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.
Jan. 15, 2014

Researchers develop a $50 headset to bring hearing help to children in the Third World

David Kirkwood
TRONDHEIM, NORWAY—Only a tiny percentage of people with hearing loss in the Third World have any hope of getting help for their condition. That has been true for as long as hearing aids have been around. However, there are more and more non-profit organizations seeking to develop new technologies to change that situation. Among them is Norway-based SINTEF, the largest independent
Jan. 14, 2014

New York City launches campaign against noise-induced hearing loss

David Kirkwood
NEW YORK—New York City has launched a number of initiatives in recent years to improve the health of those who live, work, or visit there. New York prohibited cigarette smoking in nearly all public spaces and it ordered restaurants to remove the transfats from all the food they served. Later, eateries were required to post the calorie count of the
Jan. 13, 2014

Fair housing group finds that people with hearing loss often face discrimination

David Kirkwood
WASHINGTON, DC–The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) charges that owners and management companies of major housing complexes in six states are discriminating against people who are deaf or hard of hearing. NFHA announced on January 9 that it had filed eight complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against companies in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Mississippi, South
Jan. 08, 2014

Nationwide survey asks consumers how they like hearing loops

David Kirkwood
Anyone who has used a hearing loop system with their hearing aid or cochlear implant is invited to click here to take part in a survey being conducted by the Hearing Loss Association of America to assess consumers’ experiences with loops.   By David H. Kirkwood Over the past decade, the Let’s Loop America movement has gone from a glint
Jan. 07, 2014

Deaf medical student wins suit; Creighton must give him the accommodations he demanded

David Kirkwood
OMAHA—A medical student’s long battle to receive the accommodations for his hearing loss that he says he needs to graduate from Creighton University Medical School is nearing a successful conclusion. As discussed in several posts at HearingHealthMatters.org since 2012, Michael Argenyi, who wears a cochlear implant, applied to Creighton University in 2008 as hearing impaired. While the Omaha university offered
Featured image for “AAA joins the opposition to expanding HA specialists’ role in serving veterans”
Jan. 03, 2014

AAA joins the opposition to expanding HA specialists’ role in serving veterans

David Kirkwood
By David H. Kirkwood RESTON, VA—As was reported here on January 1, the Association of VA Audiologists (AVAA) issued a statement on December 16, 2013, opposing proposed federal legislation that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make greater use of hearing aid specialists in serving the needs of veterans with hearing loss and related conditions. On January
Jan. 01, 2014

VA audiologists oppose bill to expand role of HA specialists in caring for veterans

David Kirkwood
By David H. Kirkwood WASHINGTON, DC—Citing “significant differences in the education and training of audiologists and hearing aid specialists,” the Association of VA Audiologists (AVAA) issued a statement on December 16 opposing proposed federal legislation that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire hearing aid specialists internally and to update its contracting policies to allow hearing aid specialists
Dec. 30, 2013

After leading ReSound and InSound to success, two entrepreneurs try something different

David Kirkwood
By David H. Kirkwood SAN FRANCISCO/SAN LEANDRO—Hardly a week passes without at least one announcement of some new device being developed to help people with hearing loss. Whether these products are categorized as hearing aids, personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), or assistive hearing technology, they nearly all have a few things in common: (1) Although they are designed to serve
Dec. 24, 2013

Happy New Year!

David Kirkwood
Dear Readers: During this holiday season, the editors at Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM) are taking some time off. However, we are not leaving you without anything to read on our blog this week. Instead, we are publishing a special holiday edition filled with what we call our Readers’ Choices. The Readers’ Choices are the posts published on each
Dec. 24, 2013

Reader’s Choice 2013: AAA decides to replace executive director after leading members urge a course correction

David Kirkwood
This post is a Reader’s Choice selection for 2013.   By David H. Kirkwood For the third time in the past 15 years, the American Academy of Audiology is looking for a new executive director, following the departure of Cheryl Kreider Carey after six years in the position and 14 years on the staff of the organization. A news item that