This Week in Hearing

Hearing care is evolving rapidly—are we ready for what’s next? In this conversation from the 2025 Future of Hearing Healthcare Conference, Andy Bellavia and Dave Kemp explore the trends reshaping hearing healthcare. From the growing influence of AI and consumer tech to the mainstreaming of OTC hearing aids, they discuss how new technologies are expanding access and improving outcomes for people wi...

Stigma remains one of the most enduring and complex barriers in hearing healthcare—shaping public perceptions of hearing loss, delaying help-seeking behaviors, and limiting the adoption of hearing technology across all age groups. Despite advances in treatment and expanded access through over-the-counter (OTC) devices, many people still hesitate to pursue care due to fears of looking old, feeling...

Modernizing audiology practice isn’t just about professional progress—it’s about improving patient care. In this session, moderator Dave Kemp leads a timely discussion with Dr. Alicia Spoor (Maryland), Dr. Kelley Linton (Arkansas), Dr. Brian Greenaway (Oregon), and Stephanie Czuhajewski, Executive Director of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), on the evolving legislative landscape shaping...

Cochlear implants remain vastly underutilized despite decades of evidence showing their ability to restore hearing and improve quality of life. In this episode, neurotologist Dr. Varun Varadarajan joins host Brian Taylor to explore the clinical, logistical, and cultural barriers that continue to limit access to cochlear implant care. Drawing on his background in music and neuroscience, Dr. Varadar...

From first consult to post-activation, cochlear implant success often depends on the strength of the care team behind the patient. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Zhan, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology and Director of the Northwestern Medicine Cochlear Implant Program, joins host Brian Taylor to discuss the evolving collaboration between cochlear implant surgeons and hearing care professionals. Dr...

Nuance Audio has officially introduced its over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid glasses to the U.S. market. In this episode, recorded at the launch event in New York, Andrew Bellavia speaks with Davide D’Alena of Nuance Audio and EssilorLuxottica, and John Luna, about the product’s development, regulatory journey, and plans for rollout. The glasses aim to assist individuals with mild to moderate hea...

How can hearing care professionals expand their reach by partnering with primary care? This week, Dr. Angela Morris, audiologist and Account Manager at Shoebox, discusses innovative approaches to integrating hearing screening into primary care workflows. Drawing from her experience as a former private practice owner and audiology leader, Dr. Morris discusses how Shoebox's QuickTest tool allows...

Can hearing aids be personalized for specific environments or even people with no measurable hearing loss? In this episode, recorded at the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), host Andrew Bellavia sits down with Dr. Pádraig Kitterick to explore the groundbreaking advancements behind NAL-NL3 and COSI 2.0.Together, they dive into the major updates to the world’s most widely used hearing aid fittin...

Gene therapy is rapidly emerging as a transformative approach for treating genetic hearing loss, with Regeneron advancing one of the field’s most promising candidates: DB-OTO. In this conversation, Regeneron's Auditory Global Program Head Dr. Jonathon Whitton provides an in-depth look at the company’s work developing a gene therapy targeting otoferlin-related hearing loss, a rare but significa...

In this week’s episode, host Bob Traynor is joined by Dr. Frank Musiek to discuss the upcoming second annual "Pathways: Quest for the Best in CAPD and Neuroaudiology ." This virtual symposium, set to take place on April 26, 2025, will focus on advancements and practical applications in diagnosing and treating Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) and neuroaudiology. Dr. Musiek hig...

Noise-induced hearing loss is on the rise among children, often due to prolonged exposure to loud music and environments without proper hearing protection. In this episode, Dr. Sherilyn Adler, Executive Director of the Ear Peace Foundation and co-author of HearO Saves the Day, discusses how her new children’s book introduces the concept of hearing protection in a fun and accessible way. Created wi...

Auracast has officially launched at the world-renowned Sydney Opera House, setting a new standard for hearing accessibility in live events. In this special episode, Andrew Bellavia takes us behind the scenes of this groundbreaking event, where he explores the powerful capabilities of Auracast technology and its transformative impact on hearing accessibility. Andrew reflects on his personal experie...

Caption Companion is a tool designed to provide real-time captioning without requiring an internet connection. In this conversation, Shari Eberts is joined by Margaret Downs, Executive Director of Premier Visual Voice, and Mathew Call, Director of Technology, to explore how this device can enhance accessibility for people with hearing loss. Equipped with a wireless microphone and user-friendly int...

