Hearing News Watch

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Sound Pharmaceuticals, a Seattle-based biotech firm, announced late last month that it had completed enrollment on its first Ménière’s disease clinical trial. The clinical trial will use SPI-1005, an investigational new drug developed by the company that mimics and induces Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), which has been shown to reduce the swelling or edema of the inner ear

WASHINGTON, DC — The US House of Representatives, as expected, passed the FDA Reauthorization Act today. The legislation, as reported previously, contains a provision that directs the FDA to develop a category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.  According to an announcement on the developments by the American Academy of Audiology, the version

This year, 2017, marks the peak number of baby-boomers reaching the age of 60. So it’s no coincidence that researchers and public health officials have turned their attention to the plethora of chronic conditions, including hearing loss, that are linked to aging. The Journal of the American Medical Association, one of the most widely circulated peer-reviewed journals in the world,

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE — The Tennessee Hearing Protection Act of 2017 officially went into effect on July 1st, after passing through the state legislature this year. No longer banned in the state, Tennesseans can now use firearm suppressors (silencers) on their guns. Backers of the legislation say its going to help protect the hearing of hunters and sport shooters throughout the

Long time Apple analyst Gene Munster, at venture capital firm Loup Ventures, says that he anticipates Apple’s AirPods to become “bigger than the Apple Watch“. Despite being substantially less costly than the company’s watch, which currently retails for $249-$1,499, the shift to augmented audio over the next few years is anticipated to increase demand for the company’s popular hearable device.

EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA — In a company announcement yesterday, Starkey Hearing Technologies reported that Bill Austin will be stepping down from his role as President and will be succeeded by his stepson, Brandon Sawalich. Austin is said to retain his title as CEO and will continue to be involved in driving the company’s “strategic direction and leadership”. Sawalich, who joined

ZUG, SWITZERLAND — Biopharmaceutical company Auris Medical Holdings announced today that it  has completed patient enrollment in the Phase 3 trial of its novel AM-111 drug, to treat idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL)–also known as sudden deafness. Results from the trial are anticipated to be available in the fall of this year.   HEALOS Trial   The HEALOS trial of

Since the inception of the program, some 50 years ago, Medicare has excluded coverage for dental, vision and hearing services. The program has directly contributed to sharp declines in mortality and longer life expectancy for those aged 65 and older. Today, however, given the linkage between increased costs and poorer overall health and disorders related to these three conditions, policy

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) may have found a way to improve patient outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by creating a device that helps silence the loud audible medical alarms present in hospital rooms. Evidence over the years has shown that loud auditory medical alarms can be detrimental to patient recovery, so Joseph

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) released a new logo for the potential new category of over-the-counter hearing aids for consumers with mild to moderate hearing loss.  CTA unveiled the new logo at the annual convention of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), held last week in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to the organization’s