News Archive

Ahmedabad, India — Lincoln Pharmaceuticals announced that it has introduced the first injection pharmaceutical cure for tinnitus in India. Using the brand name Tinnex, the injection utilizes the Caroverine molecule, which was developed by Lincoln Pharma under a licensing arrangement and technical collaboration with Phafag AG, Switzerland.

According to the company, cochlear synaptic tinnitus is the most common cause of tinnitus and is due to disturbed interplay of receptors on the postsynaptic membrane between inner hair cells and dendrites. Disturbed interplay creates a state of spontaneous depolarization, causing patients to continuously hear a sound.

Tinnex is described as a glutamate antagonist with a single injection that corrects the spontaneous depolarization state. Receptors start functioning again in a normal physiological way, giving permanent cure from tinnitus to patients, the company claims. It also says that no adverse effects have been noticed during its clinical studies of the drug.

Lincoln Pharmaceuticals says it is exploring other countries to introduce Tinnex. More information is available on the company's website.

SOURCE: Nasdaq News reports and Tinnex

Wireless CapTel® by Sprint® powered by Raketu® lets users read mobile conversations with the aid of captions

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – October 21, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the availability of Wireless CapTel by Sprint powered by Raketu, an application on select Android phones that increases accessibility in mobile communications for individuals who are hard-of-hearing.

Wireless CapTel by Sprint allows users to read conversations with real-time word-for-word captions on their wireless phones. Wireless CapTel by Sprint users place a call in the same way they would when using a traditional phone – by dialing the number directly on the device. The revolutionary application then connects callers directly to the CapTel service when the phone is dialed. When the receiving party answers, callers can listen to what the other person is saying and also read captions on the phone's display screen.

The application can be downloaded on select Android 2.2 or higher devices from the Android Market for free with an Everything Data plan*.

Wireless CapTel calls are automatically routed through a captioning service. Users simply give friends, family, and other contacts their specialized Wireless CapTel by Sprint phone number to receive captions on every call.

"Sprint Relay is pleased to add another groundbreaking solution to its portfolio – and bring to the market a service that improves our customers' experience," said Mike Ellis, director-Sprint Relay.

For more information about the service, go to www.sprintcaptel.com.

The Wireless CapTel by Sprint application marks another breakthrough by Sprint for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. The company recently marked an industry first with the Sprint Relay ID pack – a bundle of applications, links, tips, icons, and widgets enabling a more robust wireless experience for those with hearing loss. The bundle includes voice mail transcripts, visual and vibrating alerts, and readable captions, all available in a single download. The bundle marks the first time a carrier has developed multiple applications in one package for those who are hard-of-hearing.

About Sprint Relay
Sprint is the largest and most technologically advanced Telecommunications Relay Service provider in the nation with more than 20 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind or have a speech disability to communicate with hearing persons on the phone. Sprint's experience in this field assures Sprint Relay users receive quality service regardless of the type of relay service they are using. Sprint's relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or call length. For more information, visit www.sprintrelay.com.

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 52 million customers at the end of 2Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About CapTel
CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. In partnership with Ultratec, CapTel services are available as a component of Sprint's array of Relay services. Designed for people who are hard-of-hearing, CapTel users place a call in the same way they would when using any other phone – by dialing the number directly on a special Captioned Telephone. The phone connects callers to the CapTel service as the number is dialed. When the other person answers, callers can listen to what the other person says while reading captions on the phone's display screen to catch words that may be missed. Captions appear nearly simultaneously with spoken words.

Ultratec, Inc. is the world's leading developer of text telecommunications equipment for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Since 1978, the company has been responsible for numerous advancements in telecommunications technology, including a full range of text telephones, public telephones, amplified telephones, and signaling systems for people with hearing loss. Ultratec works extensively with government agencies, emergency services, and local and national advocacy groups to ensure equal telecommunications access for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

About Raketu
The Wireless CapTel by Sprint application is powered by Raketu technology. Since 2006, Raketu Communications Inc. has been developing leading edge applications that provide communications services for customers and businesses, across mobile, tablet, desktop and laptop devices. Raketu has developed and released many first-to-market applications, including mobile video calling, cloud based video calling, and server-less peer-to-peer communications. Raketu currently has users in over 150 countries around the world. For more information, visit the company's website at: www.Raketu.com.

