Robert Traynor

Robert M. Traynor, Ed.D., is a hearing industry consultant, trainer, professor, conference speaker, practice manager and author. He is a founding member of HHTM and had previously written a regular weekly column for the site for many years. He has decades of experience teaching courses and training clinicians within the field of audiology with specific emphasis in hearing and tinnitus rehabilitation. He serves as Adjunct Faculty in Audiology at the University of Florida, University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado and The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Featured image for “The Flight of the Vin Fiz: Part II”

The Flight of the Vin Fiz: Part II

Last week we learned about Calbraith Perry Rodgers, a young deaf man from a historic military family who fell in love with flying as did many men of his generation. On a whim he met his cousin John Rodgers, a Naval Officer that had been assigned to the Wright Brothers Flying School, and they enrolled at Huffman Prairie in Dayton, Ohio. The Wrights

Featured image for “The Flight of the Vin Fiz: Part I”

The Flight of the Vin Fiz: Part I

The story of the Vin Fiz begins with the birth of Calbraith Perry Rodgers on January 1, 1879 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a descendent of famous US military heroes and celebrities that also bore the names of “Perry” and “Rodgers” throughout late 18th and 19th century American history. Oliver Hazard Perry, Rodgers’ maternal great-grandfather, won a crucial victory over the British Naval

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Zika Virus and Hearing Loss

Born in 1764 as the fifth of eight children, young Johann was fascinated with bugs. Growing up in the Town of Solingen, Germany on his grandparents farm outside of town, he collected flies and other bugs and mounted them in groups that seemed to be similar. He was formally educated to some degree in the schools of Solingen but also

Featured image for “Believe You Can Change the World”

Believe You Can Change the World

One of the fascinating benefits of meeting new patients in the clinic each day are the stories I hear from people who have led an interesting life full of contributions to the world. While most of these patients have successfully contributed to the world, their families and in various occupations at all levels, they all offer interesting stories as to life in a different time. Almost

Featured image for “The International Deafness Controversy of 1880”

The International Deafness Controversy of 1880

One of the first concepts learned in deaf education or aural rehabilitation courses is the controversy over sign language (manualism) vs. oralism. There is an undertone that oralism is better than manualism. It has been the root of much discussion in the deaf community as well as among educational and medical professionals since the inception of formal sign language in 18th century France. On

Featured image for “The Man of a Thousand Faces”

The Man of a Thousand Faces

The story begins with the founding of the Kansas School for the Deaf by Philip A. Emery, a deaf man who had been a student and teacher at the Indiana School for the Deaf until 1860. Emery had come to Kansas to start a new life in a part of the country that was opening up. In his new community,

Featured image for “The Cochlea’s Biological Clock – Updated”

The Cochlea’s Biological Clock – Updated

Occasionally at Hearing International we receive comments and corrections from readers. Thanks to Dr. Roelof A. Hut, Associate Professor of Chronobiology at of the University of Groningen, Netherlands this article, originally posted on March 10, 2015, has been updated correcting some inaccuracies and misstatements. Many thanks from Hearing International to Dr. Hut for his comments. ————————————- For roughly half the world Daylight Savings

Featured image for “Sign Language for Medical Procedures”

Sign Language for Medical Procedures

In the audiology clinic we are familiar with patients that are among the non-speaking deaf and use sign language. While many of us use sign language with our hearing impaired patients, others use an interpreter so that they understand the various products and how to use them and/or the audiological procedures that are conducted on them or their family members. This could

Featured image for “The Graying of Bell’s Telephone Patent: Part III”

The Graying of Bell’s Telephone Patent: Part III

Over the past couple of weeks we have seen that the invention of the telephone was not necessarily the brainchild of Alexander Graham Bell. We have found that there were a number of European and American inventors involved in its development but many either did not have the funds to obtain a patent or were simply interested in the scientific

Featured image for “The Graying of Bell’s Telephone Patent: Part II”

The Graying of Bell’s Telephone Patent: Part II

The invention of the telephone seems to be a worldwide mess in terms of who first invented the device. There seems to be great financial disparity between who invented it and those that patented it. It’s an interesting story of those who had nothing, coming up with a revolutionary idea and ensuring that it worked, but being first or second