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 “Lawrence Eng to be AAA’s next president-elect, following six women in that role”

Lawrence Eng to be AAA’s next president-elect, following six women in that role

RESTON, VA—When Lawrence Eng, AuD, becomes president of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) on July 1, 2015, he will be the first man to lead the organization since 2009, when Patrick Feeney, PhD, completed his term. As reported this week on the AAA web site, Eng was elected by the membership to serve as president-elect for a year starting

Featured image for “Mauldin Award for Excellence in Education will go to Ron Leavitt at AAA Convention”

Mauldin Award for Excellence in Education will go to Ron Leavitt at AAA Convention

ORLANDO—Ron Leavitt, AuD, whose career has spanned a wide range of audiologic activities, will receive the Larry Mauldin Award for Excellence in Education at AudiologyNOW! 2014. The annual convention of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) will be held March 26-29 in Orlando. The Mauldin award, which is presented annually by Beltone Electronics, honors the memory of the late Larry

Featured image for “Study reveals a scientific basis for a link between blindness and improved hearing”

Study reveals a scientific basis for a link between blindness and improved hearing

By David H. Kirkwood COLLEGE PARK/BALTIMORE, MD–Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli, Doc Watson, Ray Charles, Art Tatum, Ronnie Milsap, Sonny Terry, Blind Lemon Jefferson… The list of great singers and instrumentalists who were blind from birth or childhood goes on and on. It’s often been theorized that their blindness may have been a factor in the development of their musical genius.

ReSound releases first hearing aid that streams sound directly from an iPhone

COPENHAGEN–Every new hearing aid that’s launched is totally unique, innovative, the very latest and greatest—according to the company that developed it and is determined to promote it. However, occasionally a new hearing aid creates genuine excitement in the marketplace of professionals who will fit it and consumers who will wear it. Today (February 24) such an event occurred when

FDA’s proposed new PSAP policy draws mixed response, but mostly opposed

By David H. Kirkwood SILVER SPRING, MD–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has more than 100, highly diverse, public comments to consider in deciding if it should implement or rethink a proposed new guidance document that it issued on November 7. The document, drafted by the Ear, Nose, and Throat Devices Branch of FDA’s Center for Devices and

While Castro’s hearing loss is hidden, “Japanese Beethoven’s” deafness is feigned

HAVANA & TOKYO—It appears from two widely reported news stories that Fidel Castro and Mamoru Samuragochi are on the opposite ends of the scale between denying hearing loss and accepting, even embracing, the condition. Castro, or more likely the government office that manages the public image of Cuba’s frail 88-year-old former president, seems not to want the world to

Better Hearing Institute’s new web site is designed to inspire consumer action

WASHINGTON, DC–The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) unveiled a renovated web site this week, as part of its broader effort to inspire a more action-oriented outlook on the state of hearing loss in America. The institute, which is the educational arm of the Hearing Industries Association (HIA), recognizes the substantial link between hearing health and active lifestyles, whole health, quality of

Low-power microchip may open door to a cochlear implant with no exterior parts

SAN FRANCISCO—What cochlear implant wearers have long yearned for—an entirely implantable system without the external transmitter, wire, microphone, and battery that are now standard—appears to have moved a step closer to reality this week. In a paper to be presented February 11 at the IEEE International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, researchers describe a newly developed low-power signal-processing

Measure would provide hearing aid coverage for Ohio children and adults

COLUMBUS—The Ohio legislature is considering a bill that would make Ohio only the fourth state in the nation to require health insurance companies to include hearing aids as part of their basic health coverage for people of all ages. Seventeen states require that health insurance benefits plans pay for hearing aids for children, but only three, relatively small, states–Arkansas, New

Hearing aid dispensing groups back new FDA restrictions on PSAPs; HLAA does not

The following post was originally published on February 5 and updated on February 6. By David H. Kirkwood ROCKVILLE, MD–Three more organizations concerned with hearing submitted comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week on the agency’s proposed guidance document, which would tighten existing restrictions on the marketing of personal sound amplification products (PSAPs). The International Hearing Society