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.

NRR stands for “Not Really Realistic”

Posted on March 8, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

In the United States, hearing protection devices such as earplugs and earmuffs require a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) to be listed directly on product packaging. The NRR is a dB value reflecting the level of attenuation a hearing protection product provides as evaluated under laboratory … Continue reading →

Posted in Hearing Conservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Telephones & Hearing Aid Compatibility

Posted on March 4, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

The Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Act of 1988 requires all landline telephones manufactured or imported for use in the United States to be hearing aid compatible. In other words, all corded and cordless telephones that plug into a jack in the wall … Continue reading →

Posted in Hearing Assistance Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Up-to-date info on Amplified Stethoscopes

Posted on March 1, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

Medical professionals rely on auscultation to routinely examine the status of the circulatory, respiratory, and/or gastrointestinal systems. Auscultation is defined as listening to internal sounds of the body and represents an essential component in the delivery of health care services.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Amplified Stethoscopes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Three is the Key for Mechanical Removal

Posted on February 24, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

Not sure what instruments to invest in for mechanical removal of cerumen? While the number of available hand-held instruments is endless, don’t spend your money on instruments that you don’t need or won’t use. Here are my quick tips on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cerumen Management | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Three is the Key for Mechanical Removal

Amped-up Neckloops!

Posted on February 22, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

Did you know there are amplified neckloops available for your patients to use not only for hearing cell phone conversations via their t-coil equipped hearing instruments but to also talk back to the other party during the cell phone conversation?  For example, the ClearSounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Hearing Assistance Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Getting to know you…

Posted on February 17, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

For those of you in the blogosphere following my Golden Nuggets of Information, this is a quick update of things to come. In the near future, my blog will feature polls that will enable followers and casual readers to actively provide … Continue reading →

Posted in About A.U. | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

EarPlanes for the Airplane

Posted on February 15, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

Many business and recreational air travelers experience some ear pain during take-off and landings; a convenient product designed to alleviate this type of air travel discomfort is readily available for you and your patients. EarPlanes is a patented pressure earplug developed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools & Accessories | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Roll-On Adhesive to Keep Hearing Aids in Place

Posted on February 10, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

Occasionally, BTE hearing instruments need a little help staying in place on the side of a patient’s head. Traditional methods of securing BTE hearing instruments firmly in place may involve the use of oval, double back adhesive pads or 3M double … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools & Accessories | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments