Hearing News Watch

WEST PALM BEACH, FL-Audiology Distribution, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens Hearing Instruments, was the winner in an auction held here July 30 for the assets of HearUSA, Inc. HearUSA, one of the nation’s largest providers of hearing healthcare, went up for bids under Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The bid by Audiology Distribution includes aggregate consideration of approximately $129 million

BATH, ENGLAND—There’s no doubt that motorcycle riders who wear helmets reduce their risk of skull fractures and fatal accidents. On the other hand, researchers at the University of Bath and Bath Spa University have found that helmets may actually increase the risk of hearing loss among bikers. According to their study, “Aeroacoustic Sources of Motorcycle Helmet Noise,” which has been

NEW YORK–Pete Townshend, guitarist with the legendary British rock band The Who, is probably the leading “poster child” for the ill effects of overamplified music. For more than a decade, he has talked about the severe hearing loss he has suffered because of his failure to use ear protection during the glory years of his band in the 1960s and

PARSIPPANY, NJ–Siemens Hearing Instruments submitted a bid on July 27 to buy HearUSA, whose assets go up for auction today in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction. Siemens, which was for many years the main hearing aid supplier to HearUSA, bid $75.5 million, of which $7.5 million is in cash. A few weeks ago,  Siemens sued HearUSA for money that it

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO—After four decades in the West, Newport Audiology Centers is relocating its corporate headquarters to Nashville. One of the nation’s largest networks of hearing care providers, it has more than 2000 locations. Founded in Southern California in 1970, Newport Audiology is currently headquartered in the Denver area. In an interview with Hearing Health Matters, David Gligor, chief operating

This is a corrected version of an item originally published on July 26. WASHINGTON, DC—Most years, hearing aid sales peak in the second and third quarters, and are weaker in the first and fourth quarters. But thus far, that pattern isn’t occurring, which may make 2011 a slow year for the industry. According to the latest statistical report from the

ATLANTA–Military veterans are about 30% more likely to have severe hearing impairment (SHI) than non-veterans of comparable age and current occupation, according to a study reported in the July 22 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based in Atlanta. Analyzing data from 2010 Annual Social and Economic

LOS ANGELES–John Tracy Clinic, which has been serving deaf children and their families since 1942, has named J. Gaston Kent as president and chief executive officer, effective July 1. The clinic was founded by Louise Tracy, wife of the actor Spencer Tracy, in honor of their son, who suffered from hearing impairment. JTC serves 25,000 families a year worldwide. Kent,

STÄFA, SWITZERLAND–Sonova Holding AG’s board of directors has announced that Lukas Braunschweiler, a 55-year-old Swiss citizen, will become CEO of the company on November 1. The appointment, announced on July 18, will fill the vacancy created in March when the longtime chief executive Valentin Chapero resigned, along with the chairman and CFO of Sonova, following an insider-trading probe. Braunschweiler, who

WASHINGTON, DC—A newly redesigned Better Hearing Institute (BHI) web site (www.betterhearing.org/professionals/) is providing audiologists and hearing instrument specialists with easier access to a large array of resources tailored to help them promote their practices at the local level. The number and variety of public relations tools that BHI offers have increased dramatically since 2005. Now, the enhanced web site for