Academy of Doctors of Audiology

What Academy of Doctors of Audiology does

The Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) is a U.S.-based private professional membership association founded in 1977 (originally as the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists) and headquartered in Frankfort, Kentucky. The organization represents practicing audiologists and audiology students, providing continuing education, practice-management resources, federal and state advocacy, and community-building programming. ADA played an institutional role in developing the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree in 1988 and continues to lobby on Medicare reimbursement, scope-of-practice, and professional-degree recognition.

ADA's core "products" are programs and events rather than software. The flagship is the AuDacity annual conference (hosted by ADA since 2016), accompanied by the AuDtonomy student symposium, the AuDvantage state-association partnership initiative, the Congressional Connect advocacy platform, on-demand webinar archives, the AuDacity Student Scholarship program (underwritten by Starkey), a Business Plan Competition, and the Find-an-Audiologist patient directory. An online marketplace (audiologistmarketplace.com) sells educational materials, forms, and merchandise to members and the broader audiology community.

The organization makes money primarily through annual membership dues (quote-based, not publicly disclosed), conference and event registration, industry sponsorships (tiered from Presenting through Supporting), online store transactions, and ancillary advocacy donations. Distribution is direct-to-member via the ADA website, member portal, in-person events, and advocacy tools; there is no third-party reseller or retail channel. ADA has roughly 11-50 employees and is governed by a volunteer board of directors, with Emily Childers serving as Director of Operations.

Name

Academy of Doctors of Audiology

Legal name

Academy of Doctors of Audiology

Website

https://audiologist.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Academy of Doctors of Audiology is a U.S. private professional membership association serving practicing audiologists and Au.D. students through the AuDacity conference, advocacy, education, and practice-management resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health Sciences & Nursing (EDAGABAF)

Keywords

• Professional membership association
• Audiology continuing education
• Audiology practice advocacy
• Audiology conference events
• Professional association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyustendil

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ADA generates revenue through annual membership dues from audiologists. The organization offers an online membership portal and store where members can access resources, renew subscriptions, and purchase materials.
2. Conference and Event Revenue: Revenue is generated from conference registrations for AuDacity (annual) and AuDtonomy (student-focused) events, including sponsor/exhibit fees and scholarship applications.
3. Online Store and Educational Resources: ADA operates an online marketplace (audiologistmarketplace.com) selling educational materials, forms, documents, and merchandise to members and the broader audiology community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Academy of Doctors of Audiology is a professional membership association that provides audiologists with membership services, annual conferences (AuDacity and AuDtonomy), continuing education webinars and archives, practice management resources, Medicare and coding guidance, and federal/state advocacy representation. It also runs an online store selling educational materials and operates student programs including scholarships and business plan competitions.

Product overview

The Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) operates as a professional membership association rather than a software product company. Its core offerings consist of two major annual conferences (AuDacity and AuDtonomy), membership programs including AuDvantage for strategic partnerships, and extensive educational content through archived webinars and conference sessions. Additional offerings include a Find an Audiologist directory tool, the Congressional Connect advocacy platform, student scholarship programs, and the Business Plan Competition. The Signia Lifestyle Medicine Partnership provides branded educational resources. These programs serve the professional development, advocacy, and practice support needs of audiologists rather than functioning as a unified technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AuDacity: Premier annual conference hosted by ADA since 2016, designed for audiologists seeking to lead, innovate, and connect. Features dynamic programming, hands-on learning, and collaboration among practitioners, thought leaders, educators, and industry partners.
• AuDtonomy
• AuDvantage

Products and services

• AuDacity Conference Premier annual conference hosted by ADA since 2016, designed for audiologists seeking to lead, innovate, and connect. Features dynamic programming, hands-on learning, and collaboration among practitioners, thought leaders, educators, and industry partners.
• AuDtonomy Symposium

Quantifiable outcome

• Au.D. students eligible for professional student loan limits up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 in aggregate as a result of ADA advocacy efforts.
• +1 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

