This Week in Hearing

The hearing aid market is undergoing a transformative period, marked by the convergence of traditional hearing aids and consumer audio devices. This week, Brian Taylor takes the guest seat to discuss these trends with Shari Eberts. Taylor highlights the evolution of artificial intelligence in hearing aids, noting its long-standing role in the industry and its growing sophistication. Major hearing...

For audiologists like Glynnis Tidball, managing tinnitus effectively involves more than just therapy—it’s about empowering patients with personalized and compassionate care. In this episode, Gael Hannan interviews her personal audiologist, who works at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada, specializing in both cochlear implants and tinnitus management. Glynnis shares how her journey into tinni...

ELEHEAR is positioning itself as a forward-thinking player in the OTC hearing aid market, evolving from an OEM supplier to a direct-to-consumer brand focused on accessibility and innovation. Shari Eberts talks with Jalene Nadeau, Chief Audiologist & Director of Customer Support at ELEHEAR, about the company’s strategic shift and their efforts to make high-quality hearing technology widely avai...

How can AI make the journey to better hearing smoother for OTC hearing aid users? In this episode from the EUHA show floor, Tuned co-founders Omri Gavish and Ron Ganot, joined by Board Advisor Delain Wright, discuss their recent collaboration with JVC to introduce hearing aids equipped with streaming and rechargeability. More importantly, they reveal Tuned’s AI-based care model, which helps users...

Rally Caps is not just another baseball movie—it's a powerful story about overcoming adversity, friendship, and authentic representation of hearing loss. In this episode, Shari Eberts speaks with Jodi Cutler, co-author of the book that inspired the film, and Lee Cipolla, the film’s director. Rally Caps follows Jordy, a young baseball player with cochlear implants, and Lucas, his teammate and mento...

What will audiology look like in 2050? In this insightful discussion, Doctors Amyn Amlani and Jason Leyendecker sit down with Dave Kemp to explore the Audiology 2050 initiative, a visionary roadmap from the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) aiming to elevate the profession to meet future challenges. Born from a thorough review of audiology's history and current challenges, Audiology 2050 seeks...

OTOPLAN©, a specialized tool for surgeons and audiologists, enables 3D reconstructions of patients' cochleas using CT and MRI scans. This capability optimizes electrode array selection before surgery and enhances implant programming afterward. Since achieving FDA clearance in the U.S., OTOPLAN has been adopted by over 225 clinical centers, processing more than 3,200 scans and providing clinicians...

How does audiology intersect with the legal system? Dr. Robert Traynor, an expert in forensic audiology, delves into this unique area where audiologists apply their knowledge to assist in legal cases involving hearing loss, tinnitus, and injury claims. Dr. Traynor, inspired by Marc Kramer’s 1982 book Forensic Audiology, explains how forensic audiologists help attorneys and courts understand comple...

What if we could dramatically accelerate the process of turning tinnitus research into real-world clinical solutions? In this discussion, Jeffery Reagan and Dr. James Henry introduce the idea of a Tinnitus Learning Health Network, a collaborative model aimed at bridging the gap between research, clinical practice, and patient experiences. By fostering open communication and collaboration among the...

Starkey's Dave Fabry and Achin Bhowmik delve into the advanced capabilities of the Edge AI hearing aids, discussing the improvements over the previous Genesis AI model. They highlight the always-on deep neural network (DNN), which continuously adapts to different sound environments, offering a seamless experience for users. The Edge mode feature has been enhanced, allowing users to boost speech cl...

Building on their reputation as a direct-to-consumer innovator, Eargo is now entering the prescriptive hearing aid market, offering patients and audiologists a new level of control and care with their cutting-edge devices. CEO Bill Brownie reflects on Eargo's journey, highlighting how their invisible, rechargeable devices have evolved to meet the demands of patients who want both cutting-edge tech...

Jian Zuo, CEO of Ting Therapeutics, discusses the latest updates on otoprotective agents for three conditions: antibiotic-induced hearing loss, cisplatin-induced hearing loss, and noise-induced hearing loss. Dr. Zuo explains the science behind the company's innovative drug candidates and how they aim to address the unmet need for hearing protection. Zuo provides an overview of Ting Therapeutics’ p...

