Beyond the Decibels

In this episode, Bob Hendry and Wendy Potts reconnect with Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Listening & Spoken Language Specialist Jamy Claire Archer to explore how auditory-verbal therapy helps children and adults with hearing loss build listening and spoken-language skills. They share memorable therapy moments, explain what comprehensive care looks like (from device checks to family coa...

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels , sponsored by Cochlear North America. Today we’re chatting with Dr. René Gifford about how cochlear implant care is changing and why the new Cochlear Care Consensus was developed. She discusses why this collaborative effort is important, what it means for clinical decision‑making and how it can help patients achieve their full hearing potential. For more information...

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, brought to you by Cochlear Americas. Today we are wrapping up our 2-part series on untreated hearing loss. For this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Zhan who will discuss the importance of hearing health, the new clinical practice guidelines for age-related hearing loss and where wearable tech fits in. We’ll also explore why hearing loss doesn’t just affect your e...

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Decibels, brought to you by Cochlear North America. This episode is the first of a 2-part series, where we’ll explore the growing number of untreated hearing loss cases in the U.S., the broader health and societal costs and the impact on individual wellbeing. As leading researchers in this space, Dr. Jennifer Deal and Dr. Ashley Nassiri will share insights...

In this episode of Beyond the Decibels , we sit down with Dr. Michael Hoa, neurotologist at MedStar Health and Professor of Otolaryngology at Georgetown University. Dr. Hoa opens up about his unexpected passion for cooking, and dives into the art and science of intraoperative cochlear implant testing. He discusses how rapid advancements in technology are reshaping surgical protocols and shares why...

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels , the podcast where clinical expertise meets auditory innovation. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Charles Limb, a distinguished otolaryngologist, neuroscientist, and TED Talk speaker whose work is shaping our understanding of how the brain processes music in individuals with cochlear implants. While cochlear implants have dramatically improved speech perception...

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels ! In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Meredith Holcomb to talk about how her clinic is streamlining care for hearing implant patients. She shares how the University of Miami's “whole clinic” approach improves coordination and workflow, increases accessibility and helps patients get to implantation faster. You'll also get to hear practical tips from her for...

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels , the podcast where clinical insight meets innovation in hearing healthcare. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Matt Shew, neurotologist at Washington University in St. Louis, whose research is pushing the boundaries of cochlear implant candidacy and outcome prediction. For decades, candidacy has been determined using standardized protocols—effective, but limited i...

In this episode of Beyond the Decibels , we sit down with Dr. Kat Tribulski, a leading voice in gaming and sound processor connectivity, to explore how today’s technology is transforming the gaming experience for individuals with hearing loss. Kat shares how integrated audio streaming and accessory connectivity—especially in immersive games like her favorite, Baldur’s Gate —are allowing gamers wit...

Welcome to this episode of Beyond the Decibels . Today, we’re joined by Daisy Kent, a cochlear implant recipient and former contestant on The Bachelor . In this conversation, Daisy shares her experience adjusting to life with a cochlear implant - from the moment it was activated to the unexpected sounds she encountered along the way. Her story offers a candid look at the challenges and breakthroug...

Welcome to Season 2 of Beyond the Decibels ! We are thrilled to kick off this season with the one and only, Dr. Bruce Gantz. Dr. Gantz is the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, and is celebrated for pioneering cochlear implant surgery at the University of Iowa since 1980.  In this episode, he reflects on the evolution of cochlear implants,...

In this episode of "Beyond the Decibels," we sit down with Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD of the Cleveland Clinic to explore her unique journey and insights in the field of audiology and healthcare. Initially pre-dental in college, Sarah looked within to discover her true passions, leading her to a fulfilling career in audiology. As an Associate Chief Improvement Officer, she discusses how th...

"There’s a big difference between just speaking a language and understanding the culture.” In this episode, Dr. Ivette Cejas joins Wendy Potts and Robert Hendry to explore the intersection of psychology, audiology, and cultural competence in cochlear implant care. Listen in as Dr. Cejas highlights her experience in treating the whole patient and offers valuable resources for professionals wor...

On this episode of Beyond the Decibels, Chelsea Anderson, PhD, a Speech-Language Pathologist and researcher who worked at Hearts for Hearing in Oklahoma, shared her experiences in counseling children with hearing loss. Hear about how the Hearts for Hearing philosophy of “Eyes Open, Ears On” and their approach to counseling the “whole child” have brought about more empowered parents and successful...

When audiologist, Sandra Porps, AuD, of Michigan Ear Institute needed to improve efficiencies in her clinic, she had no idea of the positive impact it would have on the whole practice.  To meet the needs of their patients, Michigan Ear Institute adopted a new care model for cochlear implant patients. These changes enabled them to reduce their patient visit schedule and increase remote care support...

Join us for an engaging discussion with Dr. Matt Bush, a leading expert in otolaryngology and hearing implants. Dr. Bush shares his journey into the field and the key moments that led him to specialize in hearing implants. You’ll hear this take on the challenges of access to care and healthcare inequities, along with innovative strategies he’s used to address these issues. You’ll also hear him dis...

We had the pleasure of chatting with fellow podcaster, audiologist and bimodal recipient, Katie Farnsworth, AuD.  Dr. Farnsworth is a pediatric audiologist at Lurie Children’s hospital of Chicago and launched a podcast with the support of her team. Listen to our discussion on how Katie supports her patients with empathy, and an understanding that each person’s path is different, and how she finds...

If you've worked with cochlear implants, you likely know Dr. Bill Shapiro. Join us for a special birthday edition to gain insights from his extensive experience, learn about his methods for measuring success, and hear his vision for the role of artificial intelligence in the future of cochlear implants. If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a rev...

We had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Scott Brown from Atlanta Institute for ENT. He shared his ideas on how to increase awareness for cochlear implants, how he has seen the cochlear implant procedure evolve through the years and what that means for activation timing. For additional information on the Nucleus SmartNav System, visit our website . If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subs...

Spend the next few minutes with us to learn from Dr. Abby Meyer, pediatric ENT at Children's Minnesota, as she fills us in on what Minnesota is doing to implement universal screening for cytomegalovirus (CMV). You'll hear about their ongoing research, how data is driving patient care, and how they are educating families about CMV. For more information about CMV, please visit these resour...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shawn Stevens from the Barrow Neurological Institute, a dedicated otolaryngologist who was born in the very hospital where he now operates. Dr. Stevens shares his journey of expanding his reach across the Phoenix market, making implantable hearing solutions accessible to more people in his community. Dr. Stevens also shares his involvement in various activitie...

Dr. Jill Firszt is a Professor in Audiology and Communication Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and has dedicated her career to understanding single-sided deafness and how it impacts those affected. During CI2024 in Vancouver, she was awarded the ACI Alliance 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for her accomplishments. In this episode, you'll hear about the patient who got her intere...

In this episode of Beyond the Decibels, hear from our President and CEO, Dig Howitt, while he was attending CI2024 in Vancouver. You'll hear about his thoughts and key takeaways from the conference and also get a chance to learn how this cement-industry engineer became the President of Cochlear Limited.   If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a r...

Listen in as we set the stage for CI2024 Vancouver. During this incredible conference held in July, we had the opportunity to interview a number of leading experts in our field. Stay tuned for their episodes!  If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you. Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North A...

Lisa Aubert, President of Cochlear North America joins us to discuss how she got into audiology, how things have changed over the years, and what you can expect from this podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you. Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global...