Showcasing the latest media coverage to include audiology and Academy coverage, as well as that of our members.
Since embarking on a strategic, comprehensive, and consistent public relations campaign in May 2017, the Academy has seen several inroads in media coverage to include audiology and Academy coverage, as well as that of our members. We are excited and proud to showcase these endeavors to you, our members on a regular basis.
June 2023
Coverage in June reached 256 million readers with a value of $2.3 million. Fortune Magazine included an article on Medicare coverage of hearing aids and over the counter and references information from the Academy. The article was read by more than 18.7 million readers and also picked up by other outlets around the world. Healthy Hearing ran a story on cochlear implants vs. hearing aids. Past Academy President Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA, was interviewed. MSN ran an online story on over-the-counter hearing aids. Yahoo! Finance ran a story on Medicare coverage of hearing aids. A Hampton Roads TV station ran a story on protecting hearing from fireworks.
July 2023
Coverage in July reached 231 million readers and TV viewers with a value of $2.15 million. HealthSmart ran an article on the potential dangers of fireworks on hearing. Television stations across the U.S. ran the story as both broadcast and online. The Atlanta Voice uses information from the Academy in its article on noise pollution. Bustle ran an article on “Why Hearing Health is More Important Than You may Think”, that was also picked up by MSN. The article quotes Sarah Lundstrom, AuD, a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. WellSpan Health includes an article that has circulated on protecting hearing from fireworks. It includes information from the Academy on noise levels. “Protect Your Hearing from Fireworks this Fourth of July,” was picked up by TV stations, print and online outlets across the U.S. Columbia University Irving Medical Center ran a story, “Does Living in a Loud City Hurt Your Hearing?” The story was picked up by MedicalXpress and others.
Hearing Review and a number of Capitol Hill outlets ran stories on a bipartisan Bill that would expand access to hearing services through Medicare. The Mount Vernon Grapevine is one of many that ran the story.
Ongoing
The Academy communications team is pitching the importance of getting a hearing check for any students with sudden academic decline. A member template is included online. Next up will be the promotion of Balance Awareness Week, September 17–23.
If you have a story idea, please feel free to contact Vicki Bendure at Vicki@bendurepr.com, or 202-374-9259 (call or text).
March 2023
In March, there were stories that reached more than 120 million readers and viewers with a value of more than $1.1 million. Articles on over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids continue. An article in Healthy Hearing included information on the availability of OTC hearing aids in pharmacies. The Beacon Newspapers in the Washington, DC, suburbs included a story on OTC with an interview from Catherine Palmer, PhD, Academy past president. Being Patient, an online newsletter for physicians and caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients includes the benefits of hearing aids in reducing dementia. The outlet interviewed Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA past president of the Academy.
An international story that ran around the world on the deafening sounds that NASA has discovered are coming from the sun, used the Academy’s decibel information to relate the sound impact on hearing. The story ran in MSN, NewsExplorer Network and others and reached millions of readers. Everyday Health offers hearing aid brand reviews with Sarah Lundstrom, AuD, a Fellow of the Academy, providing information on hearing tests. The Hearing Review included a feature story on the Academy President Virginia Ramachandran, AuD, PhD.
April 2023
April articles reached a total of 174 million readers and viewers with a value of more than $1.6 million. The Hearing Journal included an informative story on teleaudiology by Kathleen Wallace, AuD, that credited the Academy for highlighting the practice at its 2009 annual conference. Consumer articles on OTC continue in outlets including the Miami Herald. CNET also ran a story on OTC. Articles on John Fetterman’s hearing loss from stroke ran throughout Pennsylvania outlets, including Philadelphia Inquirer, and included information from the American Academy of Audiology. Forbes wrote a story on cochlear implants and interviewed the Academy’s past president Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA. MedWatch and other outlets in its region, covered an interview with Dr. Ramachandran at the Academy annual conference, AAA 2023+HearTECH Expo.
May 2023
May coverage reached an audience of 131 million with a value of $1.2 million. Coverage included a TV story that ran across the country on various stations with information from Dr. Catherine Palmer on hearing tests. Audiology World News reported on AAA 2023+HearTECH Expo.
January 2023
January had a smaller amount of coverage but a large audience due to some articles running worldwide. There were more than 101 million readers with a value of $956K.
Press coverage on over-the-counter hearing aids continues in 2023. The 2022 Associated Press story is still circulating around the world. Everyday Health includes an article on different types of OTC devices as well as information on what they are and who might be a candidate. It also provides a link to “Find an audiologist.” Healthy Hearing did a story on shingles and hearing loss and past Academy president Angela Shoup, PhD, participated.
Neurology Today includes a study on the connection between hearing and cognitive decline. Academy Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD, is quoted in the article that states that so many in the healthcare industry, other than audiologists, ignore hearing as an important factor.
The Journal Nature included a study on the link between cardiovascular disease and hearing health. The article acknowledges that some of the material was presented at a prior Academy conference.
Audiology World News features an article on the upcoming Academy conference.
November 2022
An industry release on the projected growth of the hearing aids market includes information on the Academy as well as the fact that October is National Audiology Awareness Month. The article appears in several industry growth/business outlets and projects large industry growth by 2028.
Coverage on OTC continued in November with an article in Hearing Health, “Not Everyone Qualifies for OTC Hearing Aids.” A story in Healthday that has been picked up all over the country in both English and Spanish. The headline asks, “Could Wireless Earbuds Help Boost Poor Hearing?” It includes a study involving wireless Air Pods and their effectiveness/ineffectiveness in amplifying sound. Dr. Catherine Palmer, past president of the American Academy of Audiology, weighed in on the use and the study.
Healthday is proclaims itself, the “world’s largest health news service and leading creators of custom health content.” In addition to having a following of general public, the outlet is also subscribed to by physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. It has several monthly physician newsletters that also use this content.
To date, the Healthday article has run in 134 outlets around the country and internationally. MSN.com (177 million readers) has picked up the Spanish version on its international health channel. The Vietnam Explorer Channel also ran the story.
Impressions in November were over 261 million with a value of $2.4 million* in coverage.
September 2022
Coverage on OTC continued with additional television spots running across the U.S. featuring the Academy’s President Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA. Print and online included outlets such as Philly Voice, in a holistic medical outlet and in Yahoo!News with 63.9 million readers around the world. The Omaha World Herald also covered OTC with 936K readers. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram used a graphic by the American Academy of Audiology that Yahoo! also picked up.
The Academy also provided tips to consumers and healthcare practitioners on OTC purchases. The information was picked up by outlets across the U.S. Also packaged as tips to seniors.
September coverage, mostly on OTC, reached more than 1.9 million readers/viewers/listeners—great visibility for the Academy and especially great in positioning audiologists as the experts on all things hearing related.
October 2022
As OTC rolled out in October, outlets stepped up including CBS Morning News with millions of viewers. More than 600 additional television stations across the U.S. also covered the rollout. Coverage just in October, was worth more than $13 million. The Washington Post wrote a story and included the Academy’s Past President Jackie Clark, MS, PhD and The Cape Cod Times included Past President Catherine Palmer, AuD, PhD.
