Dr. Hosford-Dunn began blogging in her audiology private practice in Tucson, AZ. Back in 2009, blogging was a new and interesting way to quickly share and improve information with colleagues, consumers, and patients. As blogging gained attention, she had the opportunity to serve as chief editor of a multi-author blog for an hearing industry publication. The format was fun and successful. It rapidly evolved into Hearing Health & Technology Matters! (HHTM), an independent blogsite that she founded in partnership with other colleagues in 2011. Since its inception, Dr. Hosford-Dunn has served as HHTM’s first Editor-in-Chief, then Managing Editor, and now is CFO of the organization. After graduating with a BA and MA in Communication Disorders from New Mexico State, she completed a PhD in Hearing Sciences at Stanford and did post-docs at Max Planck Institute (Germany) and Eaton-Peabody Auditory Physiology Lab (Boston). Post-education, she directed the Stanford University Audiology Clinic; developed multi-office private practices in Arizona; authored/edited numerous text books, chapters, journals, and articles; and taught Marketing, Practice Management, Hearing Science, Auditory Electrophysiology, and Amplification in a variety of academic settings. Dr. Hosford-Dunn participates in life long learning by writing weekly posts and by embracing sequential learning endeavors. She spent a year training with the Gemological Institute of America, gaining certification as a Graduate Gemologist (GIA). She graduated with a B.A. in Economics and Psychology from the University of Arizona in 2013. Currently — and probably forever — she studies the Spanish language.
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Jul. 15, 2014

Patent Tales

Holly Hosford-Dunn
July’s stroll through the Wonderful World of Patents was likened to Alice falling down the rabbit hole.  This week’s post is more like Billie Goats Gruff making a run for it over the  troll-dominated Bridge of Willful Patent Infringing.   Audiologists rarely read patents, but eventually they are affected by patent skirmishes and patent law, same as everyone else.  Today’s
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Jul. 08, 2014

Siemens: Deep Throats Shout it Out

Holly Hosford-Dunn
The last Siemens post drew a number of comments, not all complimentary but all useful to the burning question of “What’s up with Siemens?”  In economic-speak, there is a shortage of facts and a surplus of speculation in the air and on my desk.  Today, Hearing Economics turns the microphone over to well-informed industry insiders to speculate. Note to potential
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Jul. 01, 2014

US Hearing Device Patent Approvals for May and June 2014

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Being an Audiologist wandering through the Wonderful World of Patents is like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland.  I’m sure it’s better than mushrooms and the supply seems endless. New Patents, Birth Announcements, and Rebirths in WondEAR World   May/June brought a shower of patents having to do with implants, adjustable magnet systems, spacers, bone conduction vibration, light
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Jun. 24, 2014

Back to the Future as Siemens Tries to Check Out

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Time and space limits in the last Siemens post forced the future to be postponed.  The future is now as Hearing Economics continues to clear its desk.  Spoiler:  nobody agrees yet on what the future holds for Siemens Audiology or its rascally stepchild Hearing USA. Siemens Makes a Run for It   On May 7, 2014, Siemens announced that its Audiology
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Jun. 17, 2014

The Unraveling of Hearing Healthcare Delivery, part 2

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Dr. Jerry Northern returns as guest contributor this week to review a number of converging factors that threaten the viability of Audiology as a profession.  The factors emanate from the rapid transition of hearing aid distribution from a medical model toward the electronic commodity market, as he discussed in Part 1.  Specific solutions are in short supply, but he gives us
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Jun. 10, 2014

The Unraveling of Hearing Healthcare Delivery, Part 1

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Dr. Jerry Northern is today’s guest editor.  As one of the most active boosters of the Audiology profession, Dr Northern is well suited to take the long view of where we’ve been and where we are headed.   His title says it all.  When he says our survival is at stake, it’s time for everyone to listen up.    
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Jun. 03, 2014

Drilling into the DNA of Buying Groups, Part 3

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Continuing the “DNA” series, today’s post is the second half of the AudNet view of buying groups for Audiologists.  Last week, David Smriga explored “Can buying groups save Audiology?”  He’s joined today by fellow guest contributor and AudNet owner John Zeigler (see bios at end of post).  They take on three questions that define, and sometimes distinguish, different buying groups.
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May. 27, 2014

Drilling Down into the DNA of Buying Groups

Holly Hosford-Dunn
Editor’s Note:  David Smriga is Hearing Economics’ guest contributor this week.  He brings new views and more data to the ongoing discussion of hearing aid buying groups.   As noted, buying groups are not new but they’re getting renewed interest and scrutiny as hearing aid distribution channels continue to change rapidly.      I read with interest the guest post
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May. 21, 2014

Siemens Files for Divorce (again)

Holly Hosford-Dunn
“The Past, Present and Future walked into a bar. It was tense.”  time warp in a bar  Hearing Economics hit its stride by writing a 21-post series involving Siemens back in the good old HearUSA days of 2011.  You’d think that would be enough, but stray remnants kept trickling in, getting buried on the desk, cluttering up the place. Not for the
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May. 13, 2014

US Hearing Device Patents for April and May 2014

Holly Hosford-Dunn
It’s patent time again, when Hearing Economics shares its exciting list of new patent approvals in the hearing aid world.  Or should we say hearing device world, or maybe just audio world?  The list gets longer each time and the applications wider.  Near field, in the traditional hearing aid sense, is evaporating as communications/software manufacturers such as AT&T and IBM patent far