Important Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Study Sheds Light on OTC Delivery Model
As most know, accessibility and affordability of hearing aids is a hot button issue of national importance. On March 3, for example, the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine posted a summary of the issue surrounding over-the-counter hearing aids on their website. Authored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) the…
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US Senate Passes IHS “Fit to Serve” Legislation: Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016
WASHINGTON, DC — The International Hearing Society (IHS) announced today that the US Senate unanimously passed H.R. 3471, commonly referred to as the “Fit to Serve” bill, on November 17, 2016. The bill was backed in the Senate by S. 564 sponsors, Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jon Tester (D-MT). H.R. 3471 cleared the US House of Representatives in…
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Ultrasound Tech Being Ultilized in Next Generation Smartphones to Enhance User Experience
BEIJING, CHINA — Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi announced this week that its latest phone, the MIX, will be the first to incorporate ultrasound software for proximity detection. By replacing the phone’s hardware proximity sensor with ultrasound software, the phone’s speaker can become “completely invisible” and allow the entire surface of the screen to be functional — all the way to…
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GN Audio Acquires VXi Corporation for $35 Million
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS — GN Group’s headset division, GN Audio (formerly GN Netcom), announced today that it has acquired the VXi Corporation for $35 million USD. VXi is the manufacturer of both the VXi and BlueParrott headset brands. VXi Corporation has shown substantial growth over the past decade, and last year reported annual revenue of $32 million USD. The acquisition of…
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William Demant Group Opens New R&D Facility in Poland
WARSAW, POLAND — Danish hearing aid maker, William Demant Group, announced the opening of its new Demant Technology Centre in Poland. The new facility will house the company’s software Research and Development (R&D) division. The location in the new Q22 office building in Warsaw will also house other Demant companies, such as Oticon’s Polish subsidiary, Oticon Polska. The announcement of the new R&D…
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Oticon, Inc. Announces Gary Rosenblum as New President
SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY — Gary Rosenblum has been named the new President of Oticon, Inc., effective today. He succeeds Peer Lauritsen, who retired following more than 40 years of service to the company. Rosenblum, while an outsider to the hearing aid industry, joins the company with an extensive background in consumer-driven medical devices. He most recently served as Vice…
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Hearing Device Brands Mapped by Hearing Tracker
What’s in a brand name? Plenty, if you’re in the hearing health care profession. Many of us have wondered for a long time, why are there dozens of hearing device brands in a profession where only six major manufacturers supplying more than 80% of the global hearing aid market? Most professionals are keenly aware each…
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New User-Friendly Tinnitus Programs Have Potential to Meet Demand
Tinnitus is a condition affecting upwards of 15% of the population and many bothered by the condition may be under served. That according a recent JAMA Otolaryngology article, which concluded there is a significant opportunity for hearing care professionals to get more actively involved in the long-term care and management of patients experiencing bothersome tinnitus.…
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Growing Number of Hearables to Include “Hearing Aid Technology”
On the heels of the AirPods launch two weeks ago, Bragi, the manufacturer of the Dash recently announced there will be updates to their hearable device. Among the updates to the Bragi Dash are improved quality of Bluetooth connectivity and increased range, improved waterproofing, an upgraded touch lock feature, and the ability to shuffle through…
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Does the AirPod Signal a New Era in Audio Computing?
Does the arrival of Apple’s new wireless AirPods, which carries a retail price tag of $159, signal a new era of how we connect with our smartphones and laptops? Given the cultural significance of an Apple product launch, it is a good bet that the AirPod wireless headphone is the catalyst needed for the hearable…
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