How do we communicate the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline without misleading patients? In this keynote session from the 2024 Academy of Doctors of Audiology conference, Dr. Jan Blustein dives deep into the challenge of delivering clear and ethical messages about hearing health. She addresses the common pitfalls in public health communication, such as headlines that claim "hearing a...

Host Bob Traynor continues his conversation with Renee Lefrancois, Director of Audiology at Shoebox, on the vital role of ototoxicity monitoring. Renee explains the different types of ototoxicity, including cochleotoxicity, vestibulotoxicity, and neurotoxicity, and how early signs like hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance issues can indicate ototoxic damage. The conversation emphasizes the global n...

Ototoxicity monitoring is a vital tool for preserving hearing in patients undergoing treatments with ototoxic medications, such as those used for cancer or tuberculosis. Bob Traynor and Renee Lafrancois from Shoebox Audiometry discuss the practical applications of this monitoring and how accessible tools are making it easier for clinicians to integrate into patient care. Renee explains the global...

At the 2024 Academy of Doctors of Audiology conference, a panel featuring Andrew Bellavia, Steve Taddei, and David Kemp provided insights into current innovations in hearing healthcare with a focus on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics, devices, and care delivery. The wide-ranging discussion began by diving into how AI-driven tools such as automated audiograms, real-ear...

Join Gael Hannan as she chats with legendary drummer and keynote speaker Mark Schulman. With an impressive career spanning over 30 years, Mark has played for musical legends like Pink, Cher, and Stevie Nicks, performing for over a billion people. Mark opens up about his journey with hearing loss and tinnitus, a challenge he has faced throughout his 30-year career. He discusses the importance of pr...

This week we are joined by Dr. Daniel Sun, Director of the Division of Neurotology and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, to discuss his pioneering research in hearing loss treatment. Addressing the challenges of delivering large molecule medications to the inner ear, Dr. Sun introduces a novel approach using magnetic nanoparticles. These par...

Sony has introduced the CRE-C20, the latest addition to its line of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Building on the success of the CRE-C10, the new CRE-C20 retains the sleek, completely-in-canal (CIC) design while offering significant enhancements like a built-in rechargeable battery that delivers up to 28 hours of continuous use. The CRE-C20 is designed for individuals with mild to moderate...

Host Andrew Bellavia takes us on an in-depth exploration of Phonak's latest hearing aid platform, Infinio, which features a number of benefits both for the HCP at fitting and for the end-user in daily life. The most exciting innovation is in the model named Sphere which incorporates a powerful deep neural network chip to perform speech and noise separation in an ear-worn device for the very fi...

Gael Hannan sits down with Christy Vogel, the inspiring founder of Sounding Joy. Christy shares her deeply personal journey with hereditary hearing loss, recounting the struggles she faced growing up without hearing aids and how those challenges ultimately fueled her mission to help others. Through her nonprofit, Sounding Joy, Christy is dedicated to providing hearing aids to children from low-inc...

Host Bob Traynor sits down with Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO of Starkey, as he celebrates his 30th anniversary in the hearing industry. Brandon reflects on his journey from working summer jobs at Starkey to ultimately leading the company. He shares how hands-on experiences with hearing aids shaped his perspective, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, leadership, and curiosity. Brandon co...

Host Bob Traynor sits down with Kerrie Coughlin, Vice President of Marketing & Innovation at Rexton, to discuss the company's new Reach technology platform. The conversation highlights the capabilities of the Reach platform, designed to enhance communication in challenging listening environments. Coughlin explains that Reach incorporates advanced features like multi-voice focus, which is d...

Evan Solot is a celebrated music composer and trumpet player whose illustrious career spans over five decades, featuring collaborations with legends like Frank Sinatra and Bette Midler. In this episode, host Shari Eberts delves into Solot's remarkable journey, focusing on how he has navigated the challenges of hearing loss without letting it hinder his professional success. Solot discusses the...

Host Dave Kemp sits down with Shadi Chakoutahi, the owner of Staffing Proxy, to discuss the current state of the employment market within the audiology sector. Shadi, whose firm specializes in recruiting and HR within hearing health, shares insights from her daily interactions with both prospective employees and employers. She highlights the challenges and trends in the market, such as generationa...