The Daily Mail, in Vail Co., ran an article on October is Audiology Awareness Month.
August 2022
While the American Academy of Audiology enjoyed extensive media coverage in May, June and July with more than one billion impressions (readers, viewers, listeners) and a value of more than $4.38 million* including a national CBS medical story on hearing loss and fireworks, coverage exploded in August with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement and finalization of its over-the-counter hearing aid rule. Coverage was also significant in August on a back-to-school release that suggested parents should consider hearing loss when children’s grades drop.
Coverage in August included pickup of 737 stories around the world including China and 261 broadcast (TV and radio) news stories across the United States.
Highlights include a story in HealthDay, “If a Child’s Grades Falter, Consider Hearing Loss,” from an Academy news release on the importance of having children’s hearing checked. The article was picked up by hundreds of media outlets across the United States. It ran in print, online and on television and radio stations nationwide.
On August 16, the FDA finalized its rule enabling over-the-counter hearing aids. This prompted news stories from around the world that are continuing. Outlets such as the Wichita Eagle, The New York Times and hundreds of other outlets ran the story. More than 260 television and radio stations broadcast the story.
Another story in the New York Times on hearing aids, “The Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids and Other Hearing Solutions,” included Academy members Brian Fligor, PhD; Lisa Vaughn, AuD; Angela Shoup, PhD; and Catherine Palmer, PhD.
The reach of the August coverage alone has been in excess of 728 million (readers, viewers and listeners) with a value of more than $7.3 million*.
*Dollar values are ascertained by taking cost of advertising for the equivalent time on or in the outlet during the same day part. While editorial has greater credibility than advertising, the cost comparison provides a very conservative value for the news story.
May, June, and July saw a large amount of coverage due to continued interest in over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids and national pickup warning the public about the potential dangers of fireworks and hearing. A CBS medical reporter, that Bendure Communications works with regularly, did the fireworks story and it ran in hundreds of markets across the United States and it often ran multiple times in these markets. There were more than one billion impressions over the past three months; meaning that audiences around the world saw, read, or heard about the Academy one billion times. The value of the coverage was $4.38 million. If the Academy were to purchase the amount of coverage in equivalent advertising space, it would cost $4.38 million.
Here are some of the highlights:
July 2022
Coverage on the Academy’s cautions regarding fireworks continued in July with print outlets as well as broadcast and online. Outlets such as News Concerns wrote about the topic.
MSN used information from the Academy on the negative impact of ear candles in its story on “20 Ways You’re Damaging Your Hearing.” The article ran around the world.
An article on over-the-counter hearing aids ran in Germany. This was from an interview conducted at the Academy’s annual conference this past spring. The article includes an interview with the Academy’s President Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA.
June 2022
June coverage included a number of hearing aid articles in outlets such as the Sierra Vista Herald. In addition, CBS News (national) produced a news story on the dangers of fireworks to hearing health, based on the press release sent to them from the Academy’s public relations firm. The story aired on hundreds of stations across the country. A small sampling of the stories can be seen here. Other outlets also ran the Academy’s information on the potential impact of fireworks on hearing, including WebMD. What’s Now, a French outlet, ran the story in France.
MusicRadar (one of musician’s top outlets,) ran a story on the importance of musicians in protecting their hearing.
May 2022
Coverage in May included “May Is Better Hearing Month” as well as over-the-counter articles in Forbes and other outlets. A MarketWatch article included information on selecting hearing aids with an interview with the Academy’s Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD.
March 2022
Often, media placement success is predicated on a quick response to reporters. In March, a National Public Radio (NPR) reporter reached out wanting to speak with an audiologist on the impact of sound on those who experience hearing loss. American Academy of Audiology Fellow Brian Fligor, ScD, responded immediately to a request from the Academy’s communications team and a story ran across the United States on NPR stations and was picked up internationally. The value of the coverage was worth more than $1M!
The link between diabetes and hearing was reported in Hearing Health and the link between COVID and tinnitus was reported in multiple outlets including The Medical News as initially reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. The story ran in outlets around the world, including Science Daily.
The World Health Organization put out new noise guidelines that were published in outlets around the world and included the Academy’s guidelines as well.
The Academy’s Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD, weighed in on what to look for in hearing aids for an extensive article in Insider. Insider has close to nine million readers per month.
The Hearing Review wrote about some of the activities taking place at the upcoming AAA Annual Conference.
Academy President, Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA, weighed in on the impact of COVID on hearing in the national health column, “Eat This, Not That.”
Elaine Mormer, AuD, recommends the public can go to “find an audiologist” on the Academy website in an article on pharmacies and OTC by PBA Health.
Baby Center, with more than 15 million monthly readers, features an article on hearing in children and recommends finding an audiologist through the Academy.
Breaking Med includes information on the upcoming AAA Annual Conference in St. Louis.
A reporter with MarketWire interviewed the Academy’s President Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA, on several issues including returns in dealing with OTC and the impact of OTC.
There was also TV coverage and additional clips for World Hearing Day, March 3.
April 2022
Coverage in April continued to include OTC. MarketWire ran additional stories in April. Stories on the Academy’s annual conference ran in outlets around the world including Audiology World News and the Hearing Review.
A number of industry meeting and exhibit/conference outlets covered the Academy’s successful meeting in St. Louis. And, coverage included the local St. Louis tourism bureau (“Explore St. Louis”) marketing director, Brian Hall stating in a radio interview that America’s Center activity is back to “pre-pandemic levels.” Hall stated that the Academy conference “generated more than 10,000 room nights and more than $6.5 million in economic impact.”
January 2022
Coverage in January reached more than 200 million readers with a value over $1.1million in value.
The New York Times ran a story on hidden hearing loss and included Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA, president of the Academy. The article was picked up in outlets around the world and also ran in Spanish. Today online picked it up as well. Canadian Musician ran an article that initially appeared in JAZZed magazine on performers and hearing loss. In the article, Tricia Scaglione, AuD, talked about a presentation she made at the Academy’s conference on a study on tinnitus. Over-the-Counter (OTC) continues to be a hot topic with outlets such as MedTech Dive covering a story that has been picked up by other outlets as well.
February 2022
February coverage reached more than 63 million readers and viewers with a value over $630K.
The Washington Post picked up a Consumer Reports article on tinnitus. In the article, Dr. Sydlowski, president of the Academy and former president Angela Shoup, PhD, are quoted. The Academy’s support of World Hearing Day on March 3 was acknowledged in News-Line for Pharmacists. The New York Times story on hidden hearing loss was picked up by additional outlets in February including in several Asian outlets. Dr. Sydlowski also helped to support International Cochlear Implant Day.
The Latest
In response to a recent online article, How a Hearing Test for Babies Has Paid Off for a Big Medical Provider (December 22, 2021), in the New York Times, the Academy quickly prepared and submitted the following letter to the editor (limited to 175 words). A limited number of acceptances are selected for publication, and we are hopeful that ours will be published soon. Nonetheless, we are continuing many efforts such as these to speak for audiology and hearing and balance health care.