* No voice plan is required for Wireless CapTel by Sprint. Specialized reduced-cost plans for people with hearing loss are available at www.sprintrelaystore.com/wcs. You must have a hearing loss and be a resident of the United States to use the service. If you plan to make regular, non-captioned calls, you may be charged extra if you do not have a cell phone voice plan with a number of minutes allocated.

http://www.sprintrelay.com/doc/press_releases/10212011/index.php

(ARA) - Hearing loss isn’t a harmless condition to be ignored. In fact, hearing loss often coexists with other serious health problems. And a growing body of research indicates that there may be a link. Studies show that people with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression may all have an increased risk of hearing loss.

When left untreated, hearing loss alone can lead to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions. Impaired memory and the impaired ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension and stress are among its more common side effects. But when untreated hearing loss coexists with a chronic illness, the likelihood is all the greater that the individual will experience exacerbated levels of stress and diminished quality of life.

Here’s the good news: Research also indicates that professionally fitted hearing aids can help improve quality of life for people with chronic diseases when hearing loss does coexist.

“In the vast majority of cases, hearing loss can be addressed with hearing aids to help people hear better and improve their quality of life,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). “I strongly urge anyone with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and/or depression to talk with their doctor and make hearing screenings a routine part of their medical care.”

We encourage people to take a free, quick, and confidential online hearing test at www.longislandaudiology.com (link to: http://www.longislandaudiology.com/online_test.php) to determine if they need a comprehensive hearing check by a hearing professional. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org.

The link between hearing loss and certain chronic diseases

Numerous studies have long linked untreated hearing loss to diminished psychological and overall health. But an emerging body of research is now revealing a link between hearing loss and other chronic health conditions.

For example, hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Another study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases found that older adults with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher prevalence of hearing loss than those of the same age without CKD.

Other studies have shown that a significantly higher percentage of people with Alzheimer's disease may have hearing loss than their normally aging peers. In fact, older adults with hearing loss appear more likely to develop dementia, and their risk increases as hearing loss becomes more severe, according to a study published in the Archives of Neurology,. The researchers also found that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease specifically increased with hearing loss.

The link between unaddressed hearing loss and depression also is compelling. An Italian study found that working adults aged 35 to 55 who were affected by mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears reported higher levels of disability and psychological distress — and lower levels of social functioning — than a well-matched normal control population.

Perhaps the link between cardiovascular disease and hearing loss is the most widely recognized. In a study published in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Audiology, the authors reviewed research that had been conducted over the past 60 plus years. They found that the negative influence of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory system, and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health on these same systems, was found through a sizable body of research.

“With so much evidence emerging on the potential link between hearing loss and various chronic illnesses, it becomes all the more pressing for people to identify and address hearing loss early on,” Kochkin says. “Talk to your doctor. Get your hearing checked. And be assured that in most cases, today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids, programmed to the specific hearing requirements of the individual, can help people hear better and thereby regain quality of life.”

Washington, DC., October 12, 2011 - The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is warning consumers of the inherent risks associated with purchasing over-the-counter, one-size-fits-all hearing aids instead of consulting a hearing healthcare professional. Hearing loss is sometimes the symptom of a serious underlying medical problem. All 50 states require that consumers use a credentialed hearing care professional to purchase hearing aids.

BHI also points out that hearing devices that are purchased over-the-counter or Internet without the consultation of a hearing healthcare professional may result in the devices not being accurately customized to the specific hearing needs of the individual.

