2017 was a wild year for news. Here are 50 news items, columns, and webinars on the Hearing Review website that HR Editor Karl Strom recommends.

US Hearing Aid Unit Sales Increased by 8.7% in 2016.

Binaural Interference Present in About 17% of People, Says New Research

CDC Study: 1 in 4 US Adults Who Report Good Hearing Already Have Hearing Loss.

HIA Recommends OTC Hearing Devices Be Restricted to Mild Losses; Retain Consumer Safety and Efficacy Assurances

Final Word: Paving the Road to Patient Success When the “New Normal” Is LESS Face-to-Face Service

Going BEYOND: A Testament of Progressive Innovation

Scientifically Rigorous Study Shows Older Adults Benefit from Hearing Aids; Support for OTC Devices

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 Introduced in Congress

Elite 2017 Business Summit Elevates Independents in Era of Disruptive Change.

Tribute: Carl Ludvigsen, Audiological Pioneer and Widex Manager of Audiology Research

Back to Basics: OTC and Observations on the Humes et al Study

Tribute: Harold Spar, Hal-Hen and Widex US Co-Founder

FTC Workshop Looks at Hearing Aids and OTC Hearing Devices

Researchers Find Traditional Hearing Tests Fail to Diagnose ‘Hidden Hearing Loss’

CVS Pharmacy Plans to Add Audio Center for 50 Locations

Research Shows Hearing Loss May Affect Patient and Doctor Communications

Longtain Pleads Guilty of Tax Evasion; Will Testify Against Other Former Starkey Execs

HIA Comments on FTC “Now Hear This” Workshop and OTC Hearing Aids

ADA Endorses Audiology Patient Choice Act Legislation

AudiologyNOW! 2017 Dominated by OTC Discussions

Cochlear Ltd Purchases Sycle

OTC Hearing Aid Act Bundled with MDUFA; Expected to Pass through Committee

NEW Webinar: Hearing Loss and Associated Comorbidities: What Do We Know?

Loud Noise May Contribute to Reorganization of Brain Auditory System in Mice

SPECIAL REPORT: NASEM Committee Looks at Regulations for OTC Hearing Devices

HIA Reasserts Position on Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

HLAA Announces Support for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017

Oticon Appoints Ole Asboe Jørgensen as President of Oticon Brand, Global

Consumer Technology Association Releases New Logo for OTC Hearing Devices

The Perils of Taking the Easy Road

Brandon Sawalich Named President of Starkey Hearing Technologies

GV Invests in Decibel Therapeutics

Lifestyle Changes May Prevent Up to One-Third of Dementia, Says ‘Lancet’ Commission

Hearing Aid Sales Return to Historical Norms in H1 2017

President Trump Signs OTC Hearing Aid Legislation into Law

Fennex Launches Hearing App for Use with Apple AirPods

Sonova Appoints Arnd Kaldowski as New CEO

ADA’s 40th Convention Prepares Members for Disruption and OTC Devices

Researchers Use CRISPR Technology to Edit Gene That Causes Hearing Loss

ASHA Supports US House of Representatives’ Vote to Reauthorize EHDI Act

IHS 2017 Convention Highlights New Market Challenges and Resources

Hearing Aid Sales in Q3 2017 on Low Side of Normal

ESCO Purchases Midwest Hearing Industries

Eargo Raises Up to $45 Million in Series C Funding

Passings: Erik Westermann, Co-founder of Widex

Open Letter to OTC Hearing Device Regulators

Hearing is Hard: Doppler Labs Shuts Its Doors

NEW WEBINAR: Building a Business with Physician Referrals

‘JAMA’ Study Shows Gap Between Reported Hearing Loss and Treatment

Regeneron and Decibel Therapeutics Announce Strategic Collaboration

‘JAMA’ Researchers Find Link Between Age-Related Hearing Loss and Dementia

Akouos Announces $7.5 Million Seed Round, Strategic License Agreement for Hearing Disorder Gene Therapy Platform

3-D Printed Prosthetic Replacements for Damaged Middle Ear May Improve Current Surgical Procedure

Starkey Ex-CFO Scott Nelson Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy

 

More Headlines!

