Announcements

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is accepting applications from scientists, patients, and other stakeholders to serve as Merit Reviewers for its research funding process. Reviewers evaluate grant applications submitted in response to PCORI funding announcements. There are two reviewer tracks. The Patient and Stakeholder track is open to people with firsthand experience in…

The FDA approved Otarmeni (lunsotogene parvec-cwha) on April 23, 2026, the first gene therapy indicated for hearing loss caused by variants in the OTOF gene. The therapy is made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Otarmeni is approved for pediatric and adult patients with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss associated with confirmed biallelic variants in the OTOF gene. Patients must have…

Disney+ will release Disney Animation's Songs in Sign Language on April 27, timed to National Deaf History Month. The collection will include three animated musical sequences from recent Walt Disney Animation Studios films, newly reimagined in American Sign Language (ASL): "The Next Right Thing" from Frozen 2, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto, and "Beyond" from Moana 2. The sequences were…

A feature in The Hearing Review looks at how hearing care professionals introduce captioning tools to patients whose hearing aids do not fully meet their communication needs. The article reflects on interviews with a sensory disability consultant and an audiologist in clinical practice. Both describe captioning as a supplement to hearing aids rather than a replacement, pointing to situations where…

Neuromod Devices announced that Lenire, a bimodal neuromodulation device for tinnitus, is now available in Canada through 21 clinics across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. The launch follows Health Canada authorization received in late 2025. Lenire delivers audio tones through Bluetooth headphones while simultaneously applying mild electrical pulses to the surface of the…

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst presented findings at the 2026 SSA Annual Meeting from the first qualitative U.S. study examining how deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing individuals experience earthquake early warning systems. The team spoke with eight DHH university students about their past experiences with earthquakes, their access to ShakeAlert and similar systems, and…

The Federal Communications Commission has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Lifeline program, which provides discounts on voice and broadband services for qualifying low-income Americans. Comments are due May 4, 2026. The NPRM proposes reforms aimed at directing federal funds to eligible participants, strengthening program integrity, and streamlining program rules. The FCC is…

The U.S. Access Board has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public comment on its approach to developing technical standards for universal changing stations at medium and large hub airports. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directed the Board to issue these standards, and the ANPRM outlines several possible approaches for doing so. The Board is requesting input…

Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University published a study in JASA that challenges the common assumption that closing your eyes helps you hear better in noisy situations. Using EEG monitoring, the team found that in noisy environments, eye closure puts the brain into a state of "neural criticality," which causes it to over-filter incoming signals, suppressing both background noise and the…

Oticon announced it will feature its new Zeal hearing aid at the American Academy of Audiology 2026 annual convention, taking place April 22–25 in San Antonio. Zeal is described as an in-the-ear hearing aid that combines rechargeable functionality, Bluetooth connectivity, and audio streaming in a small form factor. The announcement also describes Auracast broadcast audio demonstrations at the…