"Today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids should be programmed to the individual’s specific hearing loss requirements in order to provide good levels of benefit and customer satisfaction,” says Sergei Kochkin, BHI’s Executive Director. “The process requires a complete in-person hearing assessment in a sound booth; the training and skills of a credentialed hearing healthcare professional in order to prescriptively fit the hearing aids using sophisticated computer programs; and appropriate in-person follow-up and counseling. This is not possible when consumers purchase one-size-fits-all hearing aids over the Internet or elsewhere.”

Extensive research shows that individualized hearing health assessments and fittings programmed specific to the needs of the hearing aid user provide the best chance for optimal hearing enhancement and customer satisfaction.

“The best advice BHI can give anyone purchasing a hearing aid is to find a state credentialed hearing healthcare professional and to communicate openly during the evaluation, fitting and trial period to increase the likelihood that you are receiving the best possible benefit from your hearing aids,” says Kochkin. “It will make a tremendous difference in your ability to hear and in your quality of life.”

BHI has published a comprehensive consumer guide entitled, “Your Guide to Buying Hearing Aids.” (See www.betterhearing.org under hearing loss treatment). The guidelines give confidence to first-time hearing aid buyers by providing a detailed, step-by-step explanation of what to expect, ask, and look for when selecting and visiting a hearing healthcare professional and purchasing a hearing aid.

BHI also has published, “Your Guide to Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids,” the first comprehensive guide on how people can obtain financial assistance to purchase hearing aids.

More About Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
The number of Americans with hearing loss has grown to more than 34 million—roughly 11 percent of the U.S. population. Over the past generation, hearing loss among Americans has increased at a rate of 160 percent of U.S. population growth and is one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today.

Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk of personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health.

But the vast majority of people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. In fact, eight out of ten hearing aid users report improvements in their quality of life, according to a survey by BHI of more than 2,000 consumers.

Advances in digital technology have dramatically improved hearing aids in recent years, making them smaller with better sound quality. Designs are modern, sleek, and discreet. Clarity, greater directionality, better speech audibility in a variety of environments, better cell phone compatibility, less whistling and feedback than hearing aids of the past, and greater ruggedness for active lifestyles are common features.

About BHI
Founded in 1973, BHI conducts research and engages in hearing health education with the goal of helping people with hearing loss benefit from proper treatment. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org. To take the BHI Quick Hearing Check, visit www.hearingcheck.org. To participate in the discussion forum, visit www.betterhearing.org, click on “Discussion Forum,” and go to “Welcome!” to register.

http://www.betterhearing.org/press/news/Internet_direct_mail_hearing_aids_pr10122011.cfm

Washington, DC, September 13, 2011 — The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) announced today that in recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 2-8); National Depression Screening Day (October 6); and World Mental Health Day (October 10), it is educating the public on the link between hearing loss and depression.

A growing body of research indicates that people with untreated hearing loss may be at an increased risk of depression. Studies also show that when these individuals use hearing aids, they experience significant improvements in quality of life and decreased depressive symptoms; have significantly higher self-concepts compared to individuals with hearing loss who do not wear hearing aids; and experience significant improvement in their functional health status.

“When left unaddressed, hearing loss can lead to isolation and other emotional conditions that can affect both qualify of life and mental health,” says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, BHI’s Executive Director. “BHI therefore is encouraging people to take a free, quick, and confidential online hearing test at www.hearingcheck.org to determine if they need a comprehensive hearing check by a hearing professional.”

Depression is a serious, common, and complex illness that affects an estimated 121 million people worldwide, according to the World Federation for Mental Health. In the United States alone, major depression affects 15 million American adults, or approximately 5 to 8 percent of the adult population in a given year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports. What’s more, depression frequently co-occurs with a variety of other physical illnesses.

The link between unaddressed hearing loss and depression is compelling. For example, a large-scale study by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) found that people 50 and older with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, anger and frustration, emotional instability and paranoia, and were less likely to participate in organized social activities than those who wore hearing aids. The degree of depression and other emotional or mental health issues also increased with the severity of hearing loss.

