Hearing News Watch

ROTTERDAM — AudioNova, one of the largest hearing aid retailers in Europe, is on the auction block, according to recent reports. AudioNova, owned by the investment company HAL Trust, has more than 1300 hearing aid retail stores across 12 countries in Europe, including Germany and France. Amplifon, William Demant, Sonova and Sivantos are reported to be interested in the chain. Neither

On the heels of Starkey’s announcement of their industry-first partnership with the upstart hearable company, Bragi, more news of other products entering into the ear-level amplification space are emerging. As early as February 21st, hearing care professionals just might get a peek at a new hearing aid option for their patients. In a report from April 2015, Samsung was said to be preparing to

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — GN Store Nord announced last week that it has chosen hearing industry veteran Marcus Desimoni as the new chief financial officer (CFO) of GN Store Nord and GN ReSound, effective February 15, 2016. Desimoni will replace Anders Boyer, who resigned as CFO in December. According to the company, Desimoni has more than 15 years of financial leadership experience within international finance and capital

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Oricula Therapeutics, LLC, a biotech startup firm based in Seattle, announced today that it has received a Phase 2 Grant of approximately $2 million dollars from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award funds will support the completion of the company’s

Genetic factors play a significant role in both sensorineural hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss. For a number of reasons genetic studies involving humans are complicated.  They are prone to challenges associated with low statistical power, limited replicability, and confounding environmental parameters, such as noise exposure and ototoxic medication use. Thus, the inbred mouse research model remains a highly useful

UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS — A team of Dutch researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at the University Medical Center Utrecht and Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, recently published a meta-analysis that showed an association between hearing loss and psychosis. Their meta-analyses revealed an increased risk of hearing impairment on all psychosis outcomes, including hallucinations, delusions, psychotic symptoms and delirium. Early exposure to hearing impairment

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY — One year after the transfer of Siemens hearing aids to the Sivantos group, it was announced late last week that the group would be introducing a new brand to the marketplace. During their recent Aspire customer loyalty meeting, which brought more than 300 hearing care providers to Nashville for a three day conference, the Sivantos Group

During the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Jacoti, bvba of Belgium, was named a CES 2016 Innovation Awards honoree. The company won for its Jacoti Hearing Suite. Judging from its press releases and website, Jacoti has a clear mission of bringing hearing self-testing and amplification apps directly to consumers and is on track to do so.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — As Starkey Hearing Technologies kicks off their 2016 Hearing Innovation Expo today in Las Vegas, one of the largest events for independent hearing care professionals in the US, a strategic partnership has been announced between the company and German startup Bragi, creators of The Dash, touted as “the world’s first truly wireless hearable”. Chris McCormick, senior vice-president of marketing

SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA — Over the past year, there has been growing interest in the morphing of consumer electronics and medical devices. New product categories are being created and the hearing care industry seems to be on the brink of some significant changes, especially in light of the recent non-binding PCAST recommendations to re-regulate the hearing aid marketplace. A recent