International Hearing Society

What International Hearing Society does

The International Hearing Society (IHS), founded in 1951 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, is a nonprofit professional membership association that serves as the global standard-setting body for Hearing Aid Specialists. It represents more than 10,000 practitioners across 18+ countries, anchored by its U.S. and Canada footprint (IHS Canada holds a Board of Governors seat). IHS operates a member-centric platform spanning education, licensing, advocacy, publications, and consumer-facing services. Core products include the International Licensing Examination (ILE) — the only internationally recognized standardized licensing exam for hearing aid specialists — the ICE-accredited Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program (on-demand since 2024), the Advanced Hearing Aid Professional (AHAP) program, the Distance Learning Course, the e-Learning Portal, and the IHS 360 Mobile App for CE tracking. Consumer-facing assets include the Find a Provider directory and the annual World Hearing Day awareness campaigns executed in partnership with the WHO, while practitioner resources include The Hearing Professional magazine, SoundBoard newsletter, regional chapter network, and the annual Conference & Expo (next: Washington, D.C., August 12-15, 2026).

IHS generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model: recurring membership dues (professional, affiliate, and associate tiers), paid education and certificate programs (e.g., Tinnitus Care Provider at $1,995 member / $2,525 non-member, Cerumen Management Workshop at $699), annual conference registration and exhibitor/sponsorship fees, publication and merchandise sales through the IHS store, and Beltone and Miracle-Ear manufacturer-affiliated membership programs. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: member recruitment is anchored in advocacy, continuing education, and a 75-year professional community, while consumer awareness is driven by PR campaigns ('Stay Connected With Life' in 2023, 'Help Hearing' in 2025) and partnerships with the WHO, HOSA, HLAA, and the World Hearing Forum. Distribution is primarily self-serve digital (website, e-Learning Portal) supplemented by the regional chapter channel for localized engagement. Customer segments are horizontal — the primary segment is practicing Hearing Aid Specialists, with secondary segments of individuals with hearing loss (consumer directory users) and aspiring healthcare professionals (career pipeline). The organization is governed by a Board of Governors and led by Executive Director Alissa Parady, CAE, and President Michael Andreozzi, BS, BC-HIS, with no parent company, external ownership, or PE/VC involvement.

Name

International Hearing Society

Legal name

International Hearing Society

Website

https://ihsinfo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Hearing Society is a 75-year-old nonprofit professional association serving 10,000+ Hearing Aid Specialists across 18+ countries, providing licensing examinations, accredited certification programs, continuing education, advocacy, and a consumer-facing Find a Provider directory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Hearing healthcare education
• Professional certification programs
• Hearing aid specialist training
• Continuing education credits
• Licensing examination services

Headquarters

HQ city

Farmington Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IHS generates revenue primarily through professional membership dues. Members receive exclusive benefits including education, advocacy, resources, and community access. The organization offers different membership tiers including professional, affiliate, and associate memberships.
2. Certificate and Education Programs: Revenue from on-demand certificate programs including the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program and continuing education courses. Programs are offered at different price points for members and non-members.
3. Conference and Events: Annual Conference & Expo and regional chapter events generate revenue through registration fees, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees.
4. Publication Sales: Sale of publications including The Hearing Professional magazine, SoundBoard newsletter, and member resources.
5. Product Sales: Sale of books, merchandise, and other educational materials through the IHS store. Bulk orders fulfilled from warehouse inventory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

International Hearing Society is a professional membership association serving hearing healthcare professionals, particularly Hearing Aid Specialists. It delivers membership services, continuing education, the International Licensing Examination (ILE), accredited certificate programs (such as the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program), publications, and an annual Conference & Expo. The organization also operates a Find a Provider directory that connects consumers with licensed hearing healthcare professionals.

Product overview

The International Hearing Society offers a platform of professional development and membership services for hearing healthcare professionals. The core offerings include the e-Learning Portal for online courses and continuing education, the IHS 360 Mobile App for on-the-go access, and the Find a Provider directory service connecting consumers with licensed professionals. Advanced specialized programs include the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program (accredited by ICE since 2018) and the Advanced Hearing Aid Professional (AHAP) Program for clinical skill development. Supporting services include the International Licensing Examination (ILE), Distance Learning Course, The Hearing Professional Magazine, SoundBoard newsletter, Member Directory, Career Center, and the annual IHS Conference & Expo. The organization also runs consumer awareness campaigns including "Stay Connected With Life" and the "Help Hearing" recruitment initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IHS 360 Mobile App: Mobile application for IHS members to access CE tracking, resources, and community connections.

