Hearing Professionals Offered Insights on Future of Hearing Care and Technology at Inaugural Empower Conference
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Hundreds of hearing professionals descended upon Orlando, Florida over the weekend to attend the inaugural Empower Conference to “learn, engage and stay current in the business of providing the best hearing care”. The event was held at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort. “You’d be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive array…
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Apple Announces Hearing Health Study in Partnership with University of Michigan
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN —A University of Michigan researcher is teaming up with Apple to learn how noise exposure impacts hearing. Three new studies, available on the Research app later this fall, will explore new areas of medical research. The Apple Hearing Study will be available to participate in through a new Apple app, called the…
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Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act of 2019 Introduced in US Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On September 9, 2019, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act of 2019 (S.2446). Like its identical companion bill (H.R.4056) introduced on July 25 by Congressman Tom Rice (R-SC) and colleagues, this legislation will enhance…
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Chronic Conductive Hearing Loss May Result in Poorer Speech Discrimination Ability
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — According to a newly published study led by Harvard Medical School scientists at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, chronic conductive hearing loss may have lasting negative effects on speech recognition. The research, published Sept. 6 in the journal Ear and Hearing, suggests that not properly treating infections or other conditions that chronically affect the middle ear…
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Study Finds Controlled Stimulation of the Ear Canal May Help Manage Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms
A new UK study led by the University of Kent has shown that gentle, controlled stimulation of the ear canal can help reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The randomized, controlled study showed that twice-daily stimulation for two months was associated with a significant reduction in both motor and non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease. Participants reported…
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Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act Introduced in Congress, Intends to Streamline Access to Hearing and Balance Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With broad bi-partisan support, U.S. Representatives Tom Rice (R-SC), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE) introduced the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act of 2019 (H.R. 4056). This legislation will…
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UnitedHealthcare Launches UnitedHealthcare Hearing to Meet Hearing Health Needs of Consumers
MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA — UnitedHealthcare has announced the launch this week of UnitedHealthcare Hearing, which it says offers “all consumers, including people enrolled in the company’s individual, employer-sponsored and Medicare Advantage plans, greater access to affordable, quality hearing health”. The UnitedHealthcare Hearing program is said to provide access to “custom-programmed hearing aids at up to 80…
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JAMA Study Examines Relationship Between Self-Reported Hearing and Audiogram Thresholds
By Brian Taylor, AuD, Editor-at-Large Clinicians know a substantial number of individuals presenting to the clinic for a routine hearing assessment have hearing loss on their audiogram but self-report good hearing. Just how sizeable is this group? That was a question addressed recently by researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. A JAMA-Otolaryngology article,…
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ASHA Survey Finds Base Salaries of Audiologists on the Rise
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND — According to the latest ASHA survey, audiologists earned an overall median calendar year (11- to 12-month) salary of $80,000 in 2018, representing a 3% increase from 2016. Of audiologists who received a bonus or commission in addition to their regular salary, the overall median bonus or commission remained essentially unchanged in 2018,…
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Person-Centered Care from the Patient’s Perspective, a New eBook from Shari Eberts
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — Today, Shari Eberts, founder of LivingWithHearingLoss.com, announced the launch of her new e-book “Person-Centered Care from the Patient’s Perspective.” In it, Shari shares her personal hearing loss journey, examines her experiences with audiologists over the years and lays out her formula for person-centered care from the patient’s point of…
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