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 “William Demant and ReSound reach agreements with major hearing aid retailers”

William Demant and ReSound reach agreements with major hearing aid retailers

By David H. Kirkwood COPENHAGEN–Two of the hearing aid industry’s Big Six companies–William Demant, parent company of Oticon, and GN ReSound—are taking steps to strengthen their retail distribution channels. Demant announced yesterday (February 17) that it is negotiating to buy a majority interest in Audika Groupe, the largest network of hearing aid centers in France. On February

Featured image for “Harvard, MIT sued for not captioning online videos; plaintiffs claim ADA violation”

Harvard, MIT sued for not captioning online videos; plaintiffs claim ADA violation

BOSTON–The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has sued Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by failing to provide adequate captioning for the vast array of online content they make available to the general public, including through massive open online courses

Featured image for ““Hearing” with your tongue: Will it make cochlear implants obsolete?”

“Hearing” with your tongue: Will it make cochlear implants obsolete?

Readers of Holly Hosford-Dunn’s blog Hearing Economics have learned recently about some highly innovative “hearables” that have entered or may soon enter the market. Following is an even more futuristic product—or at least potential product—that may some day improve life for people with hearing loss. An ITM (in-the-mouth) device FORT COLLINS, CO—A team of faculty and graduate students at

Featured image for “Tinnitus found to be a risk factor in workplace injuries”

Tinnitus found to be a risk factor in workplace injuries

NEW HAVEN, CT—Sleeplessness, difficulty in concentrating, anxiety, and depression are some of the common distressing effects on people who suffer from tinnitus, that ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in the ear that often accompanies hearing loss. Now, research conducted at Yale University School of Medicine has found that tinnitus is also associated with increased risk of injury in the

Featured image for “Study suggests that improved hearing enhances quality of life in cases of moderate dementia”

Study suggests that improved hearing enhances quality of life in cases of moderate dementia

Editor’s note: This post was updated February 9, 2015, to reflect a revised news release issued by Unitron on February 5, replacing its original release of January 29. PLYMOUTH, MN—For several years, scientists have been aware of evidence that seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing. But what has

Featured image for “OSHA says, company exposed worker to 8 hours of noise as loud as a jackhammer”

OSHA says, company exposed worker to 8 hours of noise as loud as a jackhammer

WESTON, OH—The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has charged that MCM Precision Castings, Inc., exposed an employee to noise levels averaging 97 dB, equivalent to the noise of a jackhammer, over his eight-hour shift. According to an OSHA news release issued on January 17, an inspection of the company’s foundry in Weston, OH, resulted in 18 charges of

Featured image for “Super Bowl inspires hearing awareness campaigns by Oticon and Starkey, among others”

Super Bowl inspires hearing awareness campaigns by Oticon and Starkey, among others

GLENDALE, AZ—Ever since fall 2013 when Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs fans began competing for the title of the National Football League’s noisiest rooters (Chiefs’ supporters set the record when they created a din reaching 142.2 dB in their home field), the hearing care community has seized upon the Super Bowl as a golden opportunity to increase public awareness of

Featured image for “New MED-EL cochlear implant can be used with MRI, FDA finds”

New MED-EL cochlear implant can be used with MRI, FDA finds

DURHAM, NC–One drawback of wearing a cochlear implant (CI) is that it creates complications for CI wearers who need to undergo an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Doing an MRI scan of the head with the CI in place can prevent an accurate scan from being produced. Worse yet, scanning any part of the body with the implant in place can

Featured image for “Sale of Siemens Hearing is a done deal; company is rebranded as Sivantos”

Sale of Siemens Hearing is a done deal; company is rebranded as Sivantos

ERLANGEN, GERMANY–The sale of Siemens Audiology Solutions to private investors, agreed to on November 6, passed through regulatory scrutiny without a hitch and was finalized on January 15. The purchasers, EQT and the Strüngmann family, paid €2.15 billion (approximately $2.5 billion at the time of closing) to Siemens AG for its hearing aid division, making the transaction the largest in

Featured image for “Connecticut city rules that hearing aids should be no bar to police work”

Connecticut city rules that hearing aids should be no bar to police work

BRIDGEPORT, CT—Vincenzo Mirci, a 9-year military veteran, won the right to pursue his goal of becoming a police officer when, last November, the Bridgeport Civil Service Commission overturned an earlier decision by the city that he could not serve because he was unable to pass a hearing test without the hearing aid he wears in one ear. Mirci, 35, who