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.

New editor joins HearingHealthMatters.org

TUCSON, AZ—Kevin Liebe, AuD, has joined the line-up of well-known editors at The Blogs @ Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM). Effective this week, Dr. Liebe has taken over the editorship of Hearing Views, where every week he and guest contributors will share their opinions and perspectives on a wide range of subjects related to hearing. Liebe, a fulltime clinical

Loop advocate wins ASHS alumni award

MESA, AZ—Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD, a Wisconsin audiologist and a leading advocate for the use of hearing loops, has been selected as Humanitarian of the Year by the Alumni Chapter of A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Sciences. Sterkens received her doctorate of audiology from ASHS. Earlier this year, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) named Sterkens as its new

Finally, Ireland will graduate its first audiologists—and maybe its last

By David H. Kirkwood ATHLONE, IRELAND–The Irish people have long been renowned for having “the gift of gab,” the ability to speak with ease, at length, and in a most expressive and entertaining manner. It’s ironic then, that in a land where people speak so well, there seems to be so little concern about citizens’ ability to hear what their

$72,000 settlement ends suit for damages from police noise-making device

PITTSBURGH—As Hearing News Watch readers with exceptionally long memories may recall, nearly two years ago this blog reported on a lawsuit brought against the City of Pittsburgh. The plaintiff, Karen Piper, who was a visiting professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University, claimed that she had suffered permanent hearing loss in September 2009 when Pittsburgh police used a Long Range Acoustic

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Texas dispensers sue Wal-Mart; say its unlicensed sale of hearing aids is illegal

By David H. Kirkwood MARSHALL, TX–The Texas Hearing Aid Association (THAA) has brought a federal class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., charging that the world’s largest retailer is selling hearing aids in Texas without the state-mandated license. The plaintiffs, who filed suit last month in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Marshall, are asking the court

Tinnitus Association names executive director

PORTLAND, OR—The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) has appointed Cara James to be its new executive director and lead its mission to find a cure for tinnitus. Before joining ATA, James was founder and executive director of Bola Moyo, an international non-profit organization in Malawi dedicated to improving the health and lives of youth in Africa. She was also a delegate

Audiology students win Austin Scholarships

MINNEAPOLIS–Six outstanding audiology students have been awarded 2013 William F. Austin Scholarships from Starkey Hearing Technologies. More than 100 future audiologists applied for the $10,000 scholarships, which are named for the founder and CEO of Starkey, the largest U.S.-based manufacturer of hearing aids and other hearing technology. This year’s scholarship recipients are Jodi Seligman, who attends the University of

Deaf plaintiffs accuse NYC Starbucks of blatant discrimination

NEW YORK–Since its founding in Seattle 42 years, Starbucks Coffee has grown into the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world, with more than 20,000 stores in more than 60 countries. It has also built an enviable reputation as a progressive, socially conscious company with one of the most admired brands in the business world. But that image has taken

IHS seeks to build professional unity at its 2013 Convention

WASHINGTON, DC—The International Hearing Society is reaching out beyond its membership and inviting all hearing care professionals to take part in its 62nd Annual Convention & Expo, to take place September 12-14 in the nation’s capital. The theme is “Uniting the Profession,” and IHS president Tom Higgins, ACA, BC-HIS, described the convention as “a homecoming for all of our friends

Committee approves new, stricter standard for hearing loop installations

WASHINGTON, DC–“One small sentence in a code book of thousands but one giant leap for people with hearing loss.” That was how Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD, hearing loop advocate for the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), assessed an action taken by an ICC/ANSI committee on July 17. That “small sentence” approved by the ICC/ANSI (International Code Council/American National Standards Institute)