The article How a Hearing Test for Babies Has Paid off for a Big Medical Provider (New York Times, December 22, 2021) raises concerns about the role of third parties in health care. However, the author incorrectly indicts newborn hearing screening.
The earlier a child is identified with hearing loss, the better their outcomes. Prior to newborn screening, children were usually not identified with hearing loss until two years of age or later, resulting in often lifelong delays in speech, language, and education. Since implementation of screening programs, the average age of identification has decreased to less than two months, resulting in significantly improved outcomes.Guidelines by the American Academy of Audiology, and the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, recommend the use of assessments such as auditory brainstem response screening because they are particularly effective for newborns. Regardless of where a baby is screened, parents should ensure this is completed within the first month of birth and should also follow recommendations to have their child evaluated by an audiologist if their baby fails the screening.
December 2021
Each year, the Sight & Hearing Association in Minnesota puts out a list of the noisiest toys. This year, the Academy was able to partner with the association (local to Minnesota) and spread the word nationally. Coverage was extensive and included HealthDay, with pickup by U.S. News & World Report and numerous other medical (e.g., Medical Xpress, Drugs.com, etc.) and general interest outlets. Even pharmaceutical company, Merck picked it up. Academy member, Susan Terry, AuD, was able to use the release in her local Tampa Bay outlet.
A FOX television station in Oklahoma City (KOKH) also ran the story and included an interview with Academy President Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA. The story ran on the station multiple times and has received more than 1.6 million views online.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in the Wall Street Journal
The Academy’s Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD, has been working with the Wall Street Journal on ongoing stories on over-the-counter hearing aids. Here’s an article that just ran at this link.
Hidden Hearing Loss in the New York Times
Academy President Dr. Sarah Sydlowski participated in a New York Times article on hidden hearing loss. The article has been picked up by numerous other online outlets. The New York Times has more than 43 million readers.
Consumer Reports Covers Tinnitus
Academy President Dr. Sarah Sydlowski also helped with an article on tinnitus. The article has been picked up by smaller outlets as well. Consumer Reports has more than 6 million readers.
Future Coverage
The communications team has been working with several outlets on over-the-counter coverage. The team is also interested in any trends that Academy members are seeing coming out of the pandemic—more telemedicine? More in-person appointments? Fewer in-person appointments? There have been a few physicians receiving national coverage regarding the fact that their patients put off seeing a doctor in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. We’re wondering if audiologists are experiencing the same? If you have any insights you’d like to share, any trends you’re seeing, special patient stories, etc., please email Vicki Bendure, Vicki@bendurepr.com.
October 2021
October media coverage had more than 108 million impressions.
The Sentinel-Echo in Kentucky ran a story on “October is National Audiology Awareness Month.” Piedmont Health Care used the American Academy of Audiology member template to promote the month in its newsletter. The Local Voice and Ole Miss News (University of Mississippi) also ran information on National Audiology Awareness Month.
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ruling on over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices was news in WebMD with close to 26 million readers. The article also ran in Medscape, Federal Practitioner, and Consumer Affairs.
Kiplinger Personal Finance covered proposed Medicare expansion. The article was picked up by MSN and internationally.
November 2021
Interest in OTC continued with an article in the Lock Haven Express in Pennsylvania.
AARP wrote about how to cope with hearing loss in social settings. The outlet interviewed American Academy of Audiology president Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA.
Hearing Health Matters also wrote about Medicare expansion as well as the FDA’s OTC.
The Academy’s President Dr. Sydlowski weighed in on the safety of using candles to remove ear wax on MSN’s international health site. The story has been picked up by numerous online platforms.
A release was sent out at the end of November in partnership with the Sight & Hearing Association and its annual report on “Noisy Toys.” This year, the report found on toy that is so loud they deemed it the worst toy in the history of the report. The story was picked up by 360 Magazine with other outlets running the release in December.
Upcoming
August 2021
Over-the-counter (OTC) coverage is starting to pick up with outlets around the country covering President Biden’s push to get OTC implemented. The Rappahannock Record is one example of community media outlets picking up the information. Health Digest ran a story on OTC as did Healthy Hearing.A corporation looking to promote the quietness of its product used data from the American Academy of Audiology. This helps to support the Academy as the leading source for hearing information.
The Hearing Journal ran an article on pricing models.
Eminetra, an international outlet that runs in New Zealand, Australia, Africa, and the United States, wrote about children and possible hearing loss (from a prior HealthDay article on back to school by the Academy.)
September 2021
Over-the-counter coverage is beginning to heat up with OTC coverage dominating coverage with more than 34 million impressions in total for the month.
HealthDay wrote a story on OTC, “Could Cheaper Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Finally Be Here?” and it was picked up by U.S. News & World Report and a number of additional outlets. In the article, the Academy’s Past President, Angela Shoup, PhD explains the importance of consulting with an audiologist and the intricacies involved in being correctly fitted for a hearing device.
HudsonValley360 and others ran articles on “October Is Audiology Awareness Month.” Several outlets including Piedmont Health Care and the Statesville Record & Landmark ran articles on Balance Awareness Week.
Upcoming
June 2021
In June, Forbes.com ran a comprehensive story on hearing aids, from some industry picks to technology, fit, and the benefits of seeing an audiologist. The Academy’s Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD, is quoted throughout the story that has been read by more than 38 million readers to date.
Other June coverage includes an article in Medical News Today about the types of hearing specialists and when to see one. A large section includes information on selecting an audiologist from the Academy. An article that ran in Canada and the United States includes data from the Academy on noise recommendations. More than 50 Canadian and U.S. outlets picked up the story on a community in British Columbia complaining about evening noise and using Academy stats. In Pensacola, Florida, the local USA Today newspaper also reports on a community using the American Academy of Audiology’s stats to get a noise ordinance passed. It’s a great example of how the Academy is rapidly becoming the “go-to” organization for all information on hearing health.
July 2021
In July, Consumer Reports ran an article in its print edition on “3 Common Hearing Aid Problems & Fixes.” Both Academy President Angela Shoup, PhD, and Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD, are quoted in the article.
HealthDay ran an article based on a press release from the Academy communications team on the hazards of fireworks on hearing health. The article ran in both English and Spanish and was picked up by U.S. News & World Report, Drugs.com, Brigham and Women’s Hospital newsletter, Medical Xpress, Times of India, and others. Dr. Shoup also did an interview with a Washington, DC, region TV station, WDVM, also on the hazards of fireworks. The story was picked up by two other stations.
Academy President Angela Shoup, PhD, and Past President Jackie Clark, PhD, are quoted in an AARP article on “9 Reasons it May be Time to Address Your Hearing Loss.” The article ran in English and Spanish.
Media coverage in April and May surpassed more than 100 million impressions.
April 2021
In April, the Washington Post ran a story on hearing aid solutions that included quotes and input from the Academy’s President Angela Shoup, PhD, and Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD. The story has been syndicated and is being picked up by other outlets. To date, it has reached more than 30 million readers.
