Medical or lifestyle product? The opportunities and risks of hearing-improving in-ear headphones are the subject of an article in the current issue of the German medical journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt. Once again, the expertise of Prof Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier, spokesperson for the Hearing4all cluster of excellence, ENT experts, the German Association for the Hard of Hearing (DSB) and a hearing aid manufacturer was sought.

Hearing aid provision: Hearing aids without a doctor or acoustician
Smartphones offer extensive health functions. They have long been able to count steps, display calorie consumption and predict periods. Another field in which a global company is now making an offer is hearing.
By Gisela Gross
Deutsches Ärzteblatt
Issue 4/2025
Online version here

In recent weeks, a number of national press articles relating to hearing research have appeared in which the expertise of scientists from the University of Oldenburg was in demand. The spokespersons of the Hearing4all Cluster of Excellence and the Collaborative Research Centre Hearing Acoustics were involved, as well as those responsible for various research laboratories.

How hearing aids can be better adapted to their users
By Björn Lohmann
WESER-KURIER 25/26 January 2025
Online version here

Hearing well at last
Many people put off their first hearing test. This can be dangerous for the brain. About new findings from hearing research, do-it-yourself tests and earpods as a replacement for hearing aids.
By Bernhard Albrecht
Stern, 26 December 2024
Online version here

Hear me when you can
If your ears start to ring, it's not enough to amplify the sound. How technology is helping people to participate in life again.
By Andreas Frey
Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, 15 December 2024
Online version here (Why it is so difficult to adjust a hearing aid)

Many people shy away from going to the hearing care professional. Yet hearing aids are getting better and better thanks to AI - and sometimes even develop true superpowers.
By Christian Heinrich
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2/3 November 2024
Online version here(Why hearing aids are finally getting better)

Can in-ear headphones replace a hearing aid?
Smartphone manufacturer Apple is adding a hearing aid function to its AirPods Pro 2 in-ear headphones for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. How useful can this kind of support be instead of a hearing aid?
By Sven Stein
Apotheken Umschau, 28 October 2024
Online version here

The father of local hearing research
Prof. Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier is making a name for himself worldwide and causing surprises
By Heidi Scharvogel
Nordwest-Zeitung (print edition), 26 October 2024

Researchers improve hearing aids with tricks
Hearing-impaired people often feel alone - with hearing aids, they can really be there
By Heidi Scharvogel
Nordwest-Zeitung (print edition), 28 September 2024

Photo: © H4a