This Week in Hearing

Tamra Dale, a former finance executive and now a dedicated stay-at-home mother, shares her challenging journey with hearing loss and its impact on her family life. Tamra first noticed her hearing difficulties in her early 30s, which led her to seek professional help. Despite initial setbacks with inadequate professional support and suboptimal hearing aids, her determination to stay present for her...

Host Andrew Bellavia is joined by U.S. sprint kayak champion and Olympic athlete Aaron Small, who has recently been named a Global Brand Ambassador for Phonak. As he prepares to compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris later this month, Aaron shares his journey of overcoming hearing loss challenges, balancing a rigorous training schedule, and excelling academically. In their candid conversation, Aaro...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Jonathan Kil, the CEO and CMO of Sound Pharmaceuticals to discuss the latest developments in hearing loss treatment. With a distinguished background in auditory neuroscience and otolaryngology, Dr. Kil co-founded Sound Pharmaceuticals over 22 years ago with a mission to develop drug-based therapies for sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. He has led the company’...

OrCam is leveraging its expertise in AI-based devices to address the cocktail party problem in hearing technology with the introduction of OrCam Hear. The device, which made a notable debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), uses advanced AI to isolate and enhance specific voices in noisy environments. This innovation aims to significantly improve the speech-to-noise ratio, making it easier f...

Host Shari Eberts sits down with Dr. Stephanie Meyer, who brings 28 years of audiology expertise, with 27 of those years devoted to educational audiology. Dr. Meyer discusses how instructional audio technology is reshaping modern classrooms, ensuring equitable access to the auditory curriculum for all students. She shares practical strategies for overcoming adoption barriers and offers her vision...

Gael Hannan and Shari Eberts interview Dr. Barbara Weinstein, a distinguished professor at CUNY and adjunct professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Weinstein shares her recent research on the InnoCaption app, which provides real-time captions for phone calls, making them accessible to individuals with hearing loss. Dr. Weinstein highlights that many hearing professionals are not familiar with...

The Audible Contrast Threshold (ACT™) test is the quickest method to accurately measure a person’s ability to hear in noisy environments. Developed by the Interacoustics Research Unit, ACT™ uses a non-linguistic, contrasting stimulus to provide a personalized testing experience. The results offer objective data that directly guides hearing aid fitting by predicting aided speech-in-noise performanc...

This week, Shari Eberts welcomes Dr. Michelle Wiebke, the Lyric Audiology and Education Manager at Phonak. Dr. Wiebke discusses the recent FDA approval that allows experienced Lyric users in the U.S. to self-replace their devices, a significant development aimed at enhancing accessibility and reducing the need for frequent in-office visits. This new clearance empowers certified Lyric providers to...

Join us for an insightful discussion on how cutting-edge connectivity is revolutionizing hearing care through Bluetooth® LE Audio and Auracast™. Originally presented by Andrew Bellavia at the 2024 Australian College of Audiology conference on May 9th, this session delves into the transformative impact of these technologies on everyday listening experiences, enabling people to hear their best in va...

Host Andrew Bellavia explores crucial aspects of hearing health policy and coverage with guest Bridget Dobyan, Executive Director of the Hearing Industries Association. The discussion begins with an introduction and a policy discussion on the Medicare Audiologist Access Improvement Act (MAAIA). The focus then shifts to the current state of Medicare coverage for hearing aids and the gaps in accessi...

Dr. Marshall Chasin, Director of Auditory Research at the Musicians' Clinics of Canada, explores innovative topics around music and hearing aids. In this session, originally part of the 2024 Future of Hearing Healthcare Conference, Dr. Chasin examines aspects we may not have considered yet for optimizing hearing aids for musical inputs. Dr. Chasin provides practical tips such as disabling adva...

Dr. Kevin Zhan, Assistant Professor of Otology & Neurotology and Medical Director of the Northwestern Medicine Cochlear Implant program, explores the critical issue of cochlear implant underutilization in the United States. In this session, originally part of the 2024 Future of Hearing Healthcare Conference, Dr. Zhan delves into the current literature, highlighting the major public health impl...

