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 “Big Six to Become the Big Five? Sivantos and Widex Announce Merger”

Big Six to Become the Big Five? Sivantos and Widex Announce Merger

In a deal, estimated to be $8.2 billion, Germany’s Sivantos and Denmark’s Widex announced a merger. The newly merged company is expected to be the third largest hearing aid manufacturer in the world, after Sonova and William Demant. Early reports suggest that Swedish private equity firm EQT will own a majority of the merged group in which the Tøpholm and

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Cochlear Architecture Critical Part of Hair Cell Regeneration

The ability to restore hearing by regenerating outer hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear, sometimes referred to as biological solutions for hearing loss, has shown success in restoring hearing sensitivity in animal studies. New research, however, indicates that restoring hearing is more than regenerating lost or damaged outer hair cells. In a recent study, published in the

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Ear Level Biometrics Hold Great Promise

According to a recent Yahoo Entertainment report, an 18-year-old says her Apple Watch alerted her to a serious health issue. The teen, Deanna Recktenwald, told Inside Edition’s Mara Montalbano that her Apple Watch picked up on an unusual heart rate. Since Deanna’s mom is a nurse she was able to take her pulse and confirm the watch’s alert. Deanna went

Featured image for “Hearing Aids Slow Down Cognitive Decline, Says New JAGS Study”

Hearing Aids Slow Down Cognitive Decline, Says New JAGS Study

The relationship between cognitive ability and hearing aid use in older adults has drawn considerable interest over the past several years for obvious reasons: Many nations around the world are coping with a growing aging population, along with many of the consequences that accompany it. Hearing loss and cognitive decline being two of the common ill-effects associated with aging. The

Featured image for “Industry Pioneer, Andy Rihs Dies at 75”

Industry Pioneer, Andy Rihs Dies at 75

Andy Rihs, one of the founders of Phonak, died of complications from leukemia on April 18. He was 75 years old. Known for his tremendous foresight, creative spirit, and entrepreneurial passion, Rihs, along with Beda Diethelm and his brother “Jöggi” Rihs, joined AG für Elektroakustik. The three of them developed and shaped the company into Phonak, now part of Sonova.

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High Costs are Driving People Away from Necessary Healthcare

U.S. health care costs keep rising, evidence is mounting that these high prices are instrumental in people skipping physician visits. In 2016, healthcare costs amassed a person cost of more than $10,000 a year. According to one recent national poll conducted by the University of Chicago and West Health Institute, over the past 12 months, 44% of Americans said they

Featured image for “Citing Antiquated Regulations, Florida Dispenser Files Federal Lawsuit”

Citing Antiquated Regulations, Florida Dispenser Files Federal Lawsuit

On April 20, Pacific Legal Foundation announced a federal lawsuit challenging Florida’s Hearing Aid Licensing rules. The case is Taylor v. Polhill and it pits Dan Taylor, a licensed hearing instrument specialist, against Florida’s Board of Hearing Aid Specialists and Board of Health. Dan Taylor has spent nearly 30 years as a hearing aid specialist. However, as stated in a

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American Academy of Audiology Issues Dithering Response to Direct Access Bill

After what was, by several accounts, a contentious membership meeting to discuss the Audiology Patient Choice Act, the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) issued the following statement: The Academy strongly supports streamlining access to audiology services and being recognized and reimbursed for performing our full scope of practice under the Medicare program and across private payers. We view these

Featured image for “Noise is the New Secondhand Smoke”

Noise is the New Secondhand Smoke

New York City, American’s largest metropolis, fields about 50,000 non-emergency, 311 calls each day, and the No. 1 complaint is noise. In a city whose cacophony can reach 95 dB in midtown Manhattan — way above the federal government’s recommended average of no more than 70 dB — the commotion over all that racket involves irate residents, anti-noise advocates, bars,

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Giant Retailers are Teaming Up to Change Medical Care, Will Hearing Healthcare Have a Similar Fate?

As Costco continues to gain market share in the hearing aid private market, CVS Health and Lucid Hearing are expanding their presence by opening more retail locations. In addition to this nationwide growth of corporate retail hearing aid centers, Walgreens is testing the waters with a Starkey partnership, and Sivantos announced last week the acquisition of TruHearing, a leading third