Audiologist 2011 Winner
Hertfordshire hearing specialist Robert Beiny is celebrating after being named the Rayovac Audio Infos Audiologist of the Year for 2011.
Robert, who runs the Hearing Healthcare Practice in Harpenden, was chosen as the winner by an independent panel of the hearing industry’s leading figures.
In a closely fought contest, which saw entry numbers grow significantly, Alan Walshaw from Airedale Hospital received a special commendation for his dedication to audiology that saw him drive over 100 miles on his day off to pick up ear moulds for a patient with profound hearing loss.
The winner, Robert Beiny, was nominated for the award by the mother of a 20-year-old girl who, with his support, has overcome years of problems to fulfil her dream of becoming a flight attendant.
Brenda Clegg’s daughter, Sarah, has a flat bilateral sensori neural (inner ear) hearing loss but was misdiagnosed as a child. Reluctant to wear hearing aids, she suffered from bullying and a lack of confidence as a teenager. Despite completing a travel and tourism course, she gave up her ambition to become a flight attendant at college after being told airlines would not hire someone with hearing aids.
Things changed in December 2010 when she went to see Robert after seeing a newspaper article about a new hearing device called Lyric. While this eventually proved unsuitable, over the next few months Robert worked closely with Sarah – even finding the time to speak to her on Boxing Day - to find a hearing device that she was happy with and which suited her cosmetically.
With a hearing device that works, Sarah’s self-confidence has been transformed and after updating her CV she went for several interviews as a flight attendant, before landing her dream job.
Brenda explains: “Six months ago my daughter was working in a pub, now she’s away from home in the final stages of her flight attendant training and has been hired by a national airline. The metamorphosis in her self confidence is fantastic. Robert deserves so much to be Audiologist of the Year and I cannot put into words how much my family owes him.”
Robert, who wins the award for the second time, said: “I’d like to thank Brenda and Sarah for their support and in thinking of putting me forward for the award. I’m very happy to win and glad to see Sarah has made so much progress with her new hearing aids and more importantly her life. I wish her every success in the future as a flight attendant.”
Gill Lacey, from Hearing Dogs said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for Robert and, on behalf of the judging panel and the UK’s audiologists I’d like to congratulate him on his success.
In addition to Robert and the runner up Alan Walshaw, several other audiologists were highly commended by the judging panel for excellence and dedication. They are:
Sarah Rayner – Boots
Jo Rae - The Hearing Healthcare Practice
Nick Chitty - Oxford Hearing Centre
Paul Scigala - Sound Advice Hearing Centre
Vicki Skeels - The Hearing Care Centre
Allan Graham - Dept of Audiology - The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Gordon Bruce - Hidden Hearing