Top European Audiology Prize won by AIHHP Vice Chairman.

Harpenden based AIHHP Vice Chair Robert Beiny, really listens to people. In fact, his patients are so impressed with his dedication to their hearing healthcare they have helped to crown him UK and, now, European Audiologist of the Year.

The UK and European Audiologist of the Year Awards were set up by battery manufacturer, Rayovac, with hearing magazine, Audio Infos and are judged by an expert panel working from written submissions from patients. The Awards are open to private hearing healthcare practices, retail chains and public health organisations, (in the UK, the NHS), and give patients the opportunity to recognise those who go beyond the call of duty to provide outstanding service. Having been awarded the UK Audiologist of the Year accolade, Robert Beiny went forward to represent the UK in the European finals held in Nuremberg, Germany, alongside regional winners from all across Europe. And it was at the end of October at the largest hearing event in Europe, the European Union of Hearing Acousticians (EUHA), that he was crowned overall winner – Europe’s best hearing aid audiologist.

A Dedicated Professional

During a distinguished 30-year career Robert Beiny has been a prominent campaigner for patient welfare, and is also currently AIHHP Vice-Chair.

Robert received multiple nominations for the Audiologist of the Year Award, but the judging panel were particularly impressed by his unparalleled dedication to patient care – summed up in the nomination he received from Hertfordshire-based, Sue Reeves. Sue voted for Robert on behalf of her father, Charles Peck, detailing the support Robert provided to her family after her father suffered a stroke which left him completely deaf in one ear and with limited hearing in the other – a situation made worse by the fact that his existing hearing aid had been damaged during his stroke.

Robert impressed the judges by making exceptional efforts to rapidly assess the situation, visiting Charles in hospital several times, firstly to do what he could to fix his existing hearing aid (provided by another company), and then identifying a device that would meet his changed needs more appropriately. It was in fitting the new hearing aid that Robert clearly demonstrated his exceptional professional skills, choosing a device to meet Charles’ unique hearing requirements without the need for multiple fittings. Crucially, Robert also chose a hearing aid that would be easy for Charles’ family and carers to help him with.

On winning the Award Robert Beiny said;

“This is a tremendous honour both for me, and all my AIHHP colleagues. This is the biggest award an audiologist can win during their career and it’s particularly rewarding that it’s voted for by patients and recognised by my peers." Paula Brinson-Pyke from Award organisers, Rayovac, said; “Robert is an outstanding winner of the European Audiologist of the Year Award. He has been a prominent and respected figure in the hearing healthcare industry for many years and a strong campaigner for people with hearing problems. Patients come from far and wide to his practice in Harpenden, and it’s fitting that they have voted for him in large numbers. It has been an excellent year for the competition which attracted a record level of entries and we have an excellent winner, demonstrating once again the high standard of care provided by hearing professionals.”

AIHHP have so much to be proud of in these awards. Out of a total of four separate awards in the last two years, three have now been won by AIHHP Executive Full Members. Congratulations Robert on bringing the European Title to the UK for the first time.

You can ask for no greater confirmation that you are seeing the best when you seek out the help of one of our Executive Full Members. If you, a family member, friend or work colleague need advice about your hearing, contact your nearest AIHHP member today.