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 “Hearing Beethoven – Part II – The Medical Conclusion”

Hearing Beethoven – Part II – The Medical Conclusion

As we can tell from the writings of McCabe (1958), Huxtable (2011) and others, Beethoven had significant tinnitus, reduced word recognition and, by his own writings reduced sensitivity to high frequency sounds. Those that have studied Beethoven’s letters, buzzing noises and other sounds started at around 1796 at age 26. The deafness began in 1798 and Beethoven had lost 60%

Featured image for “Hearing Beethoven – Part I”

Hearing Beethoven – Part I

Over the years, I have been interested in the hearing loss of the great composer Beethoven. How can a person have this degree and type of hearing impairment and still compose some of the world’s most impressive classical music? Over the next couple of weeks, Hearing International will explore the hearing loss of Beethoven. This week will review the man

Featured image for “Beethoven’s Hearing Loss – Was It Genetic?”

Beethoven’s Hearing Loss – Was It Genetic?

Until recently, lead poisoning was considered the leading cause of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hearing impairment, along with other renowned musicians such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, and Ozzy Osbourne. However, groundbreaking discoveries have emerged challenging the traditional belief. Recent studies suggest that genetic factors may play a significant role in predisposing individuals to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The Perils of

Featured image for “The Perforation of Ol’ Blue Eyes”

The Perforation of Ol’ Blue Eyes

Sinatra Is Classified 4F; Has Punctured Eardrum Special Edition of the New York Times, December 10, 1943 NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 9 — Frank Sinatra will not lay that microphone down and take up a gun or a duffle bag. Completing a special engagement with Army physicians this morning at the Newark induction center, the crooner came out rejected and dejected.

Featured image for “Hearing Loss in the Trenches of World War I”

Hearing Loss in the Trenches of World War I

World War I was an extremely bloody war that engulfed Europe from 1914 to 1918, with huge losses of life and little ground lost or won. Fought mostly by soldiers in trenches, World War I saw an estimated 10 million military deaths and another 20 million wounded. The so-called “war to end all wars” began after the heir to the

Featured image for “Kevin Hall: The First Deaf Golfer on the PGA Tour”

Kevin Hall: The First Deaf Golfer on the PGA Tour

Most amateur golfers in the U.S. view the sport as recreation and exercise. But a select few possess the diligence and talent to thrive professionally on the PGA Tour. Kevin Hall exemplifies one of golf’s most overlooked yet inspirational stories in relentlessly chasing that dream. More than just a gifted athlete, he serves as a barrier-breaking role model for perseverance.

Featured image for “What can fetuses and babies hear?”

What can fetuses and babies hear?

In the late 1970s, I worked as a research assistant on a project exploring the use of recorded intrauterine noise to provide comfort to infants. The idea was that babies had been exposed to the sounds inside their mother’s womb for several months, and these familiar noises could soothe them. This research was a prominent topic in audiology research worldwide

Featured image for “Happy Birthday Bach…..The Man With A Super Human Hearing Organ”

Happy Birthday Bach…..The Man With A Super Human Hearing Organ

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) remains a renowned figure among music enthusiasts around the world. He was a highly productive German composer and organist, acclaimed for his extensive body of sacred and secular compositions for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments. His works are recognized for unifying various elements of the Baroque era, leading it to its pinnacle. Interestingly, Bach didn’t receive

Featured image for “Sonic Warfare: Noise as a Weapon”

Sonic Warfare: Noise as a Weapon

Audiologists have long understood the damaging effects of noise on the auditory system. Prolonged exposure to high-level noise above 85-90 dBA can lead to deafness. But what would it take in terms of sound levels to create a truly lethal weapon? The research on this topic is scarce, but it is believed that an extremely loud sound, reaching around 185-200

Featured image for “The Deafness of Thomas Edison”

The Deafness of Thomas Edison

At Hearing International, we have thought about discussing Thomas Edison’s deafness for quite a while, but since he was an American he did not seem to fit our scope of topics. As will be noted shortly, Edison’s family does have some international connections, which make him a international figure. Through his many inventions, including the phonograph, the transmitter for the telephone