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Health & Fitness

This Week in Hearing

This Week in Hearing

The place where subject matter experts across the "World of Hearing" come together to discuss all things hearing health, hearing aids, hearables, consumer audio, and everything in-between.

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  • 26 episodes
  • Avg 30 min
  • English

Episodes 26

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  • May 15 · 29 min

    348 - How I Hear: Shanna Groves on Life with Hearing Loss

    Author and advocate Shanna Groves shares the emotional reality of living, parenting, and communicating with progressive hearing loss. In this conversation with Shari Eberts, the creator of Lip Reading Mom discusses her experience growing up with an undiagnosed hearing loss, navigating motherhood and professional life with hearing challenges, and ultimately receiving a cochlear implant in 2025.Shanna reflects on the emotional process of accepting hearing loss, the communication fatigue that often comes with relying on lip reading, and the importance of finding confidence, community, and self-advocacy along the way. She also explains how advancements in technology — from hearing aids to cochlear implants and video communication platforms — have helped reshape both her personal and professional life.The discussion also explores Shanna’s work teaching lip reading classes, her Deafinitely Talking Podcast, and the inspiration behind her new book How I Hear: Confessions of a Lip-Reading Mom. Throughout the conversation, she shares honest insights about grief, resilience, parenting, identity, and why authentic hearing loss stories matter for people at every stage of their journey.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

  • May 7 · 23 min

    347 - AI Meets Accessibility: Improving Communication Beyond Traditional Captions

    What if phone calls and video chats could finally adapt to the way people with hearing loss actually communicate?In this conversation, Gael Hannan speaks with Paul Lee, COO of InnoCaption, about the company’s latest accessibility innovations designed to improve communication for people with hearing loss. From AI-powered text-to-speech tools and predictive communication features to the launch of the new InnoCaption Video app with live captions for video calls, the discussion explores how advances in AI and accessibility technology are reshaping everyday communication experiences.Paul explains how InnoCaption’s FCC-funded captioned calling service works, including its combination of automated speech recognition and live stenographers, and discusses the company’s newly introduced AI Refine feature that helps users quickly generate natural-sounding responses during phone calls. The conversation also explores how these tools may benefