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.

Nano-Coating and Hearing Aid Directional Performance

Stability of Dual Directional Microphones Under Conditions of High Temperature and High Humidity In some of my past blogs I have reported on two separate issues that this blog, and the next, will attempt to bring together. The first issue related to directional microphone hearing aids that were not directional. In a later blog I reported on a nano-coating process

Some of the Old “Stuff” Described

Last week’s blog described somewhat my dilemma about what to do with some of the “stuff” related to hearing aids that I have accumulated over the years. I did offer some suggestions, and one that I thought might draw overwhelming attention, related to selling some of this. And, I know that it is almost impossible to believe, but I have

Old “Stuff” Never Dies – It Just Lays Around

And, lay around, in my office, essentially means “forever.” At least that is what my wife says when she sees me looking through my files and “stuff” related to hearing. I’m often asked when I’m going to throw some of that “stuff” away. And, to add to my foolishness, I have already invested a small fortune in paying for its

PSAPs – When the World Was Flat

I was looking through some old files the other day and came across this advertisement from the Columbus (OH) Dispatch, dated November 19, 1984. By definition, this product would be called a PSAP today.1 The FDA definition of a PSAP (Personal Sound Amplification Product) is that “PSAPs are intended to amplify environmental sound for non-hearing impaired consumers. They are not

More on Eardrum Rupture

My last blog related to the pressures at which an eardrum was susceptible to rupture and then also to be relatively assured that eardrum rupture would occur. But, what was missing? In response to this I received an e-mail from one of my good engineering friends, Steve Armstrong, who asked me why I had not included something that would have

The Company That Lost its Way

James Curran This is the last part of “An Audiologist in the Wilderness” series of posts by James Curran, one of the first audiologists in the hearing aid industry. Unbeknownst to us, Maico was reeling under a number of recent marketing and managing mistakes, and they continued to make them after we joined. The company had changed ownership a few

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Hearing, Listening, and Understanding

During counseling with a patient the other day I was asked to explain briefly the difference between hearing, listening, and understanding. The request was, “Make it easy and simple for me so when I talk to my family I can educate them about the differences, how these terms relate to my hearing loss and how these should be interpreted by

An Audiologist in the Wilderness – Part V

I Join the Carnival This is Part V of “An Audiologist in the Wilderness” by James Curran. This entire series by Jim, including those from other “first” audiologists in the industry (and mine, which will follow Jim’s) chronicles the introduction of audiologists into the hearing aid industry and the trials and events that helped shape the way for audiologists today

An Audiologist in the Wilderness – Part IV

Into the jaws of the beast (continued) This is a continuation of Parts I and II and III of “An Audiologist in the Wilderness” by James Curran. James Curran, M.S. For nearly four years I crisscrossed the U.S. for Dahlberg, traveled to Europe and Canada, speaking to dealers in their offices, at regional meetings, at conventions and state meetings, and

Directional Microphone Hearing Aids – Do They Change?

Situation Directional microphone hearing aids are a preferred embodiment in many of today’s hearing aids, being used advantageously for listening in noise. When used in this fashion, the directional performance is employed in either a fixed, or more commonly, in an adaptive mode, and normally commands a premium price from the consumer. Conventional wisdom suggests that directional performance should be