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 “VEST is designed to allow deaf people to feel what speakers are saying”

VEST is designed to allow deaf people to feel what speakers are saying

By David H. Kirkwood HOUSTON—David Eagleman, PhD, and his graduate student Scott Novich at Baylor College of Medicine are working alongside a team of engineering undergraduates at Rice University to develop a high-tech garment known as the VEST (Versatile Extra-Sensory Transducer) that would enable people who are deaf in both ears to understand speech by feeling vibrations rather than

Featured image for “Top Edison Award in hearing goes to Siemens binax™; Starkey Halo wins silver”

Top Edison Award in hearing goes to Siemens binax™; Starkey Halo wins silver

NEW YORK–Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), widely regarded as America’s greatest inventor, managed to create the first practical incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, the carbon microphone used in telephones until the 1980s, among the earliest motion picture cameras and viewing devices, the stock ticker, and countless other innovations, despite suffering from severe hearing loss since early childhood. His disability, which is

Featured image for “Institute of Medicine panel seeks ways to make hearing care more accessible and affordable”

Institute of Medicine panel seeks ways to make hearing care more accessible and affordable

By David H. Kirkwood WASHINGTON, DC—As part of an ambitious, two-year study to identify ways to make hearing health care (HHC) for adults more accessible and affordable, a 13-member ad hoc committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will hold a daylong open session on Monday, April 27. IOM, the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, is an

Featured image for “New app makes ReSound’s LiNX hearing aids compatible with Apple Watch”

New app makes ReSound’s LiNX hearing aids compatible with Apple Watch

COPENHAGEN–GN ReSound, which last February became the first manufacturer to offer a hearing aid, the ReSound LiNX, that allowed wearers to stream audio directly from their Apple iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to their hearing aid without need for a separate intermediary device, has introduced a new hearing aid app designed specifically for Apple’s latest high-tech device, the Apple

HHTM Exclusive: Findings from new MarkeTrak study show greater hearing aid use, satisfaction

By David H. Kirkwood WASHINGTON, DC–The portion of Americans with self-reported hearing difficulty who own hearing aids has increased to 30.2% (from 24.8% in 2008), and the satisfaction rate with hearing aids has grown to 81% from 74%, according to the MarkeTrak 9 survey conducted last fall by Az Marketing Research with Online Survey Solution for the Better

Bill would create a demonstration program for deaf/hard-of-hearing U.S. Air Force members

By David H. Kirkwood WASHINGTON, DC—Since its enactment in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made public accommodations, telecommunications technology, and the workplace more accessible to countless people with hearing loss. For example, just last month, the New York Police Department, following the lead of departments around the country, opened its doors to police officers who

Featured image for “Scientist, who overcame deafness, wins Presidential award for encouraging others to follow his path”

Scientist, who overcame deafness, wins Presidential award for encouraging others to follow his path

WASHINGTON, DC—J. Tilak Ratnanather, PhD, a scientist who was born deaf and has devoted himself to encouraging others with hearing loss to become scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, is one of 14 educators selected to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). The awards, announced by the White House on March 27, recognize the

Featured image for “Exploding head syndrome: A frightening phenomenon that’s surprisingly common”

Exploding head syndrome: A frightening phenomenon that’s surprisingly common

PULLMAN, WA—If you’ve ever been startled from your sleep by the loud sound of non-existent noises, you are not alone. In what may have sounded like an early April Fool’s Day hoax to some but was not, Washington State University (WSU) issued a press release on March 30 reporting that researchers there “have found that an unexpectedly high percentage of

Featured image for “Four audiologists, an engineer, and a neuroscientist are awarded AAA’s highest honors”

Four audiologists, an engineer, and a neuroscientist are awarded AAA’s highest honors

SAN ANTONIO–The youngest founder of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), the director of one of the world’s leading acoustical research laboratories, and a researcher whose publications have been cited in the scientific literature more than 1800 times were among those recognized at the Honors and Awards Banquet held March 26 during AudiologyNOW! 2015, the academy’s annual convention. One of

Featured image for “Medtronic and Sivantos both announce acquisitions of hearing care companies”

Medtronic and Sivantos both announce acquisitions of hearing care companies

ERLANGEN, GERMANY/DUBLIN–Last week was a busy one in the hearing industry’s merger and acquisition front. On March 26, the Sivantos Group (formerly Siemens Audiology Solutions) announced that it would take over all shares in audibene, as part of a strategic partnership and investment agreement with Europe’s largest Internet portal for hearing care case management.The next day, Medtronic, Inc., the