Brian Taylor

Brian Taylor, AuD, is the Senior Director of Audiology for Signia. He is a veteran of the hearing industry with more than 25 years of experience. Brian is a prolific and respected contributor to the industry with more than 25 publications and numerous speaking engagements both domestically and internationally. He is also the editor of Audiology Practices, a quarterly journal of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, Editor-at-Large for Hearing Health and Technology Matters and adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin.

Featured image for “FIRED: Starkey Fires President and Three Other Top Executives”

FIRED: Starkey Fires President and Three Other Top Executives

EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA — The fifth largest hearing aid manufacturer in the world, Starkey Hearing Technologies, has terminated the employment of its president and three of the company’s top executives. All four executives were abruptly terminated, say sources, including Jerry Ruzicka-President, Scott Nelson- CFO, Keith Guggenberger- Senior VP of Operations, and Larry Miller- Senior VP of Human Resources. By Wednesday afternoon, the names of

Featured image for “Dangers of Hearing Loss from Earbud Use Highlighted on National TV”

Dangers of Hearing Loss from Earbud Use Highlighted on National TV

NEW YORK — NBC’s Today Show, a staple of morning television for more than 60 years, recently featured a segment on the increase in noise-induced hearing loss among children and young adults using earbuds. The segment mentioned a February, 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) warning that more than 1.1 billion teens and young adults are at-risk for permanent hearing loss due

Featured image for “Hearing Tracker Forms Alliance with the Hearing Loss Association of America”

Hearing Tracker Forms Alliance with the Hearing Loss Association of America

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Hearing Tracker, America’s largest hearing provider directory, and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the nation’s leading organization representing people with hearing loss, have announced that they will be working together to help consumers more easily locate comprehensive hearing care providers online. The partnership was spearheaded by Cynthia Compton-Conley, PhD, the current director of the HLAA’s

Featured image for “Investment in Hearables Continues to Grow Rapidly”

Investment in Hearables Continues to Grow Rapidly

By Brian Taylor, AuD There have been distant rumblings over the past few years that the devices many consumers are inserting into their ears can do much more than play music–some have the capability of shaping and amplifying speech sounds, monitoring bodily functions and providing a 3-D listening experience. The one commonality among all these applications is the smartphone, which serves

Featured image for “E-Cigs and Vaping: A Hazard to Hearing?”

E-Cigs and Vaping: A Hazard to Hearing?

By Brian Taylor, AuD A recent media report suggests the musician Rob Swire of the Australian band Knife Party suffered a sudden hearing loss, which he attributed to vaping. Given the rising popularity of vaping, this incident is cause for concern, as many anecdotal reports suggest vaping is a safer alternative to smoking. The chemical propylene glycol, which is used

Featured image for “Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala Raises Over $9 Million”

Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala Raises Over $9 Million

By Brian Taylor, AuD Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, along with luminaries such as Gene Simmons and Katy Perry helped the Starkey Hearing Foundation raise more than $9 million dollars to fund mission trips to provide hearing services around the globe. The event took place in the Twin Cities on Sunday, July 26. Although the annual gala

Featured image for “Study Links Noise to Cardiovascular Conditions”

Study Links Noise to Cardiovascular Conditions

By Brian Taylor, AuD A recently published study in the European Heart Journal linked exposure to traffic noise of moderate intensity levels to higher rates of hospital admissions for stroke, according to a recent New York Times article. The study, which adjusted for sex, age, smoking, air pollution and socioeconomic factors, compared exposure to traffic noise for individuals in several

Featured image for “HLAA Holds Annual Convention”

HLAA Holds Annual Convention

By Brian Taylor, AuD The Hearing Loss Association of America’s (HLAA) 2015 Convention took place June 25 – 28 at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, MO. Approximately 1,000 educators and hearing loss advocates were in attendance. As usual, talks and workshops addressed at the convention addressed wide ranging topics, such as employment issues for people with hearing

Featured image for “FDA Plans to Study Hearing, Aging, and Direct-to-Consumer Television Ads”

FDA Plans to Study Hearing, Aging, and Direct-to-Consumer Television Ads

By Brian Taylor, AuD If you watch the evening news on broadcast television you are likely well aware of the omnipresence of pharmaceutical advertising. Recently, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to evaluate if older Americans are able to sufficiently hear the many health risks mentioned in these all-too-common television advertisements. Given the prevalence of hearing loss in