Wayne's World

Last week’s blog described somewhat my dilemma about what to do with some of the “stuff” related to hearing aids that I have accumulated over the years.  I did offer some suggestions, and one that I thought might draw overwhelming attention, related to selling some of this. And, I know that it is almost impossible to believe, but I have

And, lay around, in my office, essentially means “forever.”  At least that is what my wife says when she sees me looking through my files and “stuff” related to hearing.  I’m often asked when I’m going to throw some of that “stuff” away.  And, to add to my foolishness, I have already invested a small fortune in paying for its

I was looking through some old files the other day and came across this advertisement from the Columbus (OH) Dispatch, dated November 19, 1984. By definition, this product would be called a PSAP today.1 The FDA definition of a PSAP (Personal Sound Amplification Product) is that “PSAPs are intended to amplify environmental sound for non-hearing impaired consumers.  They are not

My last blog related to the pressures at which an eardrum was susceptible to rupture and then also to be relatively assured that eardrum rupture would occur.  But, what was missing? In response to this I received an e-mail from one of my good engineering friends, Steve Armstrong, who asked me why I had not included something that would have

James Curran This is the last part of “An Audiologist in the Wilderness” series of posts by James Curran, one of the first audiologists in the hearing aid industry.  Unbeknownst to us, Maico was reeling under a number of recent marketing and managing mistakes, and they continued to make them after we joined. The company had changed ownership a few

Ruptured eardrums are not uncommon, but when they occur, they are traumatic to the person involved.  However, there seems to be little knowledge among professionals working with the hearing impaired as to the actual pressure levels required to rupture the eardrum (tympanic membrane) even though they know that this can happen. There are many causes of eardrum rupture.  They include,

During counseling with a patient the other day I was asked to explain briefly the difference between hearing, listening, and understanding.  The request was, “Make it easy and simple for me so when I talk to my family I can educate them about the differences, how these terms relate to my hearing loss and how these should be interpreted by

I Join the Carnival This is Part V of “An Audiologist in the Wilderness” by James Curran.  This entire series by Jim, including those from other “first” audiologists in the industry (and mine, which will follow Jim’s) chronicles the introduction of audiologists into the hearing aid industry and the trials and events that helped shape the way for audiologists today

Into the jaws of the beast (continued) This is a continuation of Parts I  and II and III of “An Audiologist in the Wilderness” by James Curran. James Curran, M.S. For nearly four years I crisscrossed the U.S. for Dahlberg, traveled to Europe and Canada, speaking to dealers in their offices, at regional meetings, at conventions and state meetings, and

Situation Directional microphone hearing aids are a preferred embodiment in many of today’s hearing aids, being used advantageously for listening in noise.  When used in this fashion, the directional performance is employed in either a fixed, or more commonly, in an adaptive mode, and normally commands a premium price from the consumer.  Conventional wisdom suggests that directional performance should be