FDA Updates Hearing Aid Rules
Our guest today is world-renowned hearing expert Professor De Wet Swanepoel. It’s estimated that 44 million Americans experience hearing loss, but only one-fifth get help. Research has shown a significant relationship between hearing loss, cognitive decline, and depression in the elderly.
In 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that hearing aids can be sold over the counter to adults over 18 without a prescription. This long-sought-after change helps consumers frustrated by expensive exams and even more costly devices. Today, Professor De Wet discusses what this means for consumers. He has teamed up with Lexie to advise what they should look for in hearing aids. Learn how adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can now buy OTC hearing aids online and in stores without a prescription. The high cost of prescription hearing aids, not covered by basic Medicare, has discouraged millions from buying the devices.
De Wet Swanepoel, PhD. is a professor of Audiology at the University of Pretoria, where he leads research for the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss. He also holds an adjunct professorship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the former. His research is focused on innovative digital solutions and service-delivery models for more equitable hearing care. Dr. Swanepoel has published over 280 peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters and is funded by the NIH, the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, the National Research Foundation, and the hearing health industry.
Learning to Live with Wildfires
Our guest today is Anne D. Cope, PhD, P.E., IBHS chief engineer, who will provide critical research-based guidance on what to do in the five feet around your home to help prevent it from catching fire during a wildfire when embers travel miles in fire windstorms. Today, Dr. Cope will discuss preparing your home and finances for wildfires. She will talk about science-backed action steps to help prevent ember ignition and why contacting your insurer is important to ensure you have the right coverage.
As the Chief Engineer, she leads the development of research programs to improve the performance of structures in hurricanes, wildfires, severe thunderstorms, and hailstorms. She also leads a team of engineers, scientists, and skilled craftsmen who research full-scale homes and commercial buildings. She is responsible for the team’s implementation of research findings into building codes and standards.
Joining Dr. Cope is Michael Richmond-Crum, a property insurance and natural disaster expert at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA). He will discuss tips on preparing your finances for wildfires you can use and share with friends and family.
Mike is involved with property, fraud, and natural catastrophe-related insurance issues. He covers the administration of the APCIA Fraud Subcommittee, and his policy work has focused on regulatory and legislative issues related to catastrophic events, Special Investigative Units, contractor fraud, and auto theft.
For more information, please visit www.ibhs.org/wildfireready and www.apci.org/wildfire.
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