Hearing News Watch

PORTLAND, OREGON — New research from Oregon Health & Science University and Anhui University in China suggests that serotonin, a neurotransmitter commonly targeted by medications for depression and anxiety, may also play a role in worsening tinnitus symptoms. The study, published April 20 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that elevated serotonin levels in the brain

WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINNESOTA — Envoy Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: COCH) announced that all 56 participants enrolled in its pivotal clinical trial evaluating the fully implanted Acclaim® cochlear implant have completed their activation visits, marking a key milestone in the study timeline. The activation visit represents the point at which each participant’s device is turned on for the first time. “With

TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Otarmeni™ (lunsotogene parvec-cwha), marking the first gene therapy approved for a genetic form of hearing loss. The approval represents a significant milestone for a field that has been steadily advancing in recent years. As previously discussed in

Miracle-Ear conventions used to be raucous affairs, and their 2005 event in Huntington Beach, CA, was no exception. Beyond franchisees masquerading as USC Trojans while a Beach Boys cover band played hits from the early 1960s, one memorable moment from this conference sticks out for me: Robert Sweetow’s talk on something called “Listening and Communication Enhancement,” or LACE as he

Three-time world record holder and dementia advocate Louis Alexander is calling for greater awareness of earlier ear and hearing health checks, amid growing concern about the links between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Hearing loss is the top modifiable risk factor for dementia, according to The Lancet Commission. However, a new study of more than 1,000 people conducted by ear

AURORA, ILLINOIS — Phonak U.S. announced a new partnership with USA Pickleball as part of its nationwide “Hear to Win” campaign, an initiative focused on encouraging a more proactive approach to hearing health. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the role hearing plays in overall wellness, particularly in maintaining social connection and engagement. Through the partnership, Phonak will bring

LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA — Treble Health, a telehealth-first tinnitus and audiology practice, has acquired Silicon Valley Hearing, an audiology clinic based in Los Gatos, California. The acquisition expands Treble Health’s in-person presence into the San Francisco Bay Area and adds Silicon Valley Hearing’s clinical team to its network. Founded by Ben Thompson, AuD, Treble Health has developed a tinnitus-focused care

WSA has announced the launch of its new Sound Preference program, a research-backed initiative designed to help hearing care professionals better understand how individual sound preferences influence hearing aid adoption and long-term satisfaction. The program combines new research, clinical tools, and educational resources aimed at integrating sound preference into the hearing aid fitting process—an area that has historically been guided

Advanced Bionics (AB) has announced an equity investment and research collaboration with Spiral Therapeutics, as part of Spiral’s recently completed $27 million Series B financing, aimed at exploring new approaches to cochlear implant innovation and inner ear therapeutics. Spiral Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company developing therapies for inner ear disorders, said the financing was led by Gund Investment and included new

A new study led by researchers at Concordia University suggests that hearing ability plays a significant role in how older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) manage everyday tasks that require both thinking and movement, such as walking while performing a mental activity. Drawing on data from the multi-center SYNERGIC clinical trial, the study also found that targeted exercise and