David Kirkwood

A longtime observer of the hearing healthcare scene, David Kirkwood was editor-in-chief of The Hearing Journal from 1990 through 2010. Among the honors he received was a 2006 President’s Award from the American Academy of Audiology. Previously, he spent 15 years as editor and publisher of a weekly community newspaper in Scarsdale, NY. Before finding his way into journalism, he earned degrees in history from Cornell University (where he was an outstanding pinball player) and the University of California at Berkeley. When he isn’t blogging at Hearing Health & Technology Matters, David enjoys spending time with his wife, Annie, going to plays and movies in New York, traveling, and relaxing in their vacation place in Mid-Coast Maine. His other avocations include rooting for the Yankees and throwing tennis balls for his puli, Isaac.

Featured image for “Nobel Laureate and Oscar winner will be among those honored at Starkey Gala”

Nobel Laureate and Oscar winner will be among those honored at Starkey Gala

ST. PAUL, MN—The biggest annual fundraising event in hearing health care will take place here this Sunday evening, July 20, when the Starkey Hearing Foundation holds the 2014 So the World May Hear gala. A highlight will be the presentation of awards to a number of remarkable humanitarians honoring their dedication to improving the lives of others. Those singled out

Featured image for “Brazilian fans’ big noise proves to be the sound of defeat at the World Cup”

Brazilian fans’ big noise proves to be the sound of defeat at the World Cup

By David H. Kirkwood July 13 update German’s victory over Argentina this afternoon in the final of the 2014 World Cup adds further evidence that, contrary to Hear the World’s theory (see below), the team whose fans are quieter than its opponent’s has the advantage because its members have less noise-induced hearing loss. Or, just possibly, the Germans were better

Featured image for “Regarding noise on the job, a chasm separates employees and employers”

Regarding noise on the job, a chasm separates employees and employers

POMONA, CA—How much of the day are American workers exposed to loud noise—loud enough that someone in their workplace has to raise his or her voice to be heard? The answer to that depends on whom you ask—employees or employers. When Pomona-based EPIC (Ear Professionals International Corporation) Hearing Healthcare commissioned a company to ask that question as part of

Soundhawk unveils its “smart listening system”; insists it’s not a hearing aid

CUPERTINO, CA—Soundhawk, a high-tech start-up company with an impressive pedigree, began taking advance orders last week on its web site for a $279 “smart listening system.” According to Soundhawk’s founder, Rodney Perkins, MD, an otologist at Stanford University School of Medicine and founder of the California Ear Institute, the new system “is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work in

Featured image for “Rolex award supports woman’s mission to bring newborn hearing screening to India”

Rolex award supports woman’s mission to bring newborn hearing screening to India

LONDON–Neeti Kailas, a young Indian woman on a mission to bring universal hearing screening of newborn babies to her country, is one of six visionaries under age 30 named to receive this year’s Rolex Awards for Enterprise. The winners, selected from 1800 applicants, were announced on June 24 by the Royal Society in London. Each will receive 50,000 Swiss francs (about

Looking to hire or be hired? Pay a visit to the HearingHealthMatters.org Career Center

Since its founding in April 2011, HearingHealthMatters.org (HHTM) has quickly emerged as one of the most widely read and most influential publications in the hearing field. I use the term “hearing field” advisedly, since, unlike nearly all the other print and online publications concerned with hearing, ours is written not only for hearing care providers, but also for consumers with

Featured image for “Those deafened in Boston Marathon bombings are being shortchanged, says HLAA”

Those deafened in Boston Marathon bombings are being shortchanged, says HLAA

BOSTON–Anna Gilmore Hall, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), contends that in failing to consider hearing loss as a substantial, catastrophic injury, One Fund Boston, the foundation created to help victims of the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, is discriminating against many of the runners and spectators who were severely injured in the terrorist attack. In

Free telephone test tells consumers if they may need hearing help

BLOOMINGTON, IN—More than 30,000 Americans took a free over-the-phone hearing test in May, which was National Better Hearing Month. Because of the enthusiastic response, Communication Disorders Technology, Inc., a non-profit organization that waived the usual $8 charge for using its screening tool, decided to extend the free offer through the end of June. The National Hearing Test was developed by the

Featured image for “Sonova to add Comfort Audio to its group”

Sonova to add Comfort Audio to its group

STÄFA, SWITZERLAND–Sonova Holding AG announced today (June 16) that it had reached an agreement to purchase 100% of Comfort Audio, a Swedish maker and distributor of assistive listening technology. The transaction, which will require approval by regulatory agencies, is a further step in the diversification of Sonova, parent company of Phonak and the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturer. In

Featured image for “Canada’s universal newborn hearing screening called a “resounding failure””

Canada’s universal newborn hearing screening called a “resounding failure”

Canada has long had a progressive record on social issues. For example, for more than 30 years Canadians have had publicly funded universal health care. Yet the country is lagging behind most other prosperous nations, including the United States, in an important aspect of hearing care: newborn hearing screening. Despite growing criticism from the media (including from HearingHealthMatters.org), most Canadian