More “best of” news, columns and webinars in Hearing Review during 2017, by month:

January 2017

Tribute: Geary McCandless (1930-2017)

Amplifon to Purchase AudioNova Outlets in Portugal, Possibly Franc

US Hearing Aid Unit Sales Increased by 8.7% in 2016.

February 2017

Binaural Interference Present in About 17% of People, Says New Research

Tax Violations Added to Charges Against Former Starkey Executives

CDC Study: 1 in 4 US Adults Who Report Good Hearing Already Have Hearing Loss.

HIA Recommends OTC Hearing Devices Be Restricted to Mild Losses; Retain Consumer Safety and Efficacy Assurances

Final Word: Paving the Road to Patient Success When the “New Normal” Is LESS Face-to-Face Service

Phonak Launches Bolero B-PR Rechargeable BTE and Virto B-Titanium IIC Hearing Aids

Unitron Launches New Tempus Platform, Moxi Fit R Rechargeable Hearing Aid

Going BEYOND: A Testament of Progressive Innovation

Søren Nielsen Appointed New President & CEO of WDH; Niels Jacobsen Named CEO of William Demant Invest

Study Shows Hair Cell Regrowth with New Drug

March 2017

Scientifically Rigorous Study Shows Older Adults Benefit from Hearing Aids; Support for OTC Devices

JAMA Study Estimates a 30 Million Increase in Adults with Hearing Loss by 2060

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 Introduced in Congress

Sivantos US Names Steve Mahon as CEO and President; Eric Timm as COO

Signia Launches Pure 13 BT Primax Hearing Aid with HD Binaural and Direct Streaming

April 2017

GN Hearing Launches ReSound LiNX 3D and ReSound Smart Fit Software

Elite 2017 Business Summit Elevates Independents in Era of Disruptive Change.

Oticon to Preview New Technology, Sponsor Educational Sessions at AudiologyNOW! 2017

Tribute: Carl Ludvigsen, Audiological Pioneer and Widex Manager of Audiology Research

Back to Basics: OTC and Observations on the Humes et al Study

New Court Filing Includes Allegations Against Starkey Founder Bill Austin

Tribute: Harold Spar, Hal-Hen and Widex US Co-Founder

FTC Workshop Looks at Hearing Aids and OTC Hearing Devices

Researchers Find Traditional Hearing Tests Fail to Diagnose ‘Hidden Hearing Loss’

CVS Pharmacy Plans to Add Audio Center for 50 Locations

Research Shows Hearing Loss May Affect Patient and Doctor Communications

Longtain Pleads Guilty of Tax Evasion; Will Testify Against Other Former Starkey Execs

May 2017

Inner Ear Tissue Grown from Human Stem Cells

HIA Comments on FTC “Now Hear This” Workshop and OTC Hearing Aids

ADA Endorses Audiology Patient Choice Act Legislation

Auditdata Announces Terry Ross as US Director of Sales

AudiologyNOW! 2017 Dominated by OTC Discussions

Cochlear Ltd Purchases Sycle

OTC Hearing Aid Act Bundled with MDUFA; Expected to Pass through Committee

Bragi Releases the Dash Pro Tailored by Starkey and the Dash Pro Devices

HIA Comments on FTC “Now Hear This” Workshop and OTC Hearing Aids

NEW Webinar: Hearing Loss and Associated Comorbidities: What Do We Know?

Never Take Pictures In the Men’s Washroom–Even for Hearing Science!

June 2017

Sonic Launches Enchant Hearing Aid Family

Loud Noise May Contribute to Reorganization of Brain Auditory System in Mice

SPECIAL REPORT: NASEM Committee Looks at Regulations for OTC Hearing Devices

HIA Reasserts Position on Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

OTC Hearing Aid Bill Moves Out of Committee; CTA Praises Legislation

National Academies’ Report Includes Chapter on Hearing-Related Technology

ADA to Host Audiology Hackathon for Promoting Hearing Awareness; Incorporating OTC Devices

HLAA Announces Support for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017

