Nick Fitzgerald has served as HHTM’s Chief Marketing Officer for the past 3 years. He is the President and Owner of AuDSEO, a full service digital marketing agency. With over 15 years of digital marketing experience, Nick is a highly data-driven marketer, with expertise in search engine optimization, digital analytics and forensics, social media, digital advertising, and web development. He has been involved in the construction and optimization of nearly 1,000 web presences, including some of the largest Fortune 500 companies.
Featured image for “Children’s Hearing Aid Bill Overwhelmingly Passes Georgia House and Senate, Awaits Governor’s Signature”
Apr. 10, 2017

Children’s Hearing Aid Bill Overwhelmingly Passes Georgia House and Senate, Awaits Governor’s Signature

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA — A bill that would require insurance companies in the state of Georgia to cover hearing aids for children was approved late last month by the state Senate by a margin of 47-6. A prior version of the bill had already passed in the state House by 155-5. Now, the legislation heads to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk, where
Featured image for “California Legislation Would Authorize Hearing Aid Dispensers to Conduct Cerumen Management and Tympanometry”
Apr. 04, 2017

California Legislation Would Authorize Hearing Aid Dispensers to Conduct Cerumen Management and Tympanometry

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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — If a bill recently introduced into the California state senate by senator Cathleen Galgiani (District 05) becomes law, hearing aid dispensers in the state will be allowed to conduct cerumen management (earwax removal) and tympanometry. The bill, SB-198, is said to only authorize cerumen management for hearing aid dispensers under physician and/or surgeon supervision. Additionally, the bill
Featured image for “Ohio Bill, Already Passed in State Senate, Seeks Recognition of Deaf History Month”
Apr. 02, 2017

Ohio Bill, Already Passed in State Senate, Seeks Recognition of Deaf History Month

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COLUMBUS, OHIO – Deaf History Month, which is celebrated nationally from March 13 through April 15, could soon get formal recognition in the state of Ohio. Senate Bill 27, introduced by Senator Bill Beagle, has already received approval by the Ohio Senate and now moves to the House floor for a vote. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community advocates hope that Ohio
Featured image for “Former Pfizer President of R&D Joins Biotech Startup, Frequency Therapeutics”
Mar. 31, 2017

Former Pfizer President of R&D Joins Biotech Startup, Frequency Therapeutics

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WOBURN, MASSACHUSSETTS — Frequency Therapeutics, a biotech firm developing drugs to re-create sensory cells in the inner ear, announced the appointment of John LaMattina, PhD, as a member of its Scientific Advisory Board and Senior Advisor to the CEO. According to the company’s press release, Dr. LaMattina is the former President of Pfizer Gobal Research and Development and Senior Vice
Featured image for “New Study Finds Common Prescription Ear Drops Linked to Perforated Eardrums”
Mar. 28, 2017

New Study Finds Common Prescription Ear Drops Linked to Perforated Eardrums

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GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA — Researchers from the University of Florida found that children receiving commonly prescribed quinolone antibiotic ear drops (ex: Ciprofloxacin) following ear tube surgery, are 60 percent more likely to have eardrum perforations compared with those receiving neomycin ear drops. Additionally, when combined with steroids, the study suggests the risk of eardrum perforations may be even greater. The new
Featured image for “Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act Re-introduced into New Congress”
Mar. 21, 2017

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act Re-introduced into New Congress

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WASHINGTON, DC — The Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 was introduced into the 115th Congress on Monday, March 20th. It is a bipartisan bill that would allow hearing aids to be sold over-the-counter (OTC) to address mild to moderate hearing loss. Like a similar bill introduced late last year, this bill was in sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
Featured image for “AAA Leaders Meet With US Senate Health Policy Staff to Discuss Audiology and OTC Legislation”
Mar. 17, 2017

AAA Leaders Meet With US Senate Health Policy Staff to Discuss Audiology and OTC Legislation

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WASHINGTON, DC — In a message sent to Academy members this morning, the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) announced that Academy President Ian Windmill, PhD and President-Elect Jackie Clark, PhD met with health policy staff in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) office on March 15th. According to the announcement, the focus of the meeting was to share Academy members’ concerns with
Featured image for “New Best Practice Guidelines Issued for BPPV, One of the Most Common Causes of Vertigo”
Mar. 15, 2017

New Best Practice Guidelines Issued for BPPV, One of the Most Common Causes of Vertigo

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ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA — On March 1st, the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) published an updated clinical practice guideline for healthcare providers on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The updated guideline, Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, provides evidence-based recommendations to healthcare providers on diagnosis and treatment of BPPV. Additionally, the guideline offers important patient information
Featured image for “Gorilla at Florida Zoo, Kumbuka, Has Hearing Tested by Pediatric Audiologist”
Mar. 14, 2017

Gorilla at Florida Zoo, Kumbuka, Has Hearing Tested by Pediatric Audiologist

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — Shortly after arriving at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in 2014, zookeepers began to have suspicions that their new gorilla, Kumbuka, was having trouble hearing. Those suspicions were ultimately confirmed late last week, thanks to a group of veterinarians and experts at Nemours Children’s Hospital, who diagnosed Kumbuka with profound hearing loss. Kumbuka’s hearing was evaluated by
Featured image for “Australian Consumer Commission Puts Hearing Aid Industry “On Notice” Over Business Practices”
Mar. 10, 2017

Australian Consumer Commission Puts Hearing Aid Industry “On Notice” Over Business Practices

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — Coinciding with World Hearing Day, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a new report that puts the “hearing aid sector on notice”. The report, Issues around the sale of hearing aids, encourages industry reform, such as reconsidering commissions, disclosure and sales practices. The ACCC is Australia’s competition regulator and is tasked with ensuring that individuals and