Hearing News Watch

A well-known provider of computer-based aural rehabilitation, Neurotone, Inc., recently introduced LACE (Listening And Communication Enhancement) aural rehabilitation program as a completely web-based application. LACE Online allows users to access aural rehabilitation training on any computer, laptop, or mobile device with no required download or installation. Users can log in and access training on any device and experience completely synchronized

Cochlear Ltd, a leading implantable device manufacturer, announced on May 11 the acquisition of Sycle LLC. Sycle is one of the world’s largest providers of audiology practice management software.  Sycle software is said to be used by over 7,000 clinics in the US, UK and Canada. In the US, Sycle has an estimated 70% market share. According to reports, the

Many professionals agree that audiology is at a turning point. Challenges presented by changing demographics, evolving technology, consolidation of medical care, industry vertical integration, changing healthcare regulations and increased government and public attention to hearing healthcare are poised to affect how audiology is viewed and practiced. Now, as these changes are taking place, is the time to create positive momentum

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and International Hearing Society (IHS) learned yesterday afternoon that the Over-The-Counter Hearing Aid Act legislation has now been attached to the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act (MDUFA). According to AAA President Ian Windmill, the MDUFA bill is considered “must-pass” and is scheduled to be voted on today in

In a study published on-line May 1, 2017, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine announced they have successfully developed a method to grow inner ear tissue from human stem cells—a finding that could lead to new platforms to model disease and new therapies for the treatment of hearing and balance disorders. The study, published in Nature Biotechnology, was led

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Tom Rice (R-S.C.), Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), and Lynn Jenkins (R- Kan.) re-introduced the Audiology Patient Choice Act (H.R. 2276) into the U.S. House of Representatives this week, to help “streamline an outdated Medicare policy by giving patients direct access to audiologists without requiring referral from a medical doctor”. “Medicare users, who are suffering from a

AUGUSTA, MAINE — A state legislator in Maine has proposed that the state require insurance plans cover hearing aids for people of all ages. Representative Jim Handy, a Democrat from Lewiston, proposed a bill in which insurers would be required to pay up to $3,000 per hearing aid to those that need them. The bill, which unanimously passed the Insurance and

Hearing care professionals are intimately aware of the communication demands of the geriatric population and the critical nature of good hearing on day-to-day communication, such as a patient’s visit with their doctor. That awareness, however, does not hold true for medical researchers, according to a recent evidence-based review article published on-line by the Journal of the American Geriatric Association on

MILAN, ITALY — Major hearing aid retailer Amplifon SpA announced today that the company’s net profits for the first quarter (Q1) of 2017 were up by 49.1 percent over last year. The company, which owns well-known brands such as Miracle Ear and the Elite Hearing Network, also reported overall revenue up from €254.5 million last year in Q1 to €296.1

WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND — CVS Pharmacy, the largest pharmacy chain the US, announced in April that the company is looking to massively expand the number of hearing centers it has across the country. The company currently has a handful of hearing centers in select markets, which it launched in 2015, and it is now looking to build upon the success of