This Week in Hearing

The Widex SmartRIC is a recently introduced hearing aid featuring a unique L-shaped design, strategically placing the microphones in a more horizontal orientation to enhance directionality and speech comprehension, particularly in noisy environments. In this week's discussion, Dana Helmink, AuD, Senior Director of Audiological Development at Widex, joins host Andrew Bellavia to provide an in-d...

Drs. David Eagleman and Izzy Kohler from Neosensory, join Amyn Amlani to explore their latest research findings on tinnitus management and speech clarity, utilizing the company's unique haptic wristband. The Washington Post recently highlighted Neosensory's Duo product, which has shown promising results in significantly reducing tinnitus loudness and frequency. The research found that the...

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, companies from around the world showcased their latest technologies. Dave Kemp hosts Andrew Bellavia to discuss his firsthand experience at CES, with a focus on innovations in hearing and hearable devices. Andy sheds light on the overarching technological advancements that are shaping the future of hearing devices. During his time at CES,...

Dr. Michael Valente's remarkable career in audiology, spanning over 30 years at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has left an indelible mark on the field of audiology. Holding various roles such as director, professor, researcher, and clinician, he has been a prolific author and editor, contributing significantly to the profession's knowledge base. Dr. Valente's fo...

Shari Eberts sits down with Stephen Schultz, a globally acclaimed baroque flutist, to discuss his remarkable career and journey with hearing loss. Schultz, recognized for his flawless artistry on the Baroque flute, reveals his struggle with otosclerosis, a middle ear condition that led to a progressive hearing loss. Overcoming initial apprehensions regarding stigma and professional consequences, S...

In this engaging conversation with Gael Hannan, wellness and nutrition expert Kevin English recounts his transformative journey to improved health and addressing his hearing loss. Confronting challenges of weight, inactivity, and stress in his 40s, Kevin initiated substantial lifestyle changes after a hospitalization wake-up call. Over the next decade, he honed healthy habits, and now approaching...

Host Amyn Amlani speaks with Victoria Carr-Brendel, President of Advanced Bionics and Group Vice President (GVP) of Cochlear Implants at Sonova, about the recent advancements in Advanced Bionics' Marvel cochlear implant product and its associated features. Following FDA approval, the company is broadening its Marvel CI product line to include remote programming accessible via patients' sma...

This week, host Gael Hannan has an insightful discussion with audiologist Nashlea Brogan, AuD, about her personal experience with progressive hearing loss. Diagnosed as a teenager, Brogan went on to get hearing aids and eventually bilateral cochlear implants as her hearing worsened over time. She shares openly about her journey, from struggling with hearing aid use in high school to the major iden...

This week, Dr. Victoria Sanchez of the University of South Florida, and Dr. Shannon Basham of Phonak, join host Amyn Amlani to discuss the ACHIEVE study, a multi-year randomized controlled trial examining the effects of best-practice hearing care interventions on cognitive decline in older adults. The study results found that for those at higher risk of cognitive decline, providing hearing aids an...

The transition from working as a clinical audiologist to taking on a role in a corporate audiology setting can be a major career shift. A group of audiology professionals discusses their own journeys from clinic to corporate and the challenges and rewards such a change can bring. The panelists highlight the importance of being open-minded, embracing new adventures and diverse experiences that corp...

HearUSA President Nick Mengerink outlines the company’s strategy to tackle the large unmet need in hearing care, including opening 25+ sleek “Centers of the Future” by March 2024. These revamped spaces feature welcome hubs for client intake, innovation walls showcasing the latest technology, and upgraded private consultation rooms to optimize appointments. The goals are improving accessibility, tr...

In this video, Andrew Bellavia shares his experience demoing the new Auracast™ broadcast audio technology at the 2023 EUHA congress in Nuremberg, Germany. He visits the Bluetooth SIG booth to learn how Auracast™ enables audio sharing and accessibility in public spaces and has the opportunity to participate in a demo where he listens to different TVs and gate announcements in an airport scenario. H...