Other April coverage includes write-ups on the Academy’s AAA Virtual 2021 conference in The Hearing Journal, Audiology Worldnews, and more. The Austin American-Statesman ran the international Associated Press story that has now been picked up by hundreds of outlets. Dr. Palmer is quoted throughout the article.
Some outlets covered May is Better Hearing Month is April. The Hearing Review was one outlet that covered.
Parents Magazine ran an article for its June print issue online in April with a circulation of more than 20 million readers. The Academy’s Past President Lisa Vaughan, AuD provided the information for the article. The magazine would like to run more articles on hearing health in children.
May 2021
In May, the military’s Defense Visual Information Distribution Service ran information on Better Hearing Month. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner covered the growing numbers of those with hearing loss as well as Better Hearing Month. Hudson Valley 360 also covered Better Hearing Month along with others. The Local Voice of Oxford, Mississippi, also wrote about Better Hearing Month.
AARP ran an article on “How to Choose a Hearing Aid,” with information and quotes from the Academy’s Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD. Ole Miss and others also used the May is National Better Hearing Month information for their communications.
The Times-Tribune of Pennsylvania ran an article on the noise of the cicadas and how they compare with other sounds. The Academy is listed as a resource.
Parents Magazine ran its print article in its June issue. The issue came out in May and has a circulation of two million subscribers.
Ongoing
Parents Magazine is interested in follow-up stories on audiology as well as AARP, Web MD, Medscape, Health.com, and Forbes.com.
Media coverage in February and March reached more than one billion readers with a value of more than $225,000. The Associated Press (AP) story on how masks have revealed hearing issues for many people continues to circulate around the world. To date, it has reached more than 100 million readers.
February 2021
In February, the AP story ran in more outlets across the United States including the Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Associated Press reporter spoke with several members of the Academy for the story.
Work continues with The Hearing Journal that ran a story in February with input from multiple hearing health organizations.
The Academy was able to provide input on the importance of seeing an audiologist in an article on Health.com. The article, which garnered 1.8 billion impressions around the world, discusses over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices and personal sound amplification products (PSAPS). Moving ahead, it is important for Academy members to be able to participate in the discussion and explain to consumers the value of seeing an audiologist. The communications team will continue to push for these opportunities.
A young girl has been covered in media around the world due to a proposal for the enactment of a Bill known as “Ally’s Act.” The Bill proposes insurance coverage for cochlear implants and other hearing devices. The Academy is publicly supporting this Bill, now on Capitol Hill.
Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD, is quoted throughout an article comparing OTC to traditional hearing aids in Healthline. Healthline has more than 45 million readers and is picked up around the world.
While World Hearing Day took place in March, some outlets announced the day in advance in February including Hudson Valley 360.
An Academy member in Tucson, Arizona, was in the news announcing that she was speaking to a community group on Zoom. Amanda Kester, AuD, was included in an article in the Arizona Daily Journal.
March 2021
In March, articles ran on “March 3 is World Hearing Day,” including in the Hudson Valley360.
A story that ran on Health.com regarding Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Causes and Treatment was picked up by MSN Health, MSN Arabia, MSN California, and MSN Health & Fitness. Each of these has more than 67 million readers. Angela Shoup, PhD, president of the American Academy of Audiology, is the expert that was interviewed for the story.
Dr. Shoup also did an interview on March 3 is World Hearing Day and hearing health during the pandemic with Voice of America. The story ran all over the world with more than 32 million readers.
Consumer Reports, AARP, and WebMD reached out multiple times for various articles running this spring. The Academy’s President Dr. Angela Shoup and Past President Dr. Catherine Palmer are both quoted multiple times in this Consumer Reports article with four million readers on “How to Fix Annoying Hearing Aid Problems.” The story was also picked up on Yahoo Finance with a readership of more than 32.5 million.
Members in the News
Vanderbilt Magazine included the appointment of Christopher Spankovich, AuD, PhD, to the American Academy of Audiology Board of Directors. The Clarion-Ledger and USA Today Network in Jackson, Mississippi also ran the announcement.
The appointment of Patrick E. Gallagher, MBA, as the new executive director of the Academy was picked up by Associations Now.
Ongoing
Stories are in the works for summer hearing health. Parents Magazine recently wrote an article on children’s hearing health. Past Academy President Lisa Vaughan, AuD, is quoted throughout the article, appearing in the May issue.
Forbes has created a health advisory committee with some of the top physicians in the country consulting. The outlet is hoping to be able to add audiologists.
In December 2020, the Academy communications team developed a partnership with Health.com. Health.com has more than one million online readers and provides content for health outlets across the United States as well as its own health magazines. The American Academy of Audiology is now an active participant on the Health.com advisory and review boards along with physicians representing a variety of disciplines—oncology, obstetrics, neurology, cardiology, pulmonology, pediatrics, etc. Work with the outlet began in December. Stories began circulating in January (please see below).
December 2020
The Associated Press story, “Hearing trouble more obvious with masks,” that initially ran in November, continued to run throughout December on various outlets including television stations across the United States. The story also ran in more than two dozen outlets including Richmond Times-Dispatch, Akron Legal News, Illinois AgriNews, Orlando Sentinel, Grand Rapids Press, Charlotte Sun, and many more. The Academy Past President Catherine Palmer, PhD, is quoted in the story.
More than 20 million read or watched the story in December.
January 2021
The Academy’s first story with Health.com ran in January and bumped up earned media to more than $115,000 in value! The reach/audience impressions also rose to more than 250,000 million!
This included a story in Health.com on rechargeable hearing aids. Academy member Lindsey Jorgensen, AuD, PhD, provided input for the story. So far, it has run in MSN Health, MSN Health & Fitness, and other outlets around the world.
The AP story that ran initially in November and had a lot of pickup also in December (see above) was still being picked up in January with coverage in the Austin American-Statesman, Press-Enterprise (Bloomsburg, Pa.), and others.
WebMD included hearing loss in a story on “Is Your Work Hurting Your Health?,” and another story on “Top Causes of Hearing Loss.” More than 25 million people read WebMD.
A reporter with The Verge (more than 13 million readers,) interviewed Dr. Catherine Palmer on the impact of the pandemic for those with hearing loss. The story has been picked up by outlets around the world including Canada and India.
Ongoing
The Academy communications team is working with Parents Magazine and Past President Lisa Vaughn, AuD, on a story on hearing loss in children. Also working with Forbes.com on a story and finalizing additional stories for Health.com.
A release on “World Hearing Day” (March 3) has also just gone out to media across the country.
It has been an incredibly busy fall for media coverage on the Academy! From establishing a relationship with Health.com and having audiology representatives on their advisory board and content review committee to interviews on Doctor Radio (2.2 million listeners) to an Associated Press story that has been run across the U.S. and has generated more than 60 million impressions.
September
In September, we received a few more pickups on our release on back to school and how hearing loss can impact distance learning as well as classroom learning with masks. We also promoted Balance Awareness Week, September 13-19, and received pickup from medical outlets to TV stations, online, and print.