An Italian study, published in Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, involved working adults aged 35 to 55 who were affected by mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears. In this study, those with hearing loss reported higher levels of disability and psychological distress—and lower levels of social functioning—than a well-matched normal control population. The hearing-impaired individuals experienced reduced ordinary social activities, increased relational problems with family and friends, and greater emotional difficulties at work. They also showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, phobic anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility.

Another survey, released by Australian Hearing, also found that people who suffer from hearing loss may be at increased risk of developing the debilitating effects of depression. The survey found that 60 per cent of those with hearing loss had displayed symptoms associated with depression. And almost 20 per cent demonstrated at least three key symptoms of depression. Specifically, 52 per cent had displayed increased irritability and frustration; 22 per cent had trouble sleeping or experienced restlessness; and 18 per cent showed a loss of interest or pleasure in most activities.

The good news is that research also indicates that hearing aids can help. A study published in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics examined the effects of hearing aids on cognitive function and depressive signs in people 65 and older. Researchers found that after three months of using a hearing aid, all patients showed significant improvement in their psychosocial and cognitive conditions.

What’s more, in a recently published study, BHI examined the impact of hearing aids on specific quality of life factors that affect mental and emotional well-being. More than half of the 1,800 hearing aid owners surveyed said they attributed their use of hearing aids to improvements in their relationships at home, their ability to join in groups, and their social life. Close to half said they saw improvements in their self confidence, sense of safety, feelings about themselves, and sense of independence, while one third indicated their mental and emotional life improved.

“By raising awareness of the connection between untreated hearing loss and depression, we hope to make a difference in people’s lives and to mobilize individuals to address their hearing loss,” says Kochkin.

“Mental Illness Awareness Week, National Depression Screening Day, and World Mental Health Day together make October the ideal time for raising awareness of the inter-relatedness of physical and mental health,” Kochkin continues. “We are duly reminded that staying well entails both body and mind; and that as a society, we must address both by better integrating our overall approach to healthcare and keeping people well.”

About BHI

Founded in 1973, BHI conducts research and engages in hearing health education with the goal of helping people with hearing loss benefit from proper treatment. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org. To take the BHI Quick Hearing Check, visit at www.hearingcheck.org. For a copy of “Your Guide to Buying Hearing Aids,” visit www.betterhearing.org within the "Hearing Loss Treatments" section under hearing aids.

Groenewold, Matthew R. PhD; Tak, Sangwoo ScD; Masterson, Elizabeth MPH
Military veterans are exposed to high-intensity noise that can cause or contribute to hearing impairment, including hearing loss, if adequate hearing protection is not used. Although an analysis of data from the 1993-1995 Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study did not find significant differences in rates of hearing impairment between veterans and nonveterans, a more recent analysis found that veterans were 30% more likely to have severe hearing impairment after adjusting for age and current occupation. And veterans who served in the United States or overseas between September 2001 and March 2010 were four times more likely than nonveterans to suffer from the condition.
The study, published in the July 22 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2011;60(28):955-958), included data on 151,995 persons 17 and older from the 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey, a monthly national survey of 57,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Matthew R. Groenewold, PhD, Sangwoo Tak, ScD, and Elizabeth Masterson, MPH, of the Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the CDC, conducted the study.
Veteran status was defined as ever having served on active duty in the armed forces while severe hearing impairment was identified based on self or proxy report of being deaf or having serious difficulty hearing. In 2010, 8.9% of the U.S. population 17 and older was veterans, but only 0.7% of the population had served after September 2001. The prevalence of severe hearing impairment among nonveterans was 2.5%. The prevalence among all veterans was 10.4%, while the incidence among veterans who served after September 2001 was 3.9%. The prevalence of the condition increased with age for veterans and nonveterans.
Nonveteran men and women reported similar prevalence of severe hearing impairment (2.3% and 2.5%, respectively). Female veterans, however, had a significantly lower prevalence than male veterans (4.0% versus 10.9%), but a significantly higher prevalence than either male or female nonveterans. Among nonveterans and veterans alike, non-Hispanic blacks reported the lowest prevalence of all racial and ethnic groups and non-Hispanic whites the highest. The prevalence of severe hearing impairment was significantly higher for veterans than for nonveterans in all occupational categories except farming, fishing, forestry, and production occupations such as assemblers and fabricators. Small sample sizes limited the ability to compare subgroups for veterans who served after September 2001.
In a multivariable analysis, increasing age was positively associated with severe hearing impairment, as was working in certain occupational categories and unemployment or nonparticipation in the labor force, relative to working in management, business, and financial occupations. Female sex and race and ethnicity other than non-Hispanic white were significantly negatively associated with the condition. Controlling for demographic factors and occupation, all veterans were 30% more likely to have severe hearing impairment than nonveterans in regression model A, comparing all veterans with nonveterans. Veterans who served after September 2001 were four times more likely than nonveterans to have severe hearing impairment.
Higher rates of severe hearing impairment not only affect the well-being of veterans, but are costly to the nation in increased use of medical services and disability payments, the authors noted. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, hearing impairment has been the most common type of service-connected disability since 2005, and the number of veterans being awarded compensation for hearing impairment has continued to grow each year. In fiscal year 2009, the VA paid approximately $1.1 billion to compensate 1.2 million veterans who filed claims for service-connected hearing impairments.
http://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2011/08001/Study_finds_increased_prevalence_of_severe_hearing.3.aspx © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