In this special episode, host Andrew Bellavia engages in discussions with several prominent hearing aid companies at the 2023 EUHA conference in Nuremberg, Germany, exploring the trajectory of hearing care advancements. Conversations with GN revolve around enhancements in speech in noisy environments, connectivity facilitated by Auracast, and discreet design elements. Signia's focus includes t...

Ron Ganot from Tuned and Delain Wright from Intricon join Amyn Amlani in a discussion about the current status and future potential of the over-the-counter (OTC) hearing device market. Despite slower adoption rates than expected, the conversation highlights that the category is in its early stages, anticipating significant advancements in technology, services, and accessibility channels to cater t...

Despite increased availability of hearing devices, their adoption remains disappointingly low globally. This week, joined by Dr. Sophie Brice and Dr. Brent Edwards, Andrew Bellavia leads a discussion on global accessibility in hearing care, shedding light on the reasons behind the gap, focusing not only on those diagnosed with hearing loss but also individuals encountering situational struggles. T...

Over the past 70 years, the field of hearing augmentation has seen remarkable advancements, transitioning from archaic ear trumpets to discrete digital aids with personalized features like Bluetooth connectivity and mobile app customization. Knowles Corporation's invention of balanced armatures has been pivotal in driving the industry towards high-performance hearing solutions and premium soun...

Dr. Robert Sweetow is an accomplished clinician, educator, and researcher in audiology. His career has been marked by a dedication to patient care, teaching, and research that has been widely acknowledged within the global community of audiologists. Recognized for his substantial contributions spanning aural rehabilitation, hearing aids, tinnitus, counseling, and forensics. He currently holds the...

In this week's episode, Brian Taylor revisits the topic of cochlear implants and sits down for a follow-up conversation with Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical. Expanding on their previous discussion from last year, the interview explores the company's latest advancements. The discussion highlights the outcomes of a clinical trial at Mayo Clinic involving the Acclaim fully implanted cochlea...

Neurosoft Bioelectronics is leading the way in the development of sophisticated soft implantable electrodes designed to interact with the brain and address severe neurological disorders. In this week's discussion, host Bob Traynor engages in a conversation with CEO Nicolas Vachicouras, delving into the company's pioneering initiatives to create an implantable brain interface device aimed a...

The recently published book “Teleaudiology Today: Remote Assessment and Management of Hearing Loss” provides a practical guide for audiologists looking to adopt telehealth practices. Co-authors Vinaya Manchaiah, PhD, and De Wet Swanepoel, PhD, discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated increased use of teleaudiology for screening, diagnostics, hearing aid fittings, and rehabilitation services....

This discussion centers on ASI Audio's groundbreaking 3DME in-ear monitoring system, which recently earned them the prestigious title of 'Innovator of the Year' in the 2023 Hearing Technology Innovator Awards. Hosted by Andrew Bellavia, the conversation features Dr. Michael Santucci, President of Sensaphonics and ASI Audio, and Evan Mackenzie, VP of Marketing and Sales for ASI Audio. T...

This week, host Andrew Bellavia sits down with Dr. Janice Trent, VP of Audiology Practice at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) to break down the findings of ASHA's survey on over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. They discuss the surprisingly low adoption rate, with only 2% of individuals interested in OTC hearing aids having purchased them in the past year. The conversatio...

This week, host Dr. Bob Traynor discusses the groundbreaking tele-audiology platform with his guest Renée Lefrançois, an audiologist at SHOEBOX. With a comprehensive range of tests, including air conduction and bone conduction assessments, speech testing, video otoscopy, and speech-in-noise evaluations, the innovative platform allows clinicians to provide high-quality hearing care remotely. They e...

This week, Shari Eberts sits down with Paul Travers, the CEO of Vuzix, and Monique Clark, the COO of SignGlasses. The discussion revolves around the fascinating technology in SignGlasses, which seeks to provide accessibility for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. SignGlasses are a wearable computing device that appears as ordinary glasses, but is designed to seamlessly bring language accessib...

This week, Laurel Christensen, Chief Audiology Officer at GN Hearing, joins host Andrew Bellavia for a deep dive into the company's latest hearing technology: ReSound Nexia. They discuss the evolution of hearing aid technology over the past decade and how GN's latest devices are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including Bluetooth Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) and seamless compatib...