Author Archives: AU Bankaitis

About AU Bankaitis

A.U. Bankaitis, PhD is a clinical Audiologist with extensive clinical, research, and business experience within the hearing industry. She is Vice President of Oaktree Products, a multi-line distributor of audiology supplies and screening/diagnostic test equipment. Dr. Bankaitis created this blog to educate her colleagues and providers in the hearing health care industry on viable product solutions for their patients and/or clinical practice.

It’s the Great Pinna Charlie Brown?

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the evening of October 31 and, according to some historians, originates from an ancient Celtic festival intended to commemorate the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. On the contrary, if you are Linus Van … Continue reading

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Uncle Sassy Asked YOU to Vote and You Did!

Oaktree Products invited any and all to choose the next cover of the company’s product catalog scheduled for availability in January of 2013.  Three different catalog covers were created including a traditional cover with an oak tree, a whimsical cover with an … Continue reading

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Anticipated Makeover for Dri-Brik II

The Dry-Brik II is a desiccant used in the family of Dry & Store products designed to remove moisture from hearing instruments.  Recently, Ear Technology Corporation announced plans to make a future change in the Dry-Brik II.  Specifically, the copper strip located at one end of the Dry-Brik will soon … Continue reading

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Island of Misfit Products

As a multi-line distributor, Oaktree Products offers a variety of audiology and hearing industry products intended for resale to your patients and/or for use in the clinical setting. Sometimes, items get returned for whatever reason; in most cases, it’s simply a matter of the wrong item being … Continue reading

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Red OAKtober, Chapter Two….

OAKtober is usually a month dedicated to OAKtree Products employees and to St. Louis Cardinals baseball.  As we brace for a game five against the Washington Nationals tomorrow and continue to make sure our employees know how much we appreciate them, … Continue reading

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Audiology Research and the Decline Effect: Should We be Worried? – guest post by Harvey Abrams

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently reported that there is no convincing evidence to support routine screening for ovarian cancer (NY Times article). That announcement followed similar findings that failed to support both routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests … Continue reading

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Illuminated and Disposable Suction!

For those of you using the Bionix Lighted Curettes and/or Forceps, a newer tool from the same product line will certainly pique your curiosity.  The concept of the lighted curette has been applied to a disposable suction tube, providing both light and magnification, in one unique device.  … Continue reading

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Win-Win Situation for Audiologist!

Last week, while attending the Missouri Academy of Audiology (MAA) Scope of Practice convention in St. Louis, MO, Francis Kuk of Widex said something that I certainly was not expecting to hear. As an invited speaker to MAA, Dr. Kuk addressed several topics including the management … Continue reading

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