Hearing News Watch

By David H. Kirkwood RESTON, VA—As was reported here on January 1, the Association of VA Audiologists (AVAA) issued a statement on December 16, 2013, opposing proposed federal legislation that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make greater use of hearing aid specialists in serving the needs of veterans with hearing loss and related conditions. On January

By David H. Kirkwood WASHINGTON, DC—Citing “significant differences in the education and training of audiologists and hearing aid specialists,” the Association of VA Audiologists (AVAA) issued a statement on December 16 opposing proposed federal legislation that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire hearing aid specialists internally and to update its contracting policies to allow hearing aid specialists

By David H. Kirkwood SAN FRANCISCO/SAN LEANDRO—Hardly a week passes without at least one announcement of some new device being developed to help people with hearing loss. Whether these products are categorized as hearing aids, personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), or assistive hearing technology, they nearly all have a few things in common: (1) Although they are designed to serve

Dear Readers: During this holiday season, the editors at Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM) are taking some time off. However, we are not leaving you without anything to read on our blog this week. Instead, we are publishing a special holiday edition filled with what we call our Readers’ Choices. The Readers’ Choices are the posts published on each

This post is a Reader’s Choice selection for 2013.   By David H. Kirkwood For the third time in the past 15 years, the American Academy of Audiology is looking for a new executive director, following the departure of Cheryl Kreider Carey after six years in the position and 14 years on the staff of the organization. A news item that

MINNEAPOLIS—Three scientists who are conducting research intended to improve the ability of people with hearing loss to understand speech were selected by the Hearing Industry Research Consortium (IRC) to receive the organization’s latest research grants. The consortium was established in 2012 for the purpose of advancing a mutually agreed upon research agenda that will benefit the hearing aid industry, its

SAN FRANCISCO—Formula 1 Grand Prix racing has got a whole lot safer over the past 25 years or so—at least for the drivers. But that’s not the case for the spectators at these noisy events. Unless race-goers wear proper hearing protection, the odds are that their hair cells are dropping like flies with deadly effects on their hearing. How noisy

LAS VEGAS–More than 3000 people from 15 countries will attend the second Hearing Innovation Expo, being held January 15-19 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Sponsored by Starkey Hearing Technologies, the event is designed to “serve as a catalyst for clinicians and business owners to take action and differentiate themselves in a challenging, competitive, and often disruptive market.” The 2014 Expo

By David H. Kirkwood For the third time in the past 15 years, the American Academy of Audiology is looking for a new executive director, following the departure of Cheryl Kreider Carey after six years in the position and 14 years on the staff of the organization. A news item that AAA posted last week on the public section of its

WASHINGTON, DC– Gallaudet University is known for a number of things.  It was founded by Abraham Lincoln in 1864 as the world’s first university for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. In 1988, it was the scene of possibly the most successful student protest uprising ever. When Gallaudet appointed a new president with normal hearing, students and some sympathetic