Hearing News Watch

Apr. 17, 2012

Audiology climbs the Best Career ladder–from ninth in 2011 to sixth this year

David Kirkwood
CARLSBAD, CA—Audiology is rated as the sixth best career for 2012, according to an article published last week in The Wall Street Journal (April 11, page B6). The annual ranking of America’s 200 best (and worst) occupations was compiled by the California-based CareerCast.com. This year’s list promoted audiology three notches from the ninth spot in CareerCast’s 2011 report. What makes
Apr. 16, 2012

Hearinghealthmatters.org starts 2nd year with a new look and a new contributing editor

David Kirkwood
TUCSON, AZ—Hearinghealthmatters.org marked its first anniversary this week with the announcement of a new blogger and a new blog section. Readers will also note that the blog’s home page has been newly redesigned to be more attractive and make the site easier to navigate. Christine Diles, AuD, a veteran private-practice audiologist, will write her first post in the April 18
Apr. 13, 2012

Web site offers help for parents of children with hearing loss

David Kirkwood
ST. PAUL, MN–When parents suspect or find out that their child has hearing loss, they may not know where to turn. Now, thanks to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), they have a new online source of information on early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) for infants and children. The site <www.improveehdi.org/mn> is intended also for healthcare providers and other
Apr. 11, 2012

AAA draws record turnout for convention with the theme “Audiology Means Business”

David Kirkwood
Directed by Dave Speidel, the AAA Chorus opened the General Assembly with a rousing rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.   By David H. Kirkwood BOSTON–“Welcome to the largest gathering of audiologists in the history of the world!” That’s how Karen Jacobs, AuD, program chair for AudiologyNOW! 2012, opened the General Assembly on March 29. The session drew a large portion
Apr. 10, 2012

Hearing loss awareness campaign features words and music by Sting and Chris Botti

David Kirkwood
NEW YORK—The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEE) launched a national media campaign this week to focus attention on the serious problem of hearing loss, which affects the lives of an estimated 36 million Americans. And signing on to help NYEE get its message across is the world-renowned trumpeter and composer Chris Botti. In a public service announcement released
Apr. 07, 2012

Future NYC taxis will accommodate hard-of-hearing riders

David Kirkwood
NEW YORK– New York City’s “Taxi of Tomorrow” was unveiled this week, and the good news for riders with hearing aids and cochlear implants is that it includes an induction hearing loop. The public got its first look at the state-of-the-art Nissan vehicle NV200 yesterday (April 6) at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The NV200 reflects many requests made by
Apr. 05, 2012

AMC will offer closed captioning in all its Illinois theaters

David Kirkwood
CHICAGO—Going to the movies in Illinois will soon become much more enjoyable for people with hearing loss. That’s because the AMC movie chain, Illinois’s largest, has reached an agreement with the attorney-general’s office to install closed captioning in all 246 of its movie theaters in the state. AMC, which is based in Kansas City, MO, will also provide audio-description services
Apr. 04, 2012

Global project seeks ideas to inspire people to take action on hearing loss

David Kirkwood
NAERUM, DENMARK–Do you have an idea, a plan, or a concept that you think might inspire more people to address their hearing loss? If so, the Ida Institute wants to know about it.    The Danish-based, non-profit educational organization and the Oticon Foundation, which funds the institute, have issued a worldwide call for ideas that have the potential to generate
Apr. 02, 2012

Beltone honors audiologists for outstanding achievements

David Kirkwood
BOSTON–Tom Muller, PhD, a leading figure in audiology education in Arizona and a person who has actively reached out to the deaf and hard of hearing, is the 2012 recipient of the Larry Mauldin Award for Excellence in Education. Beltone presented the 14th annual Mauldin Award to Muller on March 30 during the annual convention of the American Academy of
Mar. 29, 2012

Starkey tells AAA it will quit exhibiting at its convention

David Kirkwood
By David H. Kirkwood  BOSTON—This weekend may be the last chance American Academy of Audiology (AAA) members ever get to visit Starkey Hearing Technology’s extravagant exhibits at AudiologyNOW! That’s because Starkey, America’s largest manufacturer of hearing aids and related products, has notified AAA that it will quit exhibiting at its annual convention after this year’s meeting in Boston. In an