AIHHP
As a founding member of AIHHP (Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals), Chris Carr, Audiologist and Director at Hearing Healthcare Centre, helped to create a Professional Association dedicated to promoting excellence within the Independent UK Hearing Care Profession. Founded in 1994, AIHHP was set up to assist its members in providing a greater range of audiological services than would normally be found on the High Street.
AIHHP aim to promote:
- The highest professional standards among UK Hearing Care Professionals
- A greater understanding and appreciation of our sense of hearing
- Regular hearing checks throughout life by qualified professionals
- Effective prevention and treatment of hearing loss
As a consumer, it can often be confusing to know where to start when it comes to looking after your hearing. You realise how important your hearing is, and you want to be sure you get the very best professional advice and care. AIHHP, by giving its members the tools, guidance and support they need – ensure they are providing their customers with the best possible standards in hearing care available today. AIHHP members, described by Jason Galster (Manager of Clinical and Comparative Research at Starkey Laboratories, Minnesota) as being “in the top 1% of world dispensers”.
HCPC
The HCPC (the Health and Care Professions Council, previously HPC, and Hearing Aid Council) regulate a number of industries, including the Hearing Aid Dispensers sector (audiology). The role of the HCPC is to protect the public. It does this by maintaining a register of all those who hold the protected title of “Hearing Aid Dispenser” and can therefore subsequently practice. It sets the following standards to ensure that registrants practice safely, legally and effectively.
Registrants need to demonstrate ‘fitness to practice’ against the Standards of Conduct, performance and ethics to maintain their registration. HCPC requires professionals to apply for re-registration every two years and to demonstrate that they have met HCPC Standards of continuing professional development.
Being registered with HCPC ensures that Hearing Healthcare Centre are fully compliant with all hearing aid dispensing regulations.
BSHAA
BSHAA (British Society of Hearing Aid Audiology) is the professional body which represents and promotes the interests of the private hearing aid profession mainly within Great Britain and Northern Ireland but globally too. Members are highly trained hearing care professionals who have extensive and unrivalled experience and knowledge of the hearing instruments that are available to help clients with their hearing loss.
British Society Of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA) BSHAA’s Customer Care Assurance Scheme
IHP
IHP (Independent Hearing Professionals) is a not-for-profit organisation looking after the interests of independent hearing aid dispensers. IHP members are small, family-run businesses operating within their local communities. They offer the best quality products and service when compared to the high street chains and the NHS. This has been confirmed by a Which? Survey which gave independent hearing aid audiologists 5 stars across the board.
If you wish to receive the highest level of service and aftercare, then your local IHP member is the obvious choice.
