PU¶PubMed·Preprint·Hearing aids·5mo agoDevelopment and clinical application of a consonant confusion task to evaluate hearing aid benefitThis preprint presents a promising low-cognitive-load speech-in-noise tool for measuring hearing aid benefit, but clinical adoption should await peer-reviewed publication and independent validation.＋Save
PU¶PubMed·Journal article·Clinical audiology·5mo agoBeyond the audiogram: tone decay as audiological marker for disproportional loss of speech intelligibilityAudiologists should consider adding tone decay testing to their battery for patients whose speech intelligibility is disproportionately poor relative to their pure-tone audiogram, as it may reveal retrocochlear or neural contributions not captured by threshold alone.＋Save
MedWatch·Industry news·Hearing aids·5mo agoDemant launches Oticon Zeal through retail channels in the USInclusion of a new hearing aid in the VA contract significantly expands its reach to one of the largest publicly funded hearing healthcare populations in the US.＋Save
MedWatch·Industry news·Business & finance·5mo agoEQT has selected banks for a potential IPO of WS AudiologyA potential WS Audiology IPO would be one of the largest events in the hearing industry's financial history, potentially reshaping investment and competitive dynamics across the sector.＋Save
AU★AudiologyOnline·Product announcement·Hearing aids·5mo ago· press releaseStarkey Expands Advanced Hearing Technology Access to Government Services with Latest Omega AI EnhancementsBringing AI-enhanced hearing aid features into government service channels could improve hearing care access and device capability for a large, often underserved federal patient population.＋Save
AudiologyOnline·Product announcement·Hearing aids·5mo ago· press releaseSignia Expands Integrated Xperience (IX) Portfolio for VA Audiologists with Comprehensive Custom and Instant-Fit SolutionsExtending the IX portfolio into federal procurement broadens fitting flexibility for audiologists serving veterans and other government-covered patients at scale.＋Save
Hearing Tracker·Product announcement·Hearing aids·5mo agoSignia Expands IX Portfolio for VA Audiologists with Comprehensive Custom and Instant-Fit SolutionsVA audiologists now have more fitting options within the Signia IX line; no change to clinical protocols is implied.＋Save
PU¶PubMed·Journal article·Research (general)·5mo agoEnhancing speech recall and reducing cognitive load through rhythmic amplitude modulated vibrotactile stimulation in noiseFindings are preliminary and from a single study; no change to clinical practice is warranted until replicated in larger, controlled trials with hearing-impaired populations.＋Save
Hearing Health Matters·Sponsored·Hearing aids·5mo agoSoundGear Phantom vs. SoundGear Shield: Helping Patients Choose the Right Active Hearing ProtectionAudiologists increasingly serve patients who need active hearing protection (e.g., hunters, shooters), and product-differentiation guides — even sponsored ones — reflect growing demand for this counseling competency.＋Save
Hearing Health Matters·Press release·Hearing aids·5mo agoOticon Expands VA Portfolio with Zeal, Intent miniBTE R, and Verit Hearing AidsAudiologists working within the VA system can now prescribe three additional Oticon models; no change to fitting protocols or clinical decision-making is required.＋Save
Hearing Tracker·Industry news·Hearing aids·5mo agoOticon Zeal Wins Red Dot Design AwardContinued design recognition for hearing aids underscores the industry's investment in reducing the social stigma associated with visible hearing devices.＋Save
Hearing Health Matters·Press release·Hearing aids·5mo agoStarkey Brings New Omega AI Enhancements to Government Services PortfolioExpanding advanced AI hearing aid features to the U.S. Government Services channel, which serves a large veteran population with high rates of hearing loss, could meaningfully increase access to modern amplification technology for underserved patients.＋Save
AudiologyOnline·Press release·Hearing aids·5mo agoOticon, Inc. Expands Portfolio of Life-Changing Hearing Solutions Available on Veterans Administration ContractThe VA is one of the largest hearing aid dispensers in the world, so contract expansions directly affect access for a significant population of veterans with hearing loss.＋Save
AudiologyOnline·Product announcement·Hearing aids·5mo ago· press releaseOticon Zeal™ Wins Red Dot Design AwardHearing aid aesthetics and wearability are known factors in patient uptake and consistent use, so design recognition may be a relevant talking point in counseling patients.＋Save
