Hearing News Watch

By David H. Kirkwood  TRENTON, NJ—The characteristically fragmented and fractious hearing healthcare field has suddenly found something to bring it together: the announcement by UnitedHealthcare (UHC), among other companies, that it will sell hearing aids directly to consumers without the involvement of licensed hearing professionals. Since October 3, when hi HealthInnovations™, a division of UHC, began offering hearing aids retailing

LONDON—Two studies, run in tandem, have found that 71% of adults in the United Kingdom can’t always understand clearly what is said on television. One study was a joint project of the Danish hearing aid manufacturer, Widex, and Britain’s Channel 4. The other was undertaken by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC). One purpose of the studies was to test the

NEW YORK—Arielle Schacter, a contributor to the Hearing Views section of Hearinghealthmatters.org (see her October 12 post), has been selected by Glamour magazine as one of “21 Amazing Young Women of 2011.” Schacter, a 17-year-old high school senior in New York City, has been hard of hearing since early childhood. Rather than hold her back, her hearing loss has inspired

HANNOVER, GERMANY–An international panel of judges has selected Oticon Medical’s Ponto Pro Power to receive a 2012 iF Product Design Award. Founded in 1953, the iF International Forum Design Awards program recognizes innovative product design. A jury of designers and entrepreneurs selected the 2012 recipients from among entries originating from more than 48 countries. The Ponto Pro Power, a digital

LEXINGTON, KY–Hours after Hearing News Watch posted its article on growing opposition to United Healthcare’s business model, Stephanie Czuhajewski, executive director of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, e-mailed a letter to its members. Excerpts follow: ADA Members, We wanted to provide you with an update regarding ADA’s plan of action to address member concerns regarding the October 3rd United

Opposition is continuing to build to the sale of hearing aids directly to consumers via the Internet, which would bypass the role of the licensed hearing care professional. Two companies—hi HealthInnovations, part of UnitedHealth Group, and Audiotoniq—have announced plans to distribute hearing aids this way. Their products will be priced at under $1000, much less than the average price of

ROCKVILLE, MD—Kids will be featured nationwide in a video on YouTube if they are among the winners in a contest aimed at getting young people involved in preventing hearing loss. Sponsored by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the contest invites youngsters from 8 to 18 years of age to produce a 30- or 60-second audio or video PSA (public service

By David H. Kirkwood For a decade or so, a growing band of advocates has been moving, slowly but steadily, toward its goal of “looping America.” Their vision is to have induction loops installed in public venues all over the country, so that people who use telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants will be able to hear and communicate effectively

“I can hear my wife speaking, but I can’t understand the words.” “All it does is make the background noise louder.” “It’s too big.” “It uses too many batteries.” “It makes me look old.” All these are common complaints by consumers about their hearing aids. But a 100-year-old Swedish man came up with a new one over the weekend: He

WOODSTOCK, NY–Edgar Villchur, a renowned inventor whose wide-ranging work included breakthroughs in hearing aid technology, died at his home here on Monday, October 17, at the age of 94. Villchur, who was also a prominent educator, writer, and philanthropist, revolutionized the field of high-fidelity equipment with his 1954 invention of the acoustic suspension loudspeaker. This loudspeaker provided better bass response