This week Gael Hannan sits down with Claudia Marseille, the author of the new memoir "But You Look So Normal: Lost and Found in the Hearing World." Claudia shares her journey of growing up with severe hearing loss, being diagnosed at the age of 4, and overcoming numerous challenges with determination and technology. She talks about the inspiration behind her memoir's title, reflectin...

Join us for an engaging panel discussion from the 2024 Future of Hearing Healthcare Conference, moderated by Dave Kemp. Featuring entrepreneurial-minded audiologists Dr. Kathleen Wallace, Dr. Brandi Smiley, Dr. Amanda Levy, and Dr. Melanie Hecker, this session explores innovative models of patient care. From mobile clinics and flexible care practices to groundbreaking therapy solutions and consume...

Amanda Philpott, Co-founder and CEO of Eargym sat down with Brian Taylor to discuss the Eargym app. The app includes a self-guided hearing loss check feature along with training exercises that target five core auditory processing skills -- all packaged in a fun and engaging way. Amanda also reviews the science behind the subscription-based Eargym, and the role the app plays in early intervention a...

Host Andrew Bellavia welcomes Eric McLaughlin, VP and GM of Wireless Solutions at Intel's Client Computing Group, and Arnaud Pierres, Senior Director of Product and Ecosystem Enablement, to discuss Intel's initiatives for supporting individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Eric and Arnaud delve into Intel's efforts to enable direct conn...

In this week's special episode, we bring you a panel discussion live from the 2024 Future of Hearing Healthcare conference. Dave Kemp moderates a dynamic conversation featuring guests Gael Hannan, Shari Eberts, and Andrew Bellavia. With diverse backgrounds spanning advocacy, industry, and personal experience, the panelists delved into the theme of "Changing Mindsets" surrounding hear...

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Rowdy Gaines joins Gael Hannan for a candid conversation about his experience with hearing loss. He shares how he first noticed issues in his 50s, likely due to hereditary factors, ear infections from years of competitive swimming, and exposure to loud environments. Rowdy describes initially being in denial about needing hearing aids before getting properly fitted wit...

Dave Kemp interviews Trevon Bruch, the founder of Safewave, a startup creating a Bluetooth-enabled wristband connecting to smart home and security devices, enabling discreet vibration alerts over auditory notifications. Trevon shares Safewave's origin story driven by a mission to offer accessible tech solutions, especially for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, detailing the extensive R&a...

Dr. Robert DiSogra has had a diverse career spanning industrial, clinical research, teaching, and private practice. He owned and managed his Freehold-based practice for three decades until 2015. Dr. Disogra's extensive teaching experience spans undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, complemented by notable contributions through national and international publications and lectures. Dr. D...

Bob Traynor is joined by Dr. Frank Musiek to discuss an upcoming symposium focused on the latest insights into Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) and Neuroaudiology. The upcoming event, titled "Quest for the Best CAPD and Neuroaudiology," will bring together a panel of distinguished experts to explore advancements and practical applications in the field. From discussing diagnos...

Monica Dreger, the Global Head of Research at Airbnb, brings a unique blend of intuitive insight and finely honed listening skills to her career, rooted in her background in behavioral psychology. Her professional journey has been marked by a dedication to understanding consumer behavior and strategic planning for renowned brands like Mattel, Nickelodeon, and Unilever. However, alongside her succe...

This week, Brian Taylor sits down with Dr. Alison Huang, a senior research associate at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to delve into the complex relationship between loneliness, social networks, and hearing loss. Dr. Huang shares her expertise as both an epidemiologist and a gerontologist, discussing the prevalence of social isolation and loneliness among older adults, particu...

This week, host Bob Traynor welcomes Vanessa Gauthier-Davidson from Shoebox to discuss the evolution of online hearing screening and shed light on the development of Shoebox's online screening tool. The discussion covers the development process, accuracy factors, and the customizable nature of Shoebox's online screener. Vanessa discusses why an increasing number of clinics are implementing...

This week, host Dave Kemp is joined by Dr. David Rein to delve into the groundbreaking Sound Check study, a collaborative research and communications project led by NORC at the University of Chicago. This initiative aims to unveil the extent of hearing loss across the United States by state and county, highlighting its pervasive nature, especially among adults. With rates of hearing loss escalatin...