Hearing Tracker·Industry news·Hearing aids·5mo agoOticon Expands Portfolio of Hearing Solutions for Veterans AdministrationAudiologists and hearing aid specialists working in VA settings should check the updated VA formulary for newly available Oticon devices; no change to clinical protocols is implied.＋Save
Hearing Tracker·Industry news·AI & technology·5mo agoStarkey Expands Tech Access to Government Services with Latest Omega AI EnhancementsIntegrating hearing technology with government service accessibility highlights a growing trend of hearing aids serving broader assistive and civic-participation roles beyond sound amplification.＋Save
Hearing Practitioner Australia·Journal article·Research (general)·5mo agoMeta-analysis challenges view treating presbycusis helps preserve cognitive functionDo not change practice based on this meta-analysis alone; it challenges — but does not overturn — the evidence linking hearing treatment to cognitive benefit, and the authors themselves call for large-scale RCTs before conclusions can be drawn.＋Save
Hearing Review·Press release·Hearing aids·5mo agoPhonak Virto R Infinio Receives Red Dot Award for Product DesignRepeated design recognition for a custom rechargeable in-the-ear form factor reflects the industry's competitive push toward discreet, cosmetically appealing hearing aids, which can influence patient acceptance and adoption.＋Save
Hearing Health Matters·Podcast·Public health & policy·5mo agoPhonak and USA Pickleball Team Up to Promote Hearing HealthPodcast recorded at AAA 2026 covers Phonak's partnership with USA Pickleball, exploring how the collaboration aims to promote hearing health and raise awareness among an active adult demographic.＋Save
RNID·Blog·Clinical audiology·5mo agoSingle-sided deafnessPublic education about SSD device options and communication strategies can help patients arrive at clinic better informed and more engaged in shared decision-making.＋Save
Hearing Health Matters·Press release·Hearing aids·5mo agoPhonak Virto R Infinio Adds Red Dot Award to Growing List of HonorsRepeated design award wins for in-ear rechargeable hearing aids reflect increasing consumer-design expectations shaping the premium hearing aid segment.＋Save
Hearing Health Matters·Blog·Clinical audiology·5mo agoTransformed Patient Attitudes Create Better Hearing Outcomes: My Talk at AAA 2026The patient-attitude-to-outcomes link is clinically plausible and worth reflecting on, but this first-person conference recap provides no new data to justify changing counseling protocols.＋Save
PU¶PubMed·Journal article·Accessibility·5mo agoTeachers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Hearing Loss and Inclusive EducationAudiologists and hearing instrument specialists should consider incorporating teacher education materials into pediatric hearing aid fittings, as teacher knowledge gaps are likely to affect real-world hearing aid benefit for school-age children.＋Save
PU¶PubMed·Journal article·Hearing aids·5mo agoPredicting Real-World Remote Microphone Speech Perception Performance Through Simulated Electroacoustic VerificationIf simulated electroacoustic verification is shown to reliably predict real-world remote microphone performance, audiologists should consider incorporating it into routine remote microphone fitting protocols — await full results before changing practice.＋Save
Hearing Practitioner Australia·Product announcement·Hearing aids·5mo ago· press releasePhonak’s Virto R Infinio earns 2026 Red Dot Design Award for product designDesign recognition can influence patient and consumer perception of hearing aids, potentially supporting adoption of custom in-the-ear styles.＋Save
Hearing Tracker·Product announcement·Hearing aids·5mo agoPhonak Virto R Infinio Honored with 2026 Red Dot Award for Product DesignDesign recognition for hearing aids can reduce stigma by signaling that modern devices prioritize aesthetics alongside function, potentially improving patient acceptance.＋Save
Hearing Review·Press release·AI & technology·5mo agoStarkey Omega AI Receives AI Innovation AwardThird-party recognition of on-device AI in hearing aids highlights the accelerating role of edge computing in audiology, which may eventually reshape fitting workflows and patient outcome benchmarks.＋Save
Audiology Worldnews·Industry news·OTC / consumer·5mo agoWS Audiology’s OTC affair with Sony? The Anshin and the Kando are over!The exit signals continued challenges for major consumer electronics brands attempting to establish themselves in the OTC hearing aid market.＋Save
Hearing Health Matters·Press release·Hearing aids·5mo agoAmplifon Earns UX Design and iF Design Awards for Digital Hearing SolutionsManufacturer investment in digital user experience signals a broader industry shift toward patient-facing self-service tools in hearing care.＋Save
