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 “Clinicians have a comprehensive new guideline for the treatment of tinnitus patients”

Clinicians have a comprehensive new guideline for the treatment of tinnitus patients

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation has published an extensive, evidence-based clinical practice guideline to improve the diagnosis and management of tinnitus. The guideline, the first of its kind, appears as a supplement to the October 2014 issue of the journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Its stated purpose is “to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians

Featured image for “Free e-course from Ida Institute teaches fundamentals of patient-centered care”

Free e-course from Ida Institute teaches fundamentals of patient-centered care

NAERUM, DENMARK—Hearing care professionals and students can now take a free online course and gain a practical introduction to the fundamentals of patient-centered Developed by the Ida Institute, a non-profit organization funded by the Oticon Foundation, the Ida Basics Course is designed to encourage reflection on the clinician’s approach to patient care and suggest concepts and methods for improving current

Audiologists, dispensers, and consumers all have a stake in bills before Congress

By David H. Kirkwood WASHINGTON, DC—After taking two months off to campaign for re-election, the 113rd Congress will finally return to Washington sometime in November for a brief lame duck session. There it will find a slew of bills related to hearing care waiting for them. Barring a miracle, this Congress, which has enacted less legislation to date than any

Featured image for “EEOC charges FedEx Ground discriminated against hearing-impaired workers”

EEOC charges FedEx Ground discriminated against hearing-impaired workers

BALTIMORE—Are you a deaf or hard-of-hearing person who has worked as a package handler for FedEx Ground since 2006 or applied for such a position? Probably not, but if you are and you feel that the company, discriminated against you, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) wants to hear about it. On October 10, that agency brought a lawsuit

Featured image for “Angela Loavenbruck and Lolly Wigall take over as co-editors of Hearing Views”

Angela Loavenbruck and Lolly Wigall take over as co-editors of Hearing Views

By David H. Kirkwood TUCSON—Two accomplished audiologists, with a combined experience of more than 60 years in private practice, have joined the editorial team at HearingHealthMatters.org. On October 6, Angela Loavenbruck, EdD, and Loleata “Lolly” Wigall, MS, became co-editors of Hearing Views, which every week offers a fresh and original opinion, perspective, or commentary on some topic related to hearing.

BHI urges adults to get their hearing tested to protect their mental health

WASHINGTON, DC—Researchers have found that untreated hearing loss and the ensuing communication difficulties and social isolation are correlated with increased incidence of depression and other mental health issues. That’s why in observance of World Mental Health Day 2014, October 10, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is urging adults of all ages to get their hearing tested to help protect their

Featured image for “NYC cops who were forced to retire for wearing hearing aids will get their day in court”

NYC cops who were forced to retire for wearing hearing aids will get their day in court

By David H. Kirkwood NEW YORK–Two former New York City police officers–Jim Phillips and Dan Carione–will have a chance to prove at trial that they should not have been forced to retire because they wore hearing aids—hearing aids that the New York Police Department (NYPD) paid for. As previously discussed on this blog, Carione, now aged 47, and Phillips, 43, were

Featured image for “Florida man’s deafness may have led to his fatal shooting by police”

Florida man’s deafness may have led to his fatal shooting by police

DAYTONA BEACH, FL—When 52-year-old Edward P. Miller of Port Orange, FL, failed to respond to a plainclothes officer’s instructions because of his deafness, the officer, Volusia County sheriff’s deputy Joel Hernandez, fired at him through the windshield of the SUV where Miller was sitting, killing him. So said Miller’s 25-year-old son, also named Edward, to Frank Fernandez, a reporter for the

Featured image for “Survey finds that nearly half of U.S. teens show danger signs for hearing loss”

Survey finds that nearly half of U.S. teens show danger signs for hearing loss

PISCATAWAY, NJ—An alarming one out of every six American teenagers, or 17%, reports experiencing ringing, roaring, buzzing, or pain in their ears “often or all of the time” after listening to loud music or being exposed to power tools and other sources of loud noise. An additional 29%–for a total of 46%, close to half–report sometimes experiencing such potential signs of

Featured image for “New audiology fellowship honors Jim and Susan Jerger on their retirement from UT Dallas”

New audiology fellowship honors Jim and Susan Jerger on their retirement from UT Dallas

DALLAS—Friends, family, and colleagues from around the country gathered in Dallas recently to celebrate the retirement of the renowned audiologists Drs. James and Susan Jerger from the University of Texas-Dallas (UT Dallas) School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. During the celebration, the UT Dallas News Center reported on September 17, the University and the American Academy of Audiology Foundation announced