Hearing News Watch

by Terry Mactaggart, President and CEO, Summus Hearing The Current State of Play There are approximately 100,000 pharmacies in the United States and another 10,000 give or take in Canada. And most are under significant margin pressure. Reimbursement rates aren’t keeping pace with rising drug acquisition costs. Online competition is pressing down. Labor costs and general inflation add additional problems.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — Demant announced that it has obtained all required regulatory approvals for its acquisition of KIND Group, clearing a key milestone toward finalizing the company’s largest retail acquisition to date. The agreement, first announced in June 2025, has now been approved by both the Austrian and German competition authorities. KIND is one of the world’s major hearing aid

WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINNESOTA — Envoy Medical® Inc. (NASDAQ: COCH) announced that the first 10 participants in the initial stage of its pivotal clinical trial for the investigational Acclaim® fully implanted cochlear implant have completed their six-month follow-up visits. According to the company, no serious adverse events have been reported to date. The six-month milestone marks continued progress in evaluating the

MILAN, ITALY – TIME Magazine has included Amplifon in its 2026 list of the World’s Best Companies in Sustainable Growth. The ranking, developed in collaboration with market analysis firm Statista, highlights companies that demonstrate strong performance in both financial results and sustainability metrics, with particular emphasis on reduced carbon emissions and increased use of green energy. This recognition adds to

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that infants born with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) show significant disruptions in how their brains organize and specialize during the first months of life. The findings highlight how the absence of early auditory input can alter brain network asymmetry—one of the key hallmarks of normal cognitive and language development. The research team,

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — Plural Publishing has announced the release of Motivational Interviewing for Hearing Care Providers, a new resource designed to help audiologists and hearing care professionals apply evidence-based communication strategies to strengthen patient engagement and support treatment adherence. Many individuals with hearing loss wait years before seeking help and often delay using hearing aids even after prescription. According to

SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA — ReSound has announced the return of its annual Gift of Hearing campaign, a nationwide initiative that partners with hearing care professionals to donate hearing aids to individuals experiencing hearing loss and financial hardship. Since its launch in 2020, the campaign has brought together professionals across North America who volunteer their time and expertise to provide ReSound hearing

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – MED-EL USA today announced the launch of the 2026 IDEASforEARS children’s invention contest, inviting young visionaries aged 6 to 12 to imagine the future of hearing technology. Hosted by MED-EL, a world leader in hearing implant innovation, the international competition challenges children to share their most creative ideas to improve the lives of people with hearing

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Combat Stress has announced a new clinical trial in partnership with British health tech company TinniSoothe to evaluate the use of a wearable tinnitus device among UK veterans. The waitlist-controlled study represents a significant step toward identifying accessible, non-invasive treatment options for tinnitus and its associated mental health challenges. Tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – Audien Hearing has announced a partnership with the Washington Commanders for the 2025–2026 NFL season. The collaboration aims to raise awareness of hearing loss among veterans and provide expanded access to hearing care through the company’s social impact initiative, Audien Cares. As part of the partnership, Audien will sponsor the USO Club at the Commanders’ “Salute to