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• StarkeycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStarkey underwrites the AuDacity Student Scholarship program, covering full conference registration, hotel accommodations, and travel stipend for audiology students to attend AuDacity. The partnership also includes a behind-the-scenes workshop at Starkey Headquarters during AuDacity 2026. Starkey is also a Student Scholarship sponsor listed on the AuDacity 2026 sponsors page.
• CareCreditcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCareCredit serves as the Presenting Sponsor for AuDacity 2026, providing financial support for the premier annual audiology conference.
• PhonakcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPhonak is the Premier Sponsor for AuDacity 2026. Phonak also partners with ADA on the CCMC Benchmarking Study and has sponsored multiple conference sessions on hearing aid technology and practice management.
• SigniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA has a formal Lifestyle Medicine partnership with Signia, providing educational resources including presentations, brochures, and a Lifestyle Medicine Partnership (LMP) Toolkit with multiple flyers and a risk checklist. The partnership positions audiologists as champions of hearing health as part of social connectedness within the lifestyle medicine framework.
• ReSoundsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerReSound is listed as a sponsor for AuDacity 2026 on the conference sponsors page.
• WS AudiologysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWS Audiology is listed as a sponsor for AuDacity 2026 on the conference sponsors page.
• Amplifon Hearing CaresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAmplifon is an Advocacy Sponsor for AuDacity 2026 and has participated in ADA managed care panel discussions as a hearing care plan leader representing one of the three most prominent hearing care plans.
• Stearns BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerStearns Bank is a Student Business Plan Sponsor for AuDacity 2026 and is featured on the ADA Grow with Stearns Bank advocacy resource page, offering financing resources for audiology practice owners.
• Warner Tech CaresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWarner Tech Care is listed as a Networking Sponsor for AuDacity 2026.
• AuDvantage Partner State AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuDvantage is a new strategic partnership initiative created to strengthen state audiology associations, encourage professional engagement, and support the future of audiology. The program aims to build a stronger network of state-level audiology organizations under the ADA umbrella.
• Congressional ConnectsupportingTechnology or IntegrationADA uses the Congressional Connect platform to enable members to contact their members of Congress and urge support for the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act. This digital advocacy tool amplifies ADA's federal lobbying efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Academy of Audiology: The largest U.S. professional association for audiologists, offering membership, annual conference (AAA Annual Conference), advocacy, and continuing education. Directly competes with ADA for the same practicing-audiologist membership base.
• International Hearing Society: Professional association representing hearing instrument specialists and dispensing audiologists, offering the BC-HIS credential and an annual convention. Competes with ADA for dispensing-focused audiologists and practice owners.

Broad incumbents

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: National professional and credentialing association for audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech/hearing scientists. ASHA certifies audiologists (CCC-A) and serves a broader constituency that overlaps with ADA's audiology membership.
• American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: Largest U.S. specialty association for ENT physicians, many of whom work alongside audiologists in hearing care delivery. Operates in the same broader hearing-health ecosystem as ADA, particularly on Medicare and scope-of-practice issues.

Emerging players

• American Auditory Society: Scientific and professional society focused on auditory science and hearing research, including clinical and rehabilitative audiology. Provides an alternative educational and scientific community that partially overlaps with ADA's audience.
• Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology: Professional organization supporting audiologists in rehabilitative and educational audiology. A smaller specialty-focused peer that competes for a subset of ADA's audiologist members.
• National Hearing Conservation Association: Professional membership organization focused on occupational hearing conservation. Adjacent to ADA's audiology audience through shared interest in hearing health and prevention.

Others

• American Board of Audiology: Credentialing body offering specialty certifications for audiologists (e.g., Cochlear Implant Specialty Certification). Functions as an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct membership competitor.
• Hearing Loss Association of America: Consumer-led organization for people with hearing loss, advocating for accessibility and hearing care. Operates on the patient/consumer side of the hearing care ecosystem that ADA's audiologist members serve.

Regional players

• British Society of Audiology: U.K.-based professional audiology association offering education, conferences, and guidelines. Operates in the same professional-association category as ADA but serves a different national membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acaddocaud
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academy-of-doctors-of-audiology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Academy of Doctors of Audiology