It's that time of year - the time when everyone puts out a list of the "top items" in a given category. I took the liberty of going through the Audiology Online news files and selecting what I thought were the top audiology news stories of 2007. As this is my list, I am sure that some of you may think that this list should be in a different order, or that I have possibly left some things off the list all together! Please, take the time to let me know! I invite you to send your comments to dave@audiologyonline.com and look forward to the discussion - David Fabry, Ph.D., Audiology Online Associate Editor.
George Osborne dies unexpectedly at the age of 66: It is impossible to measure George's impact on the profession of audiology, as an educator, clinician, board member and visionary. In 2000, Dr. Osborne founded the school of Audiology at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), culminating a dream that he envisioned as a founding member of the American Academy of Audiology, Audiology Foundation of America. He was instrumental in establishing distance-learning programs for audiology, enabling over 1000 professionals to earn their AuD through PCO's program to date. In short, he helped chance the profession of audiology through the combination of vision and execution.
Audiology named one of the Best Careers for 2007 by US News and World Report: Illustrating that it was no fluke, audiology was again named as one of the ten best careers for 2008, citing the aging baby boomers and variety of jobs available within the profession. Although US News continues to stress that audiology is an "under the radar" profession, exposure like this can only increase audiology's visibility and "brand recognition".
Hearing aids in the news: Hearing aids continue to garner media attention, from mainstream coverage on CNN to business coverage on CNBC, suggesting that, like audiology, hearing aids have undergone an image makeover and continue to garner more attention.
BTE hearing aid growth to 50% of the US market: Although not isolated to 2007, the growth in popularity of "mini" and "micro" behind-the-ear (BTE) devices spearheaded popularity for BTEs not seen since the 1980s, according to the latest Hearing Industries Association figures.
FDA warns of risk of hearing loss caused by Viagra: In October, the Food and Drug Administration required that the warning labels for Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and other male impotence drugs contain warnings about the risk of hearing loss as a potential complication. The FDA went on to encourage patients who experience any hearing or balance related symptoms to consult their doctor. Sadly, this finding confirmed what many women suspected for a long time - their husbands don't listen!
Failed takeover bid of GN Resound by Sonova Holdings AG (formerly Phonak): After nearly a year in deliberation, Sonova announced in August that they would not pursue the merger that would have created the largest conglomerate in the hearing aid industry, after a German court blocked the deal. In April, Germany's Federal Cartel Office had blocked the takeover on a global basis, saying it would lead to market dominance in Germany by Sonova, Siemens, and William Demant, and sending audiologists everywhere to look up the definition of oligopoly (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligopoly).
AAA's "Turn it to the Left": This campaign (https://www.audiology.org/turnittotheleft.htm) focuses attention on the risk of noise induced hearing loss by targeting members of the iPod generation. Capitalizing on the attention given in 2006 to the dangers of listening to your iPod, the Academy developed a partnership with rapper Ben Jackson to educate teens about prevention of hearing loss by minimizing noise exposure. Academy president Alison Grimes appeared with Jackson on numerous media outlets, including over 12 million listeners on numerous radio and television programs.
Grace Arnold Gore, Au.D. student, crowned Miss Tennessee: Although we have seen deaf and hard-of-hearing winners, to our knowledge there has not previously been a candidate that is an audiologist or audiology student. This may be viewed by some as a double-edged sword, as beauty pageants often stress the physical attributes of candidates more than their intellectual capabilities, but if Ms. Gore chooses to stress the merits of audiology as a profession, it may capitalize on the "reality show" fervor that has captured America's attention.
Dave Fabry, PhD
Director of Clinical Research
David Fabry is Director of Clinical Research for Phonak Hearing Systems in Warrenville, Illinois. Previously, he worked at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, from 1990-2002, and he served as Director of Audiology from 1994-2002. Dave served on the American Academy of Audiology Board from 1997-2003, and was President of the Academy from 2001-2002. He is a past editor of the American Journal of Audiology, and is a member of numerous professional associations. He lives in Rochester, Minnesota with his wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter, Loren.
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