This May in honor of Better Hearing and Speech Month Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc., a leader in developing state-of-the-art hearing devices, announced that it will introduce its U.S. Facebook page to the general public. The page is said to help individuals better understand hearing loss overall. The launch is also meant to give those who suffer from hearing impairment a place to congregate and connect with others who are experiencing similar health issues. It also with allow HCP’s to talk amongst one another about hearing issues as well as converse with patients about their experiences and questions. For Siemens, this will be their first time having their own social media page, a big step for the giant corporation.

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With the great number of people wearing hearing aids, the cause for concern is always present: Could the consistent proximity of technology have harmful health effects? Of course, you’ve heard the rumor that too much cell phone use is linked to brain tumors. This fear has been around since the mid-1980s and continues to resurface every so often. Is there any truth to it? According to the World Health Organization, yes. (more…)

34: the amount (in millions) of Americans who suffer from hearing loss
60: the percentage (of the above statistic) in the workplace
53: the percentage of US employers who use wellness programs to reduce healthcare costs
30,000: dollars lost annually due to untreated hearing loss
176: billions of dollars lost yearly due to underemployment for people with untreated hearing loss

Many studies have shown a link between untreated hearing loss and reduced workplace productivity. Hearing loss is also associated with a number of conditions including impaired memory, compromised ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased personal safety risks, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and a decrease in overall health.

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If you’re one of the millions of individuals who suffer from hearing loss you know first hand how difficult and uncomfortable hearing aids can be.  Devices are commonly large, visible, and often don’t work as well as intended. However, Siemens recently introduced a new hearing instrument that promises customizable sound and comfort levels while at the same time being hidden from view. (more…)

An increase in product specialization has TechNavio analysts predicting a rise in the Global Hearing Aid market. More specifically, analysts forecast the market to grow at a CAGR of 6.3 percent between 2010 and 2014. An increase in acquisitions and new vendors also contribute to the market prediction. (more…)

A service project in Northern Ireland seeks Lisbon area volunteers for ‘Hear to Help’, a campaign funded by The Big Lottery and run by Action on Hearing Loss Northern Ireland. The program aims to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation that are often experienced by people with hearing loss. (more…)

A telecoil is a component in newer hearing aid technology that can provide users with assistance akin to a personal wireless loudspeaker. It is an improvement upon the widely used FM systems installed in many public places for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Rather than having to get up, locate, check out, wear and return special equipment, the wearer can press a button on each hearing aid to activate the feature. When activated, the hearing, or induction, loop transmits a sound via a magnetic signal to the telecoil in a hearing aid or cochlear implant. (more…)

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine have discovered a gene which could hold the key to reversing deafness. The type of deafness that could benefit from treatment is that which affects half of people over age 60: age related deafness. (more…)

A recent Canadian study by Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute in Toronto indicates being a musician may contribute to better hearing in old age by delaying some of the age-related changes in central auditory processing. This study is the first to examine hearing abilities across such a wide age spectrum, from 18 to 91 years old. (more…)

Time and stress involved in fitting hearing aids are now reduced thanks to a new technology by Panasonic, in cooperation with the University of Fukui. Eelectroencephalogram (EEG) brain wave patterns can now be recorded as example sounds are played at normal volumes into the user’s ears. Because these levels differ from person to person, this advanced technology uses the EEG recordings to estimate the loudest level of sound the user can comfortably tolerate. This method enables the hearing aid to be set more accurately and comfortably in an individualized volume range. (more…)