Oticon Appoints Ole Asboe Jørgensen as President of Oticon Brand, Global

Consumer Technology Association Releases New Logo for OTC Hearing Devices

The Perils of Taking the Easy Road

Some Turbulent Seas Ahead…

July 2017

Family-Centered Care Resource Platform Created by Phonak

Brandon Sawalich Named President of Starkey Hearing Technologies

GV Invests in Decibel Therapeutics

Hearing Loss May be Linked to Dementia in Those with Family History

Lifestyle Changes May Prevent Up to One-Third of Dementia, Says ‘Lancet’ Commission

Hearing Aid Sales Return to Historical Norms in H1 2017

August 2017

President Trump Signs OTC Hearing Aid Legislation into Law

Sonova Announces New SWORD “Made for All” Platform; Phonak Audéo B-Direct

Unitron Expands Tempus Platform with Insera ITE and Stride M R

Oticon Audiology Summer Camp Marks Two Decades of Student Education

Fennex Launches Hearing App for Use with Apple AirPods

Interacoustics Celebrates 50th Anniversary

GN Hearing Launches ReSound ENZO 3D and Beltone Boost Max

A Visit to CI2017…and Why It’s Valuable to Move Outside Your ‘Audiology Comfort Zone’

IotaMotion Receives $2 Million in Seed Financing for CI Surgery Technology

Starkey Hearing Technologies Launches IQ Product Lines

Ringing in Ears Keeps Brain More at Attention, Less at Rest, Study Finds

September 2017

Sonova Appoints Arnd Kaldowski as New CEO

Widex Offers Free Replacements for Hearing Aids Damaged by Hurricane Harvey

Oticon Hearing Foundation Supports Hearing Care Volunteers in Areas Affected by Hurricanes

Phonak Teams Up with Nonprofits for Hurricane Relief Efforts

Grason Stadler Announces Updates to GSI TympStar Pro

Otonomy Announces Financial Updates

Can Apple AirPods Be Used As Hearing Aids?

Back to Basics: Hearing Aids and the 3 PM Crash

The Seven Ages of Hearing Care

October 2017

ADA’s 40th Convention Prepares Members for Disruption and OTC Devices

Researchers Use CRISPR Technology to Edit Gene That Causes Hearing Loss

ASHA Supports US House of Representatives’ Vote to Reauthorize EHDI Act

IHS 2017 Convention Highlights New Market Challenges and Resources

Report Recommends Screening Children with Reading Difficulties for Hearing Loss

Hearing Aid Sales in Q3 2017 on Low Side of Normal

NEW Webinar: Four Things You Can Do to Improve Your Hearing Care Website

IHS 2017 Convention Highlights New Market Challenges and Resources

Sivantos Introduces New Signia Nx Platform with Own Voice Processing

NEW Webinar: You’ve Earned This Freedom: Providing Enhanced Care to Veterans with Hearing Loss

ESCO Purchases Midwest Hearing Industries

Eargo Raises Up to $45 Million in Series C Funding

November 2017

Passings: Erik Westermann, Co-founder of Widex

Open Letter to OTC Hearing Device Regulators

RemotEAR Appoints Tom Powers as Partner

Hearing is Hard: Doppler Labs Shuts Its Doors

FCC Adopts Rules Related to Improving Accessibility of Phones for People with Hearing Loss

Researchers Identify RNA Involved in Gene Expression in Auditory System

NEW WEBINAR: Building a Business with Physician Referrals

Mythbusters Myth No. 1: I Would Like to Do More Counseling but Time Just Won’t Allow for It

‘JAMA’ Study Shows Gap Between Reported Hearing Loss and Treatment

Regeneron and Decibel Therapeutics Announce Strategic Collaboration

Widex Announces Official Launch of CUSTOM Hearing Device

December 2017

NEW Webinar: The 3 Ways to Acquire New Patients and Get an Edge on the Competition

‘JAMA’ Researchers Find Link Between Age-Related Hearing Loss and Dementia

Akouos Announces $7.5 Million Seed Round, Strategic License Agreement for Hearing Disorder Gene Therapy Platform

3-D Printed Prosthetic Replacements for Damaged Middle Ear May Improve Current Surgical Procedure

Starkey Ex-CFO Scott Nelson Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy

NIH Researchers Find Link Between Cisplatin Build-up and Hearing Loss