Widex has introduced the Widex Allure , a new hearing aid platform designed to enhance speech clarity and improve awareness in various listening environments. Featuring the W1 chip and 'Precision Hearing Technology', the platform focuses on delivering clearer speech while maintaining natural sound awareness. In this conversation with Shari Eberts, Dana Helmink, Doctor of Audiology and Seni...

How will personalized audio solutions shape the future of hearing health? Dr. James Fielding, CEO of Audeara, discusses how integrating personalized sound is transforming both hearing care and consumer audio. In this conversation, Fielding takes us through Audeara’s journey, from its early days of custom audio devices to its expansion into hearing aid solutions. Audeara’s innovative approach is re...

A deeper understanding of how the brain regulates sound perception through inner ear nerve fibers could transform the way hearing loss is diagnosed and managed. In this conversation, Dr. John Oghalai explores groundbreaking research that uncovers the brain’s role in modulating cochlear nerve fibers to adjust sound levels in response to hearing loss. These findings provide new insights into auditor...

Dr. Barry Freeman has had a distinguished career that spans academia, private practice, industry and global audiology education. As a past president of the American Academy of Audiology, Dr. Freeman has been instrumental in shaping the profession, advancing the recognition of audiologists, and promoting access to quality hearing care. Dr. Freeman has been at the forefront of transforming audiology...

The Signia Pure Charge&Go BCT IX hearing aids bring several advanced upgrades designed to enhance the user experience. Powered by a newly redesigned chip, these hearing aids offer improved sound quality and extended battery life, providing up to 36 hours of use, including five hours of streaming. New features, such as a convenient LED light indicator and a tactile button for better handling, f...

Access to communication is a fundamental right, yet for many individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing in the prison system, it remains a significant challenge. In this discussion, Paul Lee, COO of InnoCaption, joins Shari Eberts to discuss InnoCaption Connect, a program designed to bring real-time captioned calls to incarcerated individuals. With an estimated 10% of the prison population experi...

AI is rapidly transforming hearing technology, and Femtosense is at the forefront of this shift. Sam Fok, co-founder and CEO of FemtoSense, discusses the company’s AI-driven chip technology and its applications in hearing aids, earbuds, and other audio devices. FemtoSense, founded in 2018 out of Stanford University, specializes in neuromorphic engineering, a method that mimics the brain’s efficien...

Hearing technology is evolving, and fully implantable devices are becoming a reality. In this discussion, Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical, joins Shari Eberts to talk about the company's fully implantable hearing solutions, including the Esteem active middle ear implant and the Acclaim fully implantable cochlear implant, which is currently in clinical trials. Unlike traditional hearing aids a...

Will genetic therapies revolutionize hearing loss treatment? Dr. Christo Bester, Head of Implant Innovation at Ear Science Institute Australia, discusses the emerging role of gene therapy and personalized medicine in hearing restoration. He highlights the Aussie Earbank initiative, a pioneering effort to collect genetic samples and audiometric data, helping researchers develop targeted treatments....

Hearing therapeutics are advancing rapidly, but how close are we to real breakthroughs? That was the focus of The State of Hearing Therapeutics , a panel discussion held during the 2025 Hearing Therapeutics Summit on February 4. Moderated by Brian Taylor, AuD, the panel featured Hugo Peris (Spiral Therapeutics), Tony Ricci, PhD (Stanford University School of Medicine), Jian Zuo, PhD (Ting Therapeu...

GN’s new ReSound Vivia hearing aids integrate advanced AI to deliver a more adaptive and personalized listening experience. The devices leverage a deep neural network (DNN) trained on 13.5 million spoken sentences, enabling it to differentiate speech from background noise more effectively than previous models. Alongside ReSound Vivia, GN also launched ReSound Savi, a new essentials range featuring...

Hearing loss affects millions worldwide, but could a cure be within reach? Researchers at Stanford’s SICHL are making significant strides in regenerative medicine and innovative therapies to address one of the most common sensory impairments. Dr. Tina Stankovic, Chair of Otolaryngology at Stanford University, discusses the latest advancements in hearing loss research and the collaborative approach...