The HearingTracker Podcast: Hearing Aids, Hearing Technology, and Hearing Loss
Join host Dr. Steve Taddei to learn about the disruptive products and services that are starting to make inroads into the vast underserved community of people with untreated hearing loss. You'll also meet industry insiders to learn about the scientific and technological advancements that are driving the better results when it comes to hearing your phone, your television, your loved ones, and yes, even in noise. And you'll meet people just like you, who are learning how to best cope with their hearing problems.
Episodes
Did you know that a healthy social life is a better predictor of longevity than smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption? In today's episode of The HearingTracker Podcast, host Steve Taddei speaks with Brandy Heckroodt, the Audiology Development Manager at Phonak, about the connection between hearing loss, social connections, and general health. You'll learn how hearing loss can lead to social isolation and physical inactivity, wh...
In today's episode of The HearingTracker Podcast, host Steve Taddei speaks with Rick Radia, the Product and Partnership Manager at AudioTelligence. Based in Cambridge (England), AudioTelligence aims to solve the "Cocktail Party Problem" using its Aiso™ for Hearing, which combines Blind Source Separation (BSS) and low-latency noise suppression. Tune in to hear audio samples of Aiso™ for Hearing, and to find out how the technology mi...
In today's episode of The HearingTracker Podcast, host Steve Taddei talks to Dr. Don Schum, the Head of Audiology at Whisper. Based in San Francisco, Whisper manufactures hearing aids that remove background noise through "denoising", a process that relies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). In the interview, Dr. Schum provides some history on Whisper's creation and mission, and explains—in layman's term...
In today's episode of the HearingTracker Podcast, host Steve Taddei interviews Giles Tongue, CEO & Co-Founder at Chatable. Giles is passionate about conversation enhancement technology, and his company is a frontrunner in the race to revolutionize the True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds for the 1.5 billion people who suffer from hearing loss globally. Tune in for an update on the state of the art, and to find out what to expect ...
In today's episode of The HearingTracker Podcast, host Steve Taddei talks to two creative young entrepreneurs looking to revolutionize the way we hear.
Nick Morgan-Jones, the founder of Decibels, wants to throw out the term "hearing aids" and make hearing aids less medical, more fashionable, and a lot more visible. Nick tried hearing aids for the first time when he was 10 years old, but the stigma of wearing hearing aids and ...
In this episode of the HearingTracker podcast, host Steve Taddei interviews Justin Miller, CEO and cofounder of Nuheara. Based in Australia, Nuheara has been an innovator in the consumer wireless earbuds industry since 2016. With their latest product, IQBuds Max, Nuheara offers a robust direct-to-consumer hearing enhancement product, which is widely used as a solution for mild hearing loss.
48 million Americans suffer from mild-to-moderate hearing loss. And only 14% of Americans with hearing loss currently own a hearing aid. As we move into a new era of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, and telehealth-facilitated hearing care, startups like Lexie and Nuheara are looking to capitalize by offering more convenient, more affordable hearing solutions. And, established industry players are also looking to get in the game...
In 2021, most hearing aids can be adjusted remotely, from the comfort and safety of your home. It's easy to connect with an audiologist through video-conferencing services like Zoom, to discuss your experiences and receive intimate private counseling. And there are even direct-to-consumer hearing aids that can be purchased over the internet, with follow-up services provided remotely by licensed hearing healthcare practitioners.&nbs...
In today’s episode, we speak with two hearing aid experts to learn about wireless audio streaming in modern hearing aids. Today's hearing aids can stream multimedia and calls from your phone, but also have the ability to tap into shared audio streams through magnetic induction loops, or "hearing loops", which are installed in public spaces like auditoriums and churches. While hearing loops are the current state of the art, we'll al...
In today’s episode, we spoke with Valerie James Abbott, the author of the children’s book Padapillo. Padapillo explores the emotional process family members often experience when a young child is unexpectedly diagnosed with hearing loss. Valerie shares her family’s real life journey too. After her daughter Bridget was diagnosed with hearing loss in preschool, the Abbott family did all they could to ensure Bridget's success.
Dr. Car...
In today's episode, we talk to leaders from three prominent hearing loss and tinnitus support groups, Tinnitus Hub, Hands & Voices, and the Association of Late Deafened Adults. Whether you are suffering from the effects of hearing loss or tinnitus personally, or have a child or loved one experiencing hearing-related issues, today's episode is a great place to start. These groups are filled with supportive, caring, like-minded i...
The term "bionic" is defined by Oxford Languages as "having artificial body parts, especially electromechanical ones." In today's episode, we learn about a new type of hearing aid that converts everyday sounds into a series of unique vibrations. Our guest, neuroscientist Dr. David Eagleman, explains how our brains begin to "hear" these vibrations through a process called "sensory substitution". We also talk to cochlear implant wear...
A link between COVID-19 and sudden hearing loss has begun to emerge. In this episode of the Hearing Tracker Podcast, we speak directly with leading researchers to gain a better understanding of the connection. We also chat with someone who experienced a sudden hearing loss first-hand.
In this episode we are joined by Professor Kevin Munro PhD, MSc, Ewing Professor of Audiology, Director of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and De...
Search Google for "Hearing Loss Cures" and you'll be inundated with pseudoscientific cures and other quackery. While there is currently no magic pill to cure your hearing problems, there are some legitimate science-backed hearing therapies that have begun to emerge over the past few years. In today's episode, we talk to leading pharmaceutical and digital hearing therapy providers to learn about the current and future prospects for ...
Science fiction has always depicted a future where humans and robots live side-by-side. We've seen stories where robots help with daily activities, return from the future, and others where humans obtain robotic body parts. Blurring the lines between human and machine altogether. Today, thanks to advancements in medical sciences, our reality isn't that far off from these once futuristic stories. And some of these advancements have a...
Steve Taddei: In season one, we spoke with movers and shakers to learn about hearing loss, new technologies, and the latest research. In those previous discussions, it was evident that we're living in an unprecedented time with amazing hearing technology ... technology that was unimaginable a few short years ago.
In case you missed it, we discussed the changing landscape with hearing aid coverage and insurances. Here's an excerpt f...
In Episode 8 of the Hearing Tracker Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Chad Ruffin, MD, a cochlear implant surgeon in the Seattle, WA area. Dr. Ruffin wears cochlear implants himself, and in the interview, he talks about the challenges he faced while training as surgeon at one of the countries most rigorous otolaryngology residency programs. He also discusses his ongoing efforts to mentor medical students with hearing los...
In Episode 7 of the Hearing Tracker Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Franck, PhD, MBA, Director of Audiology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Faculty at Harvard Medical School. In the interview, Dr. Franck discusses the future of hearing aids and hearing healthcare in United States, with a focus on disruptive technology and how he sees over-the-counter hearing aids improving ac...
In Episode 6 of the Hearing Tracker Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Tina Childress, an Educational Audiologist and late-deafened adult with bilateral cochlear implants. In the interview, Tina discusses her passion for improving accessibility, with a focus on cutting-edge tech solutions like automatic speech recognition (ASR). She also discusses how communication has changed in the COVID-19 era and what you can do to st...
In Episode 5 of the Hearing Tracker Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Laurel Christensen, PhD, Chief Audiology Officer at GN Hearing. Dr Christensen discusses the latest hearing-enhancement technologies developed by GN, including the new M&RIE (microphone-and-receiver-in-ear) hearing aid form factor, which improves sound quality, sound localization, and wind noise.
The new M&RIE is available in the f...
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