Dr. Prashant Malhotra - Cochlear Implants, Passion for Medicine, and Conscious Parenting

On this weeks episode we are chatting with Dr. Prashant Malhotra, an Otolaryngologist with a special interest in improving hearing. In this conversation he tells us why he got into medicine and explains why he is so passionate about hearing and the impact that improved hearing can have on a persons life. He specializes in pediatrics, but we also discuss hearing loss in adults. We talk about the stigma in adults with hearing loss and how scary it can be and in turn can cause social isolation, embarrassment, and withdrawing. We were surprised to find out that there are more adult candidates for cochlear implants now due to surgical advances and technology. We discuss what to look for in children with hearing loss and about how impactful the universal newborn hearing screenings have been to discover hearing loss now at ages 2-3 months instead of 2-3 years of age! Discovering pediatric hearing loss early can prevent developmental delays and can change a child’s whole life trajectory so it is so important to have testing done as soon as possible. Dr. Malhotra goes on to tell us how he met his wife (who is also a physician), how they navigated residency, and how they have been conscious about raising their two children. He discusses what it was like for him to resist the urge to become a doctor due to stereotypes and how he wants to foster individualism in his own children. Teaching them to live for themselves and their own unique dreams. We were so inspired by his values that he desires to instill in his children and how he and his wife show up willingly for each other to set great examples for their children. Make sure you listen all the way to the end to hear our full twenty minute conversation on cheese. Yup, that’s right, twenty minutes on cheese!