to have played a part in this. Each year we receive so many inspirational and worthwhile stories highlighting the transformational impact audiologists have on their patients’ lives. Once the judging process has taken place, we eagerly anticipate this year’s Evening of Excellence ceremony where the dedicated champion will receive the recognition they deserve as Europe’s top hearing professional.”

Lidia Smolarek-Best, Vice President from EFHOH, said: “We wish all of the nominees the very best of luck as judging gets underway. It’s a great honour to be on board in the 10th anniversary year of the competition, which is renowned in the industry for rewarding the professionalism, patience and kindness audiologists show their patients day in, day out. We’re looking forward to congratulating the winning audiologists when the country announcements are revealed.”

Audiologist of the Year invites patients to nominate their audiologist by sharing their hearing care story. Each country’s winning audiologist not only receives the accolade of being the winner, but they also scoop a cash prize, trophy, framed certificate, year’s subscription to Audio Infos plus a package of press coverage to promote their practice. The winner’s nominating patient is eligible for a cash prize and a bundle of electrical goods worth around £250.

For further information about the competition and to sign up to our newsletter, please visit www.audiogistoftheyear.eu or follow the competition on Facebook @AudiologistoftheYear or Twitter @AOTY_EU.