Hearing Review and others including HudsonValley360 covered October is National Audiology Awareness Month. Consumer Reports interviewed the Academy’s President Dr. Catherine Palmer on hearing and face masks and provided tips. The story was picked up by Yahoo Finance with 19 million readers. The Hearing Review also interviewed Dr. Palmer on how the pandemic may cause greater hearing loss in seniors. Dr. Palmer was also a guest on Doctor Radio (SiriusXM) where she spoke on hearing loss and the pandemic. The program has 2.2 million listeners.
HealthDay ran a story on how Lockdown Could Worsen Hearing Woes for U.S. Seniors. Dr. Palmer was interviewed for the story and it was picked up by national medical as well as consumer outlets, including WebMD with 25 million readers, U.S. News & World Report with 13 million readers, Doctor’s Lounge, Drugs.com, Newsmax, Times of India, and others.
October
In October, the HealthDay story (see September listing) was picked up in a dozen daily and weekly media outlets across the country. Psychology Today has an article with an interview with Dr. Palmer on the dangers of hearing loss with possible falls and dementia. October is National Audiology Awareness Month ran in several print and online outlets around the country. Ted Blanford with Summit Hearing Solutions leveraged the month to get on his local TV station, WANE, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
WBZR-TV in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ran a story with information on the Academy and how the pandemic and isolation is impacting senior hearing.
November
In November, the Associated Press wrote a national story, “Can You Repeat That? Hearing Trouble More Obvious with Masks,” about the number of people seeking help with hearing loss that they suddenly recognized with the use of masks. Dr. Catherine Palmer was interviewed for the story.
In addition to going out on the AP wire with more than 5 million online readers, it was picked up by more than 500 outlets including ABC News with 12.8 million readers, U.S. News & World Report with more than 13.5 million readers, Medical Xpress with more than 1 million readers. It also ran in print in national dailies and weeklies including Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Albuquerque Journal, Dallas Morning News, Omaha World-Review, Tulsa World, Tampa Bay Times, Frederick News-Post, Arizona Daily Star, Columbus Dispatch, Palm Beach Post, Asbury Park Press, Ashville Citizen, Austin American-Statesman, Reno Gazette, and more. Overall, it reached more than 335 million readers, viewers, and listeners.
July
July coverage included a large number of articles as well as radio and television coverage on cautioning about potential hearing loss around fireworks. This included more than 13 radio spots as well as television that circulated to affiliates around the country. Print included The Island News (Beaufort, South Carolina) and The World News (international).
Healthy Hearing included an article on CROS and BiCROS with input from Academy President Catherine Palmer, PhD.
August
In August, The Hearing Journal included a cover story on tele-audiology during the COVID-19 pandemic and Healthy Hearing ran an article on What Is an Audiologist? Several television spots included the Academy’s recommendation on masks for use around those with hearing loss.
The New York Times interviewed one of the Academy’s past presidents, Lisa Christensen on "Getting Your Kids to Turn it Down a Notch (or Several)." The reporter, who has a deaf son, has worked with Bendure Communications on other hearing loss stories. To date, the article has had more than 48 million online views.
More recently, a release went out on the fact that academic decline could be a sign of hearing loss, whether with distance learning or learning in the classroom. It is beginning to be picked up and has run on a national wire. It has been picked up by two TV stations to date, WBOC (Rehoboth, Delaware) and WICZ (Binghamton, New York).
A release was sent out on the Academy’s partnership with the Vestibular Disorders Association for Balance Awareness Week, September 13–19. The release was picked up by Healthy Aging (one of the largest online senior platforms) and is running on all of their channels. They have more than 192 million readers around the world. The Academy’s President Catherine Palmer, PhD, was interviewed in the article.
May 2020
Coverage in May was robust with stories on May is National Better Hearing Month included in military outlets, such as an Army Magazine that runs internationally, and the Defense Visual Information Service picked up the story and also circulated it internationally.
Other outlets around the United States ran the story, including the Sierra Vista Herald in Arizona. Newsline for occupational therapists and health-care providers ran an article on Better Hearing Month (the outlet ran the Academy’s press release) and the Wake Forest Mayor issued a proclamation that May is Better Hearing Month, using the Academy’s information and thanks to Dr. Sandy Vrooman of Wake Audiology.
Healthy Hearing magazine covered, Is it Safe to See a Hearing Care Specialist During the Pandemic? Academy member Sarah Wakefield, AuD, wrote a great article on Hearing Loss and Staying Connected During the Pandemic for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pennsylvania.
As new research on tinnitus is covered, Prevention Magazine, with more than 1.3 million readers, wrote a story on the topic. “9 Possible Reasons You Hear Ringing in Your Ears,” includes quotes from former Academy President Jackie Clark, PhD, and current Academy President Catherine Palmer, PhD. The story is out online and is expected to run in print (3 million subscribers) this fall.
June 2020
June coverage was a little slower than usual with reporters mostly interested in reporting on COVID-19-related stories. Despite that, coverage for the Academy reached an audience of more than 28.1 million readers with a value of $38,755.
A few clips came in from May that include additional coverage of “May is National Better Hearing Month.” This included a clip from the Gwinnett Daily Post in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Expanding insurance for tele-audiology was the topic for the Hearing Journal in June. The Hearing Journal also included an article on professional liability and tele-audiology.
The Washington Post cited the American Academy of Audiology recommendations for protecting hearing at certain decibel levels in an article on weapons being used by police against protesters. The article was also picked up by SF Gate in San Francisco and Anchorage Daily News.
Hearing Conditions Related to COVID-19
The communications team is interested in any connections that members may have with patients who have experienced hearing loss or any other hearing conditions related to COVID-19. If you have a unique story, please email Vicki Bendure at Vicki@bendurepr.com.
In the News
In March, there were multiple articles on World Hearing Day including medical outlets such as Health System Management.
AARP wrote about hearing loss due to noise based on a release sent out in February. We worked with Audiology Worldnews on a special AAA conference edition of the magazine. PR work in March included working with conference presenters with the plan to write and disseminate releases based on some of the top and most newsworthy presentations.
In April, we worked with SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio on the Academy’s work on getting telehealth by audiologists included in Medicare funding. The pitch included the fact that seniors with hearing loss are at a huge disadvantage with shelter-in-place regulations. The fact that they often already feel isolated and depressed from hearing loss is only compounded with the national lockdown. The Academy’s President Catherine Palmer, PhD, went on Doctor Radio for a 20-minute program. Due to the current situation with so many home and increased listeners of the station, more than 2 million heard the original broadcast or downloaded the episode on demand. The value of the segment was more than $150K.
Additional work included the writing and pitching of an op-Ed on the Academy’s work in getting audiology telehealth accepted by Medicare, and a release that went out to outlets and offices on the Hill.
Stories in the Works
Releases were distributed for May Is National Better Hearing Month and a release on Lyme disease and hearing loss is going out for May is National Lyme Awareness Month.
