Hearing News Watch

NEW YORK — According to a newly published study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, researchers at Columbia University found that older adults who use hearing aids performed significantly better on cognitive tests than those who did not–despite having poorer hearing than those who did not wear hearing aids. The study adds further evidence to a growing body of recent research

On April 21st the FDA heard several hours of arguments both in support and against recent PCAST guidance on the deregulation of hearing aids in order to improve affordability and accessibility for consumers. A broad range of experts, including audiologists, physicians, scientists and consumer advocates presented data to support their respective view of the possible changes to how hearing aids

In 1993 the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) held their 5th annual convention in the Arizona desert. The official attendance for the meeting was reported to be 2,300. Move the clock 23 years and a new generation of audiologists joined a stalwart group of AAA founders, exhibitors, clinicians and countless others – some 6,000 attendees in total – to celebrate

UNITED KINGDOM — Batteries provided to hearing aid users in the UK through the National Health Service (NHS) have been recalled over “low risk of batteries exploding during use or if depleted”, according to a government medical safety alert last month. ZeniPower mecury-free hearing aid batteries, manufactured by Zhuhai Zhi Li Battery Co Ltd, with “best before” dates of 08-2018 and

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY — In a strongly worded statement issued on April 13, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) accused the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) of attempting to expand the scope of practice for Speech-Language Pathologists to include audiology services. According to the statement, ASHA’s leadership has recently advocated the inclusion of hearing conservation within the SLP scope of practice to “promote

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be conducting its greatly anticipated workshop on April 21 in Washington DC. The FDA panel will examine topics ranging from the importance of FDA’s Quality System Regulation (QSR) to whether third-party voluntary standards could replace mandatory FDA controls for a new “basic” class of hearing aid as stemming from

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — After a summer trip to India to visit his grandfather and assist him in obtaining hearing aids, Mukund Venkatakrishnan came away feeling very negatively about the entire experience. He then took it upon himself over the next two years to see if he could do something about it. After two years of work, 16 year-old Mukund has created

DENVER, COLORADO — While at a fundraising stop in Denver last week, Hillary Clinton’s campaign was accused of using a “static noise machine” to prevent reporters waiting outside from hearing her remarks, according to Stan Bush, a reporter from Denver’s CBS-4 local news. The event took place outside at the home of Colorado’s governor, John Hickenlooper, who also happens to

PHOENIX, ARIZONA — In addition to HHTM’s very own Dr. Wayne Staab receiving the prestigious Samuel F. Lybarger Award for Achievements in Industry, several other notable individuals will be receiving awards when the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) holds its annual AudiologyNow convention next week in Phoenix.   Jerger Award for Research in Audiology: Ruth A. Bentler, PhD Dr. Bentler is

MILAN, ITALY — According to an April 1 report in Bloomberg, Amplifon SpA has secured financing for a bid for major European hearing aid retailer AudioNova. Amplifon, which owns major US hearing aid retailer Miracle Ear, as well as the Elite Hearing Network, appears ready to compete directly with likely bids coming from major hearing aid manufacturers William Demant and Sonova. Private equity