Welcome !

Welcome to the Nordic Audiological Society!

In the more than 40 years' history of the Nordic Audiological Society (NAS), our organization has given a great contribution to international audiology. The international scientific journal Scandinavian Audiology has been replaced by the International Journal of Audiology, a co-operative publication between our organization and the two societies, British Society of Audiology and International Society of Audiology. The International Journal of Audiology, now in its second year of publication, has already shown its scientific level as a major contributor to international scientific audiological publications. NAS has also been active regarding congresses, and this congress in Stockholm will altogether represent the eighteenth in our history. A few years ago, NAS changed the order of congresses to every second year, alternating between all-discipline and special theme conferences. At the same time we opened for international English language congresses where 'NAS 2004' will be the second after the third International Congress of Paediatric Audiology in Copenhagen in 2000. This Geriatric-Audiology conference will be the first international in history, opening for other organizations to follow up this very important area in the future.

The congress city of Stockholm is known to most people as the beautiful Swedish capital, and a social programme showing available facilities will also give the participants a good opportunity to meet old and new friends and colleagues under the light of Nordic atmosphere.

We hope that this first International Congress of Gerontological/Geriatric Audiology will be a great opportunity to exchange scientific knowledge within this very important field of audiology and we hope to see participants from all over the world.


Professor Einar Laukli
President of the Nordic Audiological Society

Welcome to the Swedish Audiological Society and to

Stockholm in June 2004!

Dear Friends,
The Swedish Audiological Society (SAS) was founded in 1974 by representatives from various professional groups and patient organizations, a total of about 40 000 members. The aim was to promote audiological rehabilitation and research in Sweden as well as to follow development within the audiological field from an international point of view. This goal was to be achieved by regular meetings and courses in audiology, the so-called 'Day of Audiology'. The next meeting, which will be the thirtiest in our history, will take place in November in Stockholm.

In co-operation with the Nordic Audiological Society (NAS) we have also arranged one Nordic Congress in Audiology in Stockholm in 1989 and two Congresses of Paediatric Audiology in Örebro in 1993 and 1996.

In June 2004 SAS, in co-operation with NAS, will arrange the first International Congress of Gerontological/Geriatric Audiology. We will do our utmost to organize an interesting scientific programme, coupled with social events.

The Swedish Audiological Society has great pleasure in inviting you to the ICGA 2004 and look forward to welcoming you to Sweden in June 2004.


Engineer Stig Wiklund
President of the Swedish Audiological Society (SAS)

Welcome to

The First International Congress on
Gerontological/Geriatric Audiology (1st ICGA)!

Total as well as relative numbers of elderly people are increasing throughout the world. The importance of issues of ageing and diseases in old age is growing. Manifestations of ageing and symptoms of disease intermingle in the elderly. It is not always possible to differentiate between normal ageing and disease in old age - the border is not razor-sharp, thereby, the making of diagnosis becomes more difficult. Diagnostic procedures are of great importance in order to avoid under- and overdiagnosis. Many diagnostic difficulties exist in old age, such as changed reference values, and changed signs and symptoms.

The kind of research in gerontology and geriatric medicine is markedly multifactorial and engages several fields of knowledge. It is therefore highly natural that hearing is regarded as a very important part of gerontology. Hearing problems are among the three most common chronic conditions in old age. Age-related hearing loss disrupts the intricate process of communication. The result is too often withdrawal from contacts with other people and social isolation. Another problem that also increases with age is tinnitus. Programmes for aural rehabilitation and treatment of tinnitus are necessary to neutralise their deleterious effects.

We heartily welcome all who wish to participate in this multidisciplinary congress about hearing in old age and related problems in the areas of communication and psychological factors.


Professor Ulf Rosenhall
Congress President
Professor Bertil Steen
Co-president

Congress Secretariat: Stockholm Convention Bureau   "ICGA 2004"
Box 6911   SE-102 39 Stockholm   Sweden
Tel: +46 8 54 65 15 00   Fax: +46 8 54 65 15 99   email: icga2004@stocon.se