The communications team is finalizing several releases on conference presentations that were prepared, although not presented yet. Those will be posted and sent out this month.
Also in the works, an update release on the status of audiology telehealth being recognized by Medicare.
The communications team is interested in any connections that members may have with patients who have experienced hearing loss or any other hearing conditions related to COVID-19. Please contact Vicki Bendure of Bendure Communications.
In the News
Hearing Health has written several articles using Academy members and Academy research. The article in January’s issue is “I Can Hear and See You When You Wear a Surgical Mask.” They also recently announced collaboration with the Academy and Academy President Catherine Palmer, PhD.
Catherine also did an interview with national consumer site Healthline on OTC hearing aids. Healthline has more than 30 million monthly readers.
Medicare continues to be in the news and FierceHealthcare with 86,000 monthly readers lists the American Academy of Audiology as one of the stakeholders that sent a bipartisan letter to congress.
San Diego Family Magazine included information from a release sent by the American Academy of Audiology last fall in their February issue. The release was on noise-induced hearing loss in children.
Tinnitus was the topic for articles in Private Healthcare U.K., The Market Plan and others.
The value of the articles for January and February was more than $143,000 with more than 33 million impressions.
Members in the News
The Phoenix Media News Group includes a story about Academy member Jennifer Isayev. Academy member David DeKriek gave a talk on “What’s New in the World of Hearing Aids,” and the Orange County Breeze wrote about it. Women in Business in Elma, New York, noted that Academy member Anne Orsene is now executive director of Hearing Evaluation Services in Buffalo.
Stories in the Works
AARP is working on a story about hidden hearing loss. They interviewed Academy President Catherine Palmer, PhD about the condition. Men’s Journal also interviewed Dr. Palmer for an upcoming story. An emergency room physician with hearing loss reached out to the Academy to form a partnership with Dr. Palmer for an upcoming story for ACEP Now. The outlet describes itself as “the official voice of emergency medicine.”
Bendure Communications is also working on releases on selected research studies that will be presented at AAA 2020 + HearTECH Expo in New Orleans.
In the News
A story that ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the high cost of hearing aids and proposed legislation to push for coverage, was picked up in the Baltimore Sun. The article quotes Senior Director of Government Relations for the Academy Susan Pilch, JD and explains the role of audiologists. Frank Lin, MD, PhD, with Johns Hopkins is also quoted in the article.
In the Chicago area, Dr. Jonathan Sherman used information from an Academy release on how failing grades in school children may mean the children have hearing issues. The article, “Is This Why Your child’s Grades Are Dropping?” ran in 40 Chicago suburban papers including Arlington Heights and Cook County.
An opinion piece on the Academy website, written in June 2010 by Jackie Clark, PhD; Douglas L. Beck, AuD; and Walter Kutz, MD, on “Ear Candles and Candling: Ineffective and Dangerous,” is still being picked up by MSN Health around the world, including MSN Philippines, South Africa and Australia and throughout China in an article titled, “Is Ear Candling for Real?”
A story that initially ran in HealthDay and has circulated to millions, including in U.S. News & World Report on “Playing Sports May Sharpen Your Hearing,” includes a mention and a hotlink to the American Academy of Audiology fact sheet on auditory processing disorders.
Academy President Catherine Palmer, PhD, participated in a Consumer Reports Health story on why Americans should have a baseline hearing test and subsequent testing in “The Healthiest Medical Test Results.” The Washington Post picked up the story as, “How to Interpret Your Medical Tests Numbers,” and the Washington Post also ran it in editions across the United States as “Interpreting Scores on Your Medical Tests.” To date, this story has reached more than 12 million readers.
A story that initially ran in Roll Call and quotes Academy President Catherine Palmer is also being picked up around the country—"Overlooked Plans to Add Medicare Benefits Get More Attention.”
A press release put out by the Academy in partnership with the Sight & Hearing Association on noisy toys, was picked up around the country, including being named as “One of the Top 10 Stories of the Year,” in the Orange County Breeze in California.
Members in the News
Roswell Daily News includes a story on Angelica Rodriguez and her personal struggles with hearing loss and how that lead her to become an audiologist.
The total amount of media coverage for November and December 2019 was more than $918,000 in value. This is an industry standard amount that is the equivalent cost for advertising space. More than 165 million consumers read the stories.
Resources for Members
Reach the media with our Public Relations Toolkit and Hotline and many Press Release Templates for your use.
Through the Academy's public relations efforts in September and October, hundreds of millions were reached with various audiology and hearing health-care messages.
- Dr. Radio on SiriusXM, ran multiple programs with interviews with Academy President Catherine Palmer, and past Presidents Lisa Christensen and Jackie Clark.
- MSN (more than 1.5 million readers) ran a story using Academy information on 20 Ways You’re Damaging Your Hearing. This ran around the world including China, Spain, Mexico, and South America.
- U.S. News & World Report ran this story that reached 23 million readers.
In the News
Consumer Reports has regular features on hearing. Including a September write up on protecting your hearing at concerts. The Academy’s President Catherine Palmer, PhD, was interviewed for the story. Consumer Reports has a readership of more than 22 million. Palmer was also interviewed for a second Consumer Reports story that ran in October with information on why you should have your hearing checked with your annual physical and what a hearing test looks like.
HealthDay (circulation of more than 379,000) ran a story based on an Academy release on the possible correlation between hearing loss and lowered grades in school-aged children. The Academy’s past president Lisa Christensen was interviewed in the article that was picked up by multiple outlets including Drugs.com (more than 27 million readers), HealingWell ran the story. The outlet has more than 750,000 readers. Tampa General Hospital ran the info in their hospital newsletter (circulation over 450,000) and it ran on multiple television stations throughout Florida. Other outlets around the country have also run the story including the Illinois Press Association that syndicated the story to outlets throughout Illinois.
Health Professional Radio, syndicated across the United States, ran a story “Test Your Ears at 60 Years.”
October is Audiology Awareness Month articles ran in outlets around the country including television stations in locations such as Grand Rapids.
The Chicago Tribune and the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story on how Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids. The reporter interviewed the Academy’s government affairs person, Susan Pilch.
Resources for Members
Reach the media with our Public Relations Toolkit and Hotline and many Press Release Templates for your use.
In July, Healthday ran an article from an Academy release on the impact that the sounds of summer can have on hearing. The article was picked up around the country with more than 1.5 million readers. Additional coverage has included a story in Reader's Digest that was also picked up by MSN Health & Fitness and has now circulated to more than 4 million readers. The extensive article on hearing health, "Why I Needed Hearing Aids Before Age 50," story points to the Academy "Find an Audiologist" section on the website.
The connection among hearing loss, balance, and falls was covered in Healthline, an outlet with more than 23 million readers. The article includes information that the Academy provided to the Senate on the connection. Other outlets that have covered hearing loss, balance and falls include Doctor Radio on Sirius XM. The Academy's president-elect Catherine Palmer did an interview with them. In addition, Healthy Aging Magazine has asked for a bylined article on the topic. Additional stories are just beginning to run.