People who have diabetes may have a greater risk of hearing loss, according to research from Tsukuba University Hospital Mito Medical Center in Ibaraki, Japan.

Lead author Hirohito Sone and his colleagues advised doctors to routinely screen diabetics for auditory problems in addition to other ailments, such as eye and kidney damage. The team performed an analysis of 13 different studies that showed evidence for the link between the glucose disorder and hearing loss.

The researchers compiled information on nearly 8,800 patients with hearing impairment to come to their conclusions. Of the study subjects, more than 1,000 had diabetes. The team compared this data to that of 23,839 people who did not have hearing problems, about 2,500 of whom were diabetics.

The reasons behind the connection were unknown, according to the scientists, who presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

However, osteopathic physician Pamela D. Parker suggested that damage to the blood vessels may contribute to the development of hearing loss. According to this theory, high blood sugar levels may lead to the deterioration of the blood vessels in the inner ear. This process may make it more difficult for patients to hear.

Statistics from the American Diabetes Association reveal that nearly 26 million Americans have the glucose disorder, many of whom buy Actos from a Canadian internet pharmacy to help maintain regularity of blood sugar levels. Nearly 34.5 million individuals in the U.S. have some type of hearing loss.

In 2008, a study demonstrated that more than half of diabetics were unable to hear high frequency tones, compared to only 32 percent of healthy individuals. Meanwhile, 21 percent of patients who had diabetes could not hear low-to-mid frequency tones, while only 9 percent of those in the general population had difficulty.

At the conference, Sone and his team revealed that people who have diabetes are up to 2.3 times more likely to experience mild hearing loss. This type of auditory issue is defined as having trouble hearing other people who are standing three feet away and speaking in a normal voice.

http://audiology.advanceweb.com/News/News-Watch/Diabetics-Have-Higher-Chance-of-Developing-Auditory-Problems-Studies-Reveal.aspx

NEW YORK, NY, March 21, 2011 - Long Island Audiology has been selected for the 2011 Best of Great Neck Award in the Audiology and Hearing Aids category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
This is the first year that a business has qualified as a Four-Time Award Winner. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)
U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@uscaaward.com
URL: http://www.uscaaward.com

WASHINGTON D.C., October 7, 2010 -- For the third consecutive year, Long Island Audiology has been selected for the 2010 Best of Great Neck Award in the Audiology and Hearing Aids category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Nationwide, only 1 in 120 (less than 1%) 2010 Award recipients qualified as three-time Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2010 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: PublicRelations@uslbaaward.com
URL: http://www.uslbaaward.com

On Tuesday March 23, 2010, the president signed into law H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. During final negotiations over the previous weekend, the FDA Class I medical device tax exemption was dropped; however, a specific hearing aid exemption that was included in the legislation last Thursday was retained. This will exempt hearing aids from the medical device tax that will be imposed on almost all other devices not sold at �retail.�

Below is an excerpt from the over 2400 page law:

Subchapter E - Medical Devices
SEC. 4191. MEDICAL DEVICES.