Products and services

• IHS 360 Mobile App Mobile application allowing IHS members to track continuing education credits, access resources, and stay connected with the IHS community on the go.
• e-Learning Portal Online learning platform providing flexible, approved courses and continuing education opportunities for hearing healthcare professionals, accessible 24/7.
• Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program Comprehensive on-demand course and assessment focused on tinnitus patient care covering physiology, psychology, measurement, management, and practice organization. Accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence since 2018.
• Advanced Hearing Aid Professional (AHAP) Program Advanced training pathway with flexible online education (2-4 hours per week), hands-on workshop training in clinical skills, and personalized feedback from expert instructors. Earns the AHAP designation upon completion.
• International Licensing Examination (ILE) Written licensing examination for hearing healthcare professionals overseen by the ILE Committee, with knowledge, skills, and abilities assessment based on job task analysis. The only internationally recognized licensing examination for the profession.
• Distance Learning Course On-the-job training program for aspiring hearing aid specialists, combining online learning with hands-on experience from licensed professionals.
• ILE Test Prep Preparation materials and resources for the International Licensing Examination for Hearing Healthcare Professionals.
• The Hearing Professional Magazine Quarterly professional magazine delivering insights, trends, and strategies to strengthen expertise and advance careers in hearing healthcare.
• IHS Conference & Expo Annual in-person conference featuring education sessions, networking, exhibitor booths, and professional development opportunities for hearing healthcare professionals.
• IHS Professional Membership Professional membership tiers including professional, affiliate, and associate memberships, providing exclusive benefits including education, advocacy, resources, community access, publications, and member directory access.
• Find a Provider Directory Online directory tool enabling consumers to locate licensed hearing healthcare providers and Tinnitus Care Providers in their area, connecting the public to IHS member professionals.
• Career Center Career resources and job board for hearing healthcare professionals supporting recruitment into the Hearing Aid Specialist profession.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 Hearing Aid Specialists practicing worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHS is a proud partner of WHO's World Hearing Day initiative, recognizing March 3 annually to raise awareness of hearing healthcare. The partnership focuses on early intervention, promoting hearing tests for newborns, children, and adults over 50, and distributing WHO hearing protection guidelines.
• Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIHS exhibited at HOSA's International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee (June 18-20, 2025) as part of the 'Help Hearing' campaign to grow awareness of the Hearing Aid Specialist profession among aspiring healthcare professionals.
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIHS staff and members participate in HLAA's Walk4Hearing events to raise awareness for hearing healthcare. The Walk4Hearing events raise money to support people with hearing loss and promote hearing health awareness.
• BeltoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeltone Membership Program offering exclusive benefits and resources for Beltone-affiliated Hearing Aid Specialists who are IHS members.
• Miracle-EarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMiracle-Ear Membership Program offering exclusive benefits and resources for Miracle-Ear-affiliated Hearing Aid Specialists who are IHS members.
• World Hearing ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHS is a member of the World Hearing Forum, promoting safe listening through its safe listening initiative and working with international standard development organizations to establish and promote safe listening standards.
• World Health Organization (WHO) - World Hearing Day 2025coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHS partnered with WHO for World Hearing Day 2025 to raise awareness of hearing healthcare and address the stigma attached to hearing loss and wearing hearing aids, with WHO projecting over 500 million people expected to have disabling hearing loss by 2030.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Academy of Audiology: Largest U.S. professional organization for audiologists, offering membership, CE, advocacy, and an annual conference. Directly comparable to IHS as a membership association serving hearing healthcare professionals, though focused on doctorate-level audiologists rather than Hearing Aid Specialists.
• Academy of Doctors of Audiology: U.S. professional association for audiologists that provides membership, advocacy, and continuing education. Comparable to IHS as a hearing healthcare membership body delivering education, advocacy, and practice resources to practitioners.
• National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS): Issues the Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist (BC-HIS) credential for hearing aid specialists. Closely comparable to IHS as both organizations certify the same practitioner population, though NBC-HIS focuses on individual certification while IHS is a broader membership association.

Broad incumbents

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): The largest U.S. professional credentialing body for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Comparable to IHS as a hearing-related membership organization offering CE, certification, and advocacy, but at a much broader scope covering multiple professions.

Regional players

• British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA): UK professional body for hearing aid audiologists offering membership, education, and advocacy. Directly comparable to IHS in mission and offering mix, but operating primarily in the United Kingdom rather than competing in IHS's core North American markets.
• Canadian Academy of Audiology: Canadian professional association for audiologists. Comparable to IHS as a North American hearing healthcare membership body, though IHS already has a Canadian entity (IHS Canada) that overlaps with this peer in Canada.
• Audiology Australia: Australian professional association for audiologists providing membership, CE, and advocacy. Functionally analogous to IHS in mission but geographically distinct, serving Australia rather than North America.

Others

• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): U.S. consumer advocacy organization for people with hearing loss, with which IHS partners on Walk4Hearing events. Related rather than directly competitive; HLAA represents patients/consumers while IHS represents the professionals who serve them.
• World Hearing Forum (WHO): WHO-hosted multi-stakeholder forum on hearing care that IHS belongs to and works with on safe listening standards. An institutional peer/ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor; both organizations operate in the global hearing healthcare advocacy space.
• National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA): U.S. professional organization focused on hearing loss prevention and occupational hearing conservation. Adjacent peer operating in hearing healthcare advocacy and education, with overlapping practitioner audiences but a different mission emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ihsinfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ihsinfo
• Instagraminstagram.com/ihsinfo
• Xx.com/IHSinfo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Hearing Society