In August, the CBS Sunday Morning program aired again. In the meantime, a release was sent out on the possible cause of hearing loss from Lyme Disease and a CBS medical producer contacted us to do a story. We are still searching for a member in New York City or Washington, DC, who has a patient with hearing loss from Lyme Disease. It could be a great national story.
A release that went out closer to September on how children's declining grades, could be a signal for hearing loss has also had a substantial pickup. HealthDay ran the initial story that was then picked up by multiple outlets including Healing Well and Clinical Connection, Drugs.com, U.S. News & World Report and others. Clips are continuing to come in from medical, educational and parenting outlets. In addition, broadcast outlets are also picking up the story. Here are clips of television news stories that ran in Orlando, Florida.
Academy and Audiology on Good Morning America
A story on insurance coverage of hearing aids and hearing health for children ran on Good Morning America as a broadcast story and online. This, in turn generated hundreds of additional clips and coverage across the country. To view all of the television coverage captured to date, click here.
Susan Pilch, senior director of government relations for the American Academy of Audiology was interviewed for the story. This was a great segment for many reasons—it educates the public on the fact that some states still classify hearing aids as cosmetic devices and not medical devices; it raises visibility of the Academy and positions the Academy as a thought leader.
The value of the Good Morning America (GMA) clip alone is $2,334,008.05. This is based on industry standard values that takes the equivalent cost of airtime if the Academy were to run a television commercial on GMA at this time and in this length. The good news is that news stories have far more credibility with viewers than commercials. The audience for GMA in the mornings is more than 3 million viewers. More than 200 additional television news stories ran adding another $1 million in value and reaching more than 4 million viewers.
In the News
Coverage in June was outstanding with a wide variety of articles and broadcast stories that reached huge numbers of readers, viewers and listeners. One site, Medium, that reaches more than 24 million readers a month, had a story on what it's like to have hearing challenges when you don't want anyone to know. "Faking It" has had a huge impact on the general public as well as media outlets who are now contacting the Academy for more information on hearing health.
A story on "Why our Hearing Declines," ran in the Chicago Citizen News Group outlets throughout Illinois and includes a quote from the Academy's Past President Jackie Clark. The Star Ledger in New Jersey picked up the earwax story that Jackie Clark is also quoted in. The story, by Kaiser Health News has been running for the past year in thousands of outlets across the U.S.
Another version of the story was created by Scripps Media and was picked up by FOX affiliates around the country as well as NBC affiliates across the nation. Numerous independent stations also picked up the story and some of the ABC affiliates re-ran the story in their evening news.
In April, an article ran in the health column in AARP Bulletin Today covering how hearing aids work and featured interviews Academy member Sarah Sydlowski and Past President Jackie Clark. The outlet has more than 23 million readers.
Academy President-Elect Catherine Palmer talked with a reporter on Hearing Aids for Profound Hearing Loss in Healthy Hearing. More than 120,000 people are regular readers.
Articles on the AAA 2019 Annual Conference included a write up that ran in multiple government outlets on the 2019 Jerger Career Award that went to Dr. Patrick Feeney at this year's conference. Dr. Feeney works for the Department of Veteran Affairs. It was also covered in Dr. Feeney's local California outlets including Newton County Times and Lake County News. The story was also picked up in May by the Federal News Network.
In May, the Columbus Dispatch included information on the benefits that the Academy brought to Columbus by holding its annual conference in the city.
A story that has had attention around the world from NewsRx in Australia, has been picked up by Health & Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. "How Do Hearing Aid Owners Acquire Hearing Aid Management Skills?" is based on an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.
A May article in Hearing Health looks at OTC hearing devices and the Academy's work in increasing Medicare coverage. An editorial on World Hearing Day, also in Hearing Health, acknowledges the support of the Academy.
Academy President Lisa Christensen did an interview with Consumer Reports that was picked up by Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! News, MSN Health & Fitness, and others throughout the U.S. and Canada. The article, Sound Advice About Hearing Loss, has Christensen quoted throughout and discusses the hearing needs of her mother. It has readership of more than 31 million and a value of $116,000. It ran in both online and print in Consumer Reports.
Lifestyles After 50 included information on May is Better Hearing Month.
Members in the News
Academy President Lisa Christensen is in the Fort Worth Business Press with her involvement in a Free Hearing Wellness Expo in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Makenzi Gwinn, a fellow of the Academy is quoted in an article in the Idaho State Journal on Understand and Protect Your Hearing at Menopause.
There were many clips in May from members using the American Academy of Audiology template release on May Is Better Hearing Month. Some of these include Dr. Susan E. Terry and Broadwater Hearing Care were in the Tampa Bay news for May Is Better Hearing Month. They used the Academy press template. Sound Advice also used the template release for coverage. Academy member and SJMH audiologist Diana Daugherty received coverage in The Weston Democrat using the template. Hearing Health Care was in The Shawnee News-Star.
A monthly online outlet and print magazine serving Northern Wisconsin has an article on the link between hearing loss and memory and provides the Academy website to find an audiologist. Combined online and print, the article as read by more than 1 million.
A Newsweek article includes input from the Academy's Past President Dr. Jackie Clark on a study that looked at people with perfect pitch. More than 9 million readers saw the article.
Dr. Clark is also quoted in a U.S. News & World Report article on hearing aid upkeep often being out of reach of the poor.
The Academy is mentioned in a parent's guide article on hearing health in children. The article has run in the past and has had almost 5 million readers.
A Consumer Reports article on tinnitus includes advice from Catherine Palmer, PhD, president elect of the Academy along with information from the Academy. The Consumer Reports article has more than 22 million readers and was also picked up by other health outlets including Yahoo News, MSN Health & Fitness—adding another 3 million readers.
A second article ran in Consumer Reports later in the month on How to Get Used to Hearing Aids. Academy past president Jackie Clark and president-elect Catherine Palmer are both quoted throughout the article.
Members in the News
- Sheri Gostomelsky writes in ChicagoNow advising clergy on tips to help congregants who cannot hear their service.
- Academy member Craig T. Barth gave a talk in his community on navigating hearing loss that was covered by his local New Jersey Patch.
- Vishakha Rawool, chair and professor of the Department of Communication and Sciences at the Univ. of Mississippi, was quoted in an article announcing World Hearing Day.
Media coverage in included various outlets covering the Academy's "noisy toys" release as well as a write up in Kids Health on hearing health in children. Public Now included an article on " 6 Diseases Linked to Communication Disorders in Seniors."
In January, story placements included The Newport Daily Express in Vermont that ran a story on noise-induced hearing loss. This from a release sent out earlier in the year. Academy Past President Jackie Clark was interviewed for a HealthDay story we worked on that ran in outlets around the world, including U.S. News & World Report. Life Extension Magazine (with more than 1.2 million readers), ran a story "Eat Better, Hear Better," that uses Academy data.
An independent story ran in January on a rare condition where a woman in China cannot hear male voices. That prompted numerous calls to the Academy and resulted in a major story in Live Science (11.8 million readers around the world), with an interview by Jackie Clark.
