RadioEar

RadioEar was founded in June 1924 by Edward A. Myers, who began his career as a lawyer but switched to engine manufacturing due to hearing loss. In 1912, he moved to Pittsburgh and, with a Westinghouse engineer, built a vacuum tube radio, which he used to listen to a broadcast in 1924. This inspired him to create RadioEar, and the first hearing aid model was completed in September 1924. Samuel F. Lybarger, Myers' son-in-law, joined the company in 1930 and became a leader in hearing care. RadioEar introduced the first magnetic microphone for hearing aids in 1946 and the bone conduction transducer in 1948-49. The B71 bone vibrator was launched in 1973 and remains the industry standard. RadioEar was sold to Esterline Corporation in 1970 and later to Page Mill I in 1978. Three long-time employees bought the company in 1982. In the mid-1980s, RadioEar stopped producing hearing aids and focused on bone vibrators for diagnostic testing. RadioEar has continually sought new technologies and collaborations, leading to the introduction of the B81 and the expansion of its product line to include air transducers, headsets, insert phones, and speakers.