IN GENERAL. - There is hereby imposed on the sale of any taxable medical device by the manufacturer, producer, or importer a tax equal to 2.9 percent of the price for which so sold.

TAXABLE MEDICAL DEVICE. - For purposes of this section - IN GENERAL. - The term 'taxable medical device' means any device (as defined in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) intended for humans.

(2) EXEMPTIONS. - Such term shall not include - (A) devices classified in class I under section 513 of such Act, eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and any other medical device determined by the Secretary to be of a type which is generally purchased by the general public at retail for "individual use." and by inserting after the item relating to subchapter D in the table of subchapters for such chapter the following new item...

...It's a hard message to convey. Hearing loss, which accumulates slowly over a lifetime, is neither painful nor disfiguring, so it goes unnoticed. Stephen Glasser, an audiologist in Great Neck, NY, says the stigma attached to hearing aids - often considered a sign of age or weakness -seems to carry over to hearing protection... For the full article go to http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/health/02baby.html

February 2, 2009 - Plymouth, Minnesota - Today represents a milestone for the uHear application as it surpasses the quarter of a million download mark. uHear, a self-administered hearing screening test for the iPhone and iPod touch, has seen a continuous position on iTunes top 10 medical downloads since its release. There are approximately 36 million Americans afflicted by hearing loss and it is projected that by the year 2015 the number of Americans suffering from hearing loss will increase between 20 to 25 percent. Consumers are becoming more aware and seeking discreet, free testing options.

To date more than 300,000 people have taken advantage of uHear, the most widely distributed hearing screening test ever. "We know that people downloading uHear typically share the application with two to four others," commented Cameron Hay, President and CEO of Unitron worldwide. "This makes it possible that over a million people have tested their hearing and taken the first step towards healthy hearing."

In September, Apple announced that their iTunes selection exceeded over 140,000 applications. Though a handful of applications have exceeded the millions of download mark (Facebook, Myspace), the majority average only 3000, while uHear is 300,000. "It�s great to see the response to uHear when compared to these numbers. It emphasizes the concern people may have about hearing loss, their own or family members," notes Hay. The uHear application continues to be amongst the top 10 health downloads having been 1st or 2nd place on iTunes in over seven countries. "With uHear�s worldwide success and continuous downloads, we are now giving even more people across the world an easy way to screen their own hearing performance. Unitron is committed to increasing hearing awareness and improving the lives of people living with hearing loss," says Hays.

The application created by Unitron is available worldwide, in both English and French, can be downloaded free of charge through Apple iTunes at: http://itunes.com/apps/uhear.

Westminster, CO - The National Hearing Conservation Association announces that an Educator Training Workshop will be presented by Dangerous Decibels from February 28 to March 1, 2010 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

Dangerous Decibels is a public health campaign designed to reduce the incidence and prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus by changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of school-aged children about exposure to loud sounds and use of hearing protection strategies.

"Health experts tell us that in order to bring about change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, we must reach children with the message early and often," said Linda Howarth, Dangerous Decibels Program Coordinator. "If we can educate children about these issues early in life, they will be more likely to protect their hearing later when they are exposed to hazardous sounds at work and at play."

The Dangerous Decibels classroom program has been rigorously evaluated and found to be highly effective in changing knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors in school age children. The Educator Training Workshop fully equips and prepares individuals by providing the key information, teaching materials and supplies, practical experience and important logistical insights to guarantee a successful program delivery. K-12 educators frequently comment that the program content is easily integrated into math and science educational curricula.

