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.

Cuba develops infant hearing screener

HAVANA-Cuba will begin international marketing of new screening equipment for detection of newborn hearing loss. The announcement was made May 20 at the 5th Latin American Congress on Biomedical Engineering held in Havana. The system, including software, was developed by Cuba’s Neuronic Enterprise.

Foundation targets hearing loss in the third world

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND–More than 600 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, but only 1 in 40 of them will ever have the opportunity to wear a hearing aid, according to recent estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO). That is largely because 70% of those with moderate to severe hearing impairment live in developing countries, where hearing healthcare is a

Causes and cures for listener fatigue

LONDON—Speakers from Asius Technologies of Longmont, CO, reported their findings at the 130th Audio Engineering Society Convention on the cause of “listener fatigue” that some people experience when using hearing aids, in-ear headphones, and other devices that seal the ear canal. In addition, Stephen Ambrose, Robert Schulein, and Samuel Gido described new approaches to reduce the condition, which can cause

Georgia restores sales tax exemption for hearing aids

ATLANTA–A year after the Georgia State Legislature repealed legislation that had exempted hearing aids from sales tax, Governor Nathan Deal signed a bill that immediately reinstated the tax exemption. The new bill also applied to some other medical devices and medications. Helping galvanize support for restoring the tax exemption for hearing aids was the Georgia Society of Hearing Professionals. The

Hearing Health Matters editor honored by AAA

CHICAGO—The Journal of the American Academy of Audiology announced its Editor’s Awards during AudiologyNOW! 2011, held here in April. The honors, which recognize members of the JAAA editorial board for outstanding contributions to the peer review of the journal, went to Holly Hosford-Dunn, PhD, and David A. Preves, PhD. Preves, who in 2009 received AAA’s Samuel F. Lybarger Award for

Guide to more affordable hearing aids

WASHINGTON, DC–With a pair of hearing aids costing anywhere from $2000 to $7000, it’s no wonder that many hearing-impaired people feel they can’t afford them. That’s why AARP Bulletin asked Cathie Gandel to write about how to get a good buy on hearing aids. The article, which appeared in the May 1 issue (go to www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-05-2011/paying-for-hearing-aids.html for the full article),

Canadian pediatricians urge newborn hearing screening

OTTAWA–When it comes to providing its citizens with healthcare coverage, Canada has generally gone far beyond the United States. For example, its publicly funded health system ensures that all Canadians have access to free medical care. However, universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), which the U.S. introduced more than a decade ago, does not yet exist in most of its northern

Senate bill calls for hearing aid tax credit

WASHINGTON, DC–Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) reintroduced Hearing Aid Tax Credit bill (S. 905) on May 5, with eight original co-sponsors. Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) introduced a companion bill (H.R. 1479) in the House of Representatives in April. The Senate bill is unchanged from legislation in the 111th Congress, which attracted a

Expo to help hearing-impaired in work force

BRANCHBURG, NJ–At a time when the unemployment rate is unusually high, people with hearing loss are finding it especially difficult to find jobs. To help out, Bridges to Employment, a division of Alternatives, Inc., will host its 2011 Communication Expo this Saturday, May 7, at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg. The goal of this annual event is to raise

A free guide to hearing aid maintenance

WASHINGTON, DC–The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) has unveiled its latest consumer e-Guide, Your Guide to Care and Maintenance of Hearing Aids. Authored by Drs. Ron Schow and Jeff Brockett, the comprehensive, 26-page e-Guide covers topics such as batteries, ear wax, ear mold/venting issues, moisture corrosion and intermittence, telephone use, feedback, static/noise, and prevention. The information is available on both the