Wayne Staab

Dr. Staab is an internationally recognized authority in hearing aids. As President of Dr. Wayne J. Staab and Associates, he is engaged in consulting, research, development, manufacturing, education, and marketing projects related to hearing. His professional career has included University teaching, hearing clinic work, hearing aid company management and sales, and extensive work with engineering in developing and bringing new technology and products to the discipline of hearing. This varied background allows him to couple manufacturing and business with the science of acoustics to bring innovative developments and insights to our discipline. Dr. Staab has authored numerous books, chapters, and articles related to hearing aids and their fitting, and is an internationally-requested presenter. He is a past President and past Executive Director of the American Auditory Society and a retired Fellow of the International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology. Interests engaged in outside of the above include: fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, golf, travel, tennis, softball, lecturing, sporting clays, 4-wheeling, archery, swimming, guitar, computers, and photography. These are great topics of discussion away from business.

Featured image for “Ear Impression History – From Teeth to the Ear”

Ear Impression History – From Teeth to the Ear

Earmolds for hearing aids have been a staple for many years, made from impressions of the ear. Although considerable information exists about the earmold, the finished product, early ear impression history is murky. What we do know is that ear impressions took their lead from impressions of the teeth (dentistry), following somewhat later. The contribution of dentistry to hearing aid

Featured image for “Ear Impression History”

Ear Impression History

An ear impression has most often been used to fabricate an earmold (earpiece) that fits into portions of the outer ear to direct amplified sound toward the tympanic membrane (Figure 1). Essentially, an ear impression is made by placing a viscous, thixotropic impression material into the concha and part of the ear canal. When it sets to become an elastic

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Ear Pathology and Diving – Putting It All Together

by Eugene R. Worth, MD Now that you understand about ear barotrauma and other ear or sinus pathology and SCUBA diving from my previous post, let’s see if we can put it all together – ear pathology and diving. Of course, I have a case to discuss. By the way, all of the cases presented here are real. I have

Featured image for “Ear Impression Otoblock Myth Debunked – Part 3”

Ear Impression Otoblock Myth Debunked – Part 3

“Do Not Let the otoblock come in contact with the eardrum.” Instructions such as this to individuals taking ear impressions has been the topic of post 1 and 2 providing evidence busting the ear impression otoblock myth suggesting such placement. Otoblock to Protect the Eardrum? The purported purpose is to protect the eardrum/tympanic membrane (TM), as so

Featured image for “Rational Tinnitus Drug Treatment, part 3: Theory and Practice”

Rational Tinnitus Drug Treatment, part 3: Theory and Practice

In Part 3 of this series on rational tinnitus drug treatment, I will review the advantages and limitations of using animal models to understand this seemingly simple, yet intractable disorder. Part 1 provided information about control with medication and the impact of tinnitus on individuals. Part 2 detailed the difficulties associated with the desire to treat tinnitus with a pill.

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Tinnitus Drug Treatment, part 2 – Gabapentin

This post is a continuation of Part 1 by Dr. Carol Bauer which introduced the concept of Rational Drug Treatment for Tinnitus – The Gabapentin Story, or Why Aren’t the Pills Working? An example of following the need for a proper rationale, and evidence supporting tinnitus drug treatment, using the drug gabapentin as an example, is the topic of Part

Featured image for “Rational Tinnitus Drug Treatment – Why aren’t the Pills Working?”

Rational Tinnitus Drug Treatment – Why aren’t the Pills Working?

Hearing Health and Technology Matters is honored to present a three-part series on tinnitus drug treatment by Dr. Carol Bauer, a recognized international authority on tinnitus. Dr. Bauer is Professor and Chair of the Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois. Her areas of interest and expertise relate to hearing loss, balance

Featured image for “Ear Impression Otoblock Myth – Part 2”

Ear Impression Otoblock Myth – Part 2

Myth. “The ear impression otoblock stops the ear impression material from going too far into the ear canal, and protects the eardrum by not allowing it to come into contact with the eardrum.” This post continues as background to show that the above statement is a myth, and a more realistic approach should be taken to the placement of the

Featured image for “The Otoblock Myth Busted by Reality”

The Otoblock Myth Busted by Reality

Ear Impression Block Placement – The Otoblock Myth Busted by Reality Opening Salvo Most documents that instruct individuals on how to take ear impressions provide some misleading information, especially when describing the purpose and placement of the otoblock/block/dam/otostop. This series of posts is intended to show how the otoblok myth is busted by reality. Let’s look at some

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Hearing Aid Disruption

The Hear-Wear Patents What This Series of RIC Patents Provides to the Hearing Aid Industry is a True Hearing Aid Disruption. Background Hearing aid development has traditionally been driven by three factors: (1) cosmetics; (2) technology and miniaturization; and (3) packaging, not necessarily concurrently. Patients have always sought hearing aids that were cosmetically appealing, meaning that they were as