This two-day Educator Training Workshop will be presented by several hearing conservation, health communication and educational outreach experts, including:

- William (Billy) Hal Martin, PhD. - Oregon Hearing Research Center / Oregon Health & Science University

- Susan Griest, MPH - Oregon Hearing Research Center / Oregon Health & Science University

- Deanna Meinke, PhD. - University of Northern Colorado

- Linda C. Howarth - Oregon Hearing Research Center / Oregon Health & Science University

The workshop will include background information on hearing, anatomy, physics of sound, children and noise, etc. Instruction includes classroom management, hands-on activities, and an opportunity to deliver the program to instructors for critique and feedback. Participants will receive an educator kit with graphics, simulations, supplies, a script and a sound level meter needed to present the classroom program.

About the National Hearing Conservation Association [NHCA]

The mission of the National Hearing Conservation Association is to prevent hearing loss due to noise and other environmental factors in all sectors of society. NHCA provides networking, resources and professional development opportunities to improve skills, practices and services for over 600 members. NHCA's membership includes audiologists, researchers, students, industrial hygienists, educators, professional service organizations, safety professionals, medical professionals, engineers, audio professionals and others who have dedicated their work to the advancement of hearing loss prevention. For more information about the National Hearing Conservation Association, visit us online at www.hearingconservation.org.

About Dangerous Decibels

The Dangerous Decibels project is a public health campaign designed to reduce the incidence and prevalence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and tinnitus (ringing in the ear) by changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of school-aged children. The project is built upon an innovative collaboration between basic science researchers, museum educators, civic leaders, Oregon and Southwest Washington schools and volunteers in a unique public/private partnership. Partners are the Oregon Hearing Research Center at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), in affiliation with the Portland VA National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, and the American Tinnitus Association. Learn more about Dangerous Decibels at www.dangerousdecibels.org.

11 December 2009 - The first year to two years of life is a critical time for hearing impaired children and their language development. Whilst young babies with hearing difficulties can now be fitted with cochlear implants, accurately assessing the effectiveness of the implants does present challenges prior to their development of language skills.

However, a major breakthrough may now be on the horizon, thanks to a bourgeoning collaboration of the world's leading experts in hearing, engineering and cognitive development.

The international team, comprising experts from Macquarie University, the Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT), Cochlear Limited, National Acoustic Laboratories, and the CSIRO, met at Macquarie University this week to discuss plans for a world-first brain imaging device that will allow scientists to test the auditory cortex of hearing impaired babies fitted with cochlear implants.

Such a device would improve hearing specialists' ability to accurately assess the effectiveness of a baby's implant and then make adjustments if needed - even before the child can speak - to give them the best hearing possible and assist with language development.

"Ultimately the aim is to be able to better adjust the implants while the children are still very young - only babies - so their cognitive development will proceed normally from a very early age," said Professor Stephen Crain, from Macquarie University's Centre for Cognitive Science.

"At the moment accurately measuring how well a cochlear implant is working in a very young child is difficult. This is because babies and toddlers are unable to communicate effectively using language, so they can't describe to scientists what they are hearing or how loud and clear something may sound to them," he said.

"If we can achieve early implantation and then adjust the implant to the child's brain, we believe we can make implants more effective."

Crain and his team devised the first brain imaging system in the world that can measure the magnetic fields generated by a child's brain during cognitive processing. Called a MEG system - short for magnetoencephalography - the device was developed by scientists from Japan's Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT) and is now housed at Macquarie University's cognitive science laboratory.

"It is probably possible to construct a map of the auditory cortex of a child with normal hearing using our existing child MEG system, but if we tried to test a child with a cochlear implant, the system would be overwhelmed by the powerful signals emitted by its electronic components," Crain said.

"In order to successfully develop a system which can be used with these children, we need to invent a completely new way of shielding the MEG sensors from the powerful magnetic waves generated by a cochlear implant."

If such a device can be developed, Crain and his team will establish �normal' cognitive function by using a control group of children without hearing impairment, before working with young children fitted with cochlear implants.

Work is expected to commence on a prototype of the new system early next year.

Taken from www.mq.edu.au/.