Beyond the Decibels

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 in their ability to account for the co...

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 with hearing loss to access richer, more ...

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 breakthroughs that come with hearing through a co...

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, hybrid hearing*, and hearing preserv...

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 their clinic is delivering c...

"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 working with diverse populations.

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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 rehabilitation.

The Cochlear Nu...

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, all while maintaining patient sati...

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 discuss considerations and capabilitie...

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 new ways to support her patients th...

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.

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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 subscribe button, give us a rat...

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 resources:
CMV and Congeni...

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 activities and presentations, highlighting hi...

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 interested in studying asymmetric hearing...

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.  

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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 Americas. Cochlear is a global lea...

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 Americas. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing so...

Allison Biever, Audiologist at Rocky Mountain Ear Center shares with us her love of running, her 32 years in audiology, and what she hopes to see over the next 30 plus years.

In the United States, the Cochlear Nucleus Implant System is approved for use in children 9 to 24 months of age who have profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and demonstrate limited benefit from appropriate hearing aids. Children 2 years o...