Consumer Reports ran a story, " Do You Need a Hearing Test?" that included an interview with Academy member Sarah Sydlowski and has information on hearScreenUSA, the app that the Academy helped to launch this past year. The article also ran on Yahoo.com and MSN Health & Fitness. Readership of the two outlets is more than 32 million.
Media coverage in September and October was exceptional with more than 200 articles being picked up in outlets including everything from the Baltimore Sun and the New York Daily News (read by more than 26 million), to the Albuquerque Journal, Hartford Courant, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and more.
A Washington, DC-based reporter with Kaiser Health wrote the story that includes a quote from the Academy's former president, Jackie Clark, "The excessive amount (of earwax) can cause hearing loss or ringing in your ears. Some people experience vertigo, which increases the risk of falling," said Jackie Clark, a board-certified audiologist who is president of the American Academy of Audiology. "Right now, we see some correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline."
In addition to more than 150 print outlets, the story has also been picked up by television stations, including CNN.
- CBS Sunday Morning ran a story on the disruptors taking place in the hearing aid industry and the numbers of Americans who have some form of hearing impairment. In their online story, they included links to the American Academy of Audiology and information on how to find an audiologist.
- In October, The Hearing Journal ran a write up on the impact that OTC may have on audiology. The article was picked up by Academic Medicine (more than 3.5 million readers). Chicago Now writes about the importance of caring for hearing health.
Members in the News
- Davison Audiology in West Virginia placed an article in The Intelligencer about when to see an audiologist.
- Roger Theobald was written up in The Idaho Business Review for having joined Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance.
- Julie Glick with Musicians Hearing Solutions was written up in Pro Sound Web for her work and an event she's holding in California.
- The Illinois State University campus news included an article on the Student Academy of Audiology.
- Columbine Audiology was included in a story in the Journal Advocate on October is Audiology Awareness month.
- A story on Heather Malyuk, with Soundcheck Audiology appears in the WOSU Public news. Heather is a musician turned audiologist.
- CBS Sunday Morning had scheduled to run a feature story on hearing aids on August 26. The story was bumped due to the passing of John McCain. It is still scheduled to run this fall. The network did post a story on hearing aids that has been read by millions. The story also ran on CBS affiliate websites around the country. We are waiting to learn the rescheduled date for CBS Sunday Morning.
- Kaiser Health News ran a story on ear wax in the elderly. The Academy's President Jackie Clark is quoted in the story. It has since run on CNN (national and internationally), ABC News, Las Vegas News, St. Joseph News-Press, Tampa Bay Times, Scientific American, New York Daily News, WMAR-TV, and others.
- Jackie Clark, president of the Academy, is also quoted in a HealthDay story on the cost of hearing aids. The story is being picked up around the country by numerous media outlets.
- HealthDay included a write up based on a release sent out by the Academy regarding the impact of fireworks on hearing. The story was picked up as a reader by ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates throughout the country.
- Fatherly, a national blog with more than 600,000 readers per month, wrote an article on ear protection for children. The Academy is listed as a source in the article.
- The Academy communications team put together a press release on "Have Your Child Screened if You Suspect Hearing Loss," as a back-to-school consumer education piece. It was picked up by HealthDay, a major health wire service that provides content to more than 50 media outlets. Its own site is read by more than 400,000 people per month including physicians and health care providers as well as general consumers. Other outlets picked it up including MedicalXpress (read by physicians), Drugs.com (read by pharmacists), Health Online and AMHC.
- An article in the American Academy of Family Physicians Journal references the Academy. It's an interesting study done by a family physician who has hearing loss. The study is followed by an interview with the physician regarding over-the-counter hearing aids.
- Pharmacy Choice published the OTC Hearing Aid Consensus Statement Published by AAA, ADA, HIS and ASHA.
- The American Academy of Audiology communications team is partnering with the American Diabetes Association and the two organizations are working on sharing articles. A May article in Diabetes Forecast covered the link between diabetes and hearing loss. The Academy's president, Jackie Clark, PhD, is quoted in the article.
- One of the topics that received coverage came from the release that the Academy issued recommending hearing protection for those who were planning on going to see Fourth of July fireworks, or were planning on handling fire crackers. The release was picked up by outlets including ewellness, an online health and wellness magazine. And, it ran in Washington, DC, on the top radio station WTOP-FM both online and in a broadcast.
- Kelly Olenick with Hearing Zone had a story in the Idaho State Journal and the Coeur d'Alene Press using the Academy release template. n article on put together a release on fourth of July fireworks and hearing protection. It was picked up by multiple outlets. Dr. Biasotti authored an article with information from the Academy and a quote from Dr. Kochin with the Better Hearing Institute also recommending hearing protection for the Fourth of July. It ran in the Southern Dutchess News in Wappingers Falls, NY.
- Healthline interviewed Jackie Clark, PhD, for a story "Are your kids headphones permanently damaging their hearing?" Healthline is read by more than 85 million people every month. Other outlets picked up the story.
- FOX News cited the Academy in an article on a toddler receiving a cochlear device. The story was picked up by outlets around the country, including the New York Post.
- In addition to those who were covered in local outlets using Academy templates, Drs. Craig Foss and Kimberly Andresen received coverage for attending the Academy conference in their local outlet, the Grand Island Independent in central Nebraska. The write-up ran online and in print.
- Drs. Battani and Smittkamp had a write-up on the opening of The Associated Audiologists Shawnee Mission Clinic—"the largest team of doctoral-level audiologists in the Midwest." The write-up ran in the Shawnee Dispatch.
- In April, the team secured stories on the conference in Associations Now, and in Nashville Medical News on Songs for Sound and another in Nashville Medical News on the AAA 2018 conference. The local Nashville NBC affiliate covered the conference in their evening news.
- A story ran in Fatherly, an online men's lifestyle outlet with more than 600,000 subscribers on how to protect your baby's hearing.
- Health, Beauty, and Fitness, a blog with more than 500,000 subscribers, and Health & Fitness Cheat Sheet used Academy content on the dangers of using ear candles in a story on ear cleaning dangers.
- Some South African outlets have written about the new hearScreen USA app being launched by the Academy.
- The Huffington Post continues to get traction and post updates on the story we placed on the connection between Lyme disease and hearing loss. Other outlets have picked up the story.
- Highlights include: KPRC radio (140,500 listeners) ran the story on "Noisy Toys" and the Academy's recommendations and then rebroadcast on KTRH radio (597,900 listeners).
- A "Dear Abby" column recommends that a husband with hearing problems should be checked by an audiologist.
- Pediatrics Magazine ran an article on Adolescent Hearing Loss and referred to reports by the Academy.
- A member and Fellow, Clifford Olson, had coverage on his audiology practice in Arizona. The story also ran in many regional Latino outlets.
- Audiologist Michelle Kennedy provides an overview on the latest hearing devices and what's cool in a Racked article. The outlet is read by hundreds of thousands of millennials and Gen Xers.
