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 “Nation’s highest court gets “looped,” joining many other prominent institutions”

Nation’s highest court gets “looped,” joining many other prominent institutions

By David H. Kirkwood WASHINGTON, DC—Following ancient custom, the United States Supreme Court will begin its next term on the first Monday in October. However, when the nine justices hear their first case on October 6, there will be something new in the courtroom that will assist hearing aid wearers present in following the proceedings: a hearing loop system, installed

HHTM’s Career Center gets an upgrade

TUCSON, AZ—Hearing Health and Technology Matters (HHTM) has enhanced its three-month-old Career Center to better serve job seekers and employers alike. The addition of a Search feature will make it easier for hearing health care providers to find the specific type of job and location they are looking for. In establishing its Career Center HHTM partnered with Simply Hired, which

Featured image for “Eating more fish seems to reduce risk of hearing loss”

Eating more fish seems to reduce risk of hearing loss

Eating fish regularly may lower your risk of suffering hearing loss, at least if you are a woman. That finding was reported by Sharon G. Curhan, MD, of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and her four co-authors in a study published September 10 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers drew upon data

Milestone for Hearing Health & Technology Matters: Over 1 million pages viewed

Each week Hearing News Watch provides exclusive coverage to our readers of important events and developments taking place around the wide world of hearing health. This week, though, the breaking news we are reporting on is being made by Hearing Health and Technology Matters (HHTM), our parent blog.

Featured image for “Geigel named president of Widex USA, as Schutt joins company launching new “audio solution””

Geigel named president of Widex USA, as Schutt joins company launching new “audio solution”

HAUPPAUGE, NY—Jeffrey Geigel has been appointed president of Widex USA, Inc., succeeding Rodney Schutt, who resigned on August 25 to become senior vice-president at Turtle Beach Corporation, a San Diego-based developer of audio products. Geigel, a hearing industry veteran, took over the helm at Widex USA, a subsidiary of the Danish-based Widex A/S, on August 25. He joins Widex after

Featured image for “Oticon, SCORE, and the Prince of Denmark honor fighters against hearing loss”

Oticon, SCORE, and the Prince of Denmark honor fighters against hearing loss

SOMERSET, NJ—During an otherwise quiet month in the hearing health care world, a flurry of honors were handed out in August, including a dozen to the winners of Oticon’s 18th annual Focus on People Awards. During an August 14 ceremony at Oticon, Inc.’s US headquarters in New Jersey, the company paid tribute to 12 people “whose courage, vision, and commitment

Featured image for “Breaking News: AAA picks an experienced association leader for the precarious post of executive director”

Breaking News: AAA picks an experienced association leader for the precarious post of executive director

By David H. Kirkwood RESTON, VA–The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) has selected a new executive director, Tanya Tolpegin, to take over the leadership of its professional staff effective October 6. Tolpegin, whose appointment was announced to the academy membership on September 2 three days after being reported here, will succeed Cheryl Kreider Carey, who was dismissed as executive director

VA awards contracts to all “Big Six” hearing aid manufacturers

By David H. Kirkwood DENVER–The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which is far and away America’s largest purchaser of hearing aids, has awarded contracts, effective November 1, to buy products from the U.S. divisions of all six of the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturers. Although the contracts with GN ReSound, Oticon Inc., Phonak LLC, Siemens Hearing Instruments, Starkey Hearing Technologies, and Widex

Featured image for “Childhood hearing loss increasing in the U.S., study in Pediatrics finds”

Childhood hearing loss increasing in the U.S., study in Pediatrics finds

The incidence of hearing impairment among children rose by 15% between 2001 and 2011, according to a study published last week in Pediatrics, an online publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The article, “Changing Trends of Childhood Disability,” reported an overall increase of 15.6% in childhood disabilities of all types over that period of time. For their study,

Featured image for “Consumer Electronics Association calls PSAPs an affordable alternative to hearing aids”

Consumer Electronics Association calls PSAPs an affordable alternative to hearing aids

By David H. Kirkwood ARLINGTON, VA—A Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) report concludes that personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) “offer a viable solution to hearing aids for consumers who have hearing difficulty.” It continues, “While consumers who suffer from more severe hearing difficulties may still require hearing aids, PSAPs offer a simpler and often less expensive alternative for those with some