Ida Institute Builds an E-Community on the Web

Skodsborg, DK October 28 - Ida Institute today unveiled a newly designed website, www.idainstitute.dk, that provides a virtual gathering place for hearing care professionals and others seeking to develop a more holistic understanding of the human dynamics of hearing loss.

The website features a wealth of educational resources ranging from lectures presented by Ida Institute faculty, commentary on current topics and issues in hearing care by Advisory Board members and viewpoints and perspectives from audiologists and others who have participated in the Institute’s first seminar, “Defining Hearing.” The Ida Speaks interactive blog invites website visitors to share viewpoints, contribute experiences and submit articles for publication on the website.

“Our website structure is built around our belief that we have much to learn from one another,” explains Lise Lotte Bundesen, Ida Institute Director. “Our goal, as in all Institute initiatives, is to develop an independent forum for collaboration that will empower visitors to become part of the process of advancing knowledge and effecting positive change.”

The website draws on expertise from a variety of social and health-related disciplines and utilizes video throughout the website to bring discussions, lectures and commentary powerfully to life. Among current highlights are videotaped lectures from the Institute’s first seminar series by faculty members including Harvey Abrams, Director of Research at the Army Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Dr. Christine DePlacido of Scotland’s National Health Service. The videotaped lectures are full and uncut versions that also include the accompanying PowerPoint presentations. The Institute is exploring the possibility of making complete seminars available on the website in the future.

Hearing care professionals and others interested in hearing health and the patient journey of people with hearing loss may enroll as members of My Ida, the interactive community on the Institute’s website. Members can add their voices to the discussions, viewpoints and experience-sharing that are the heart of the Ida Speaks blog. The free My Ida membership also enables members to apply online to participate in upcoming Ida Institute seminars.

Idainstitute.dk is easy to use, dynamic and fresh, with easy navigation and constantly evolving content. “Ida Institute seminars and input from a growing network of hearing care professionals from around the world will continue to provide a rich source of knowledge, experience and discussion for the website,” notes Bundesen. “Our goal is to make the website a catalyst to facilitate and support new angles of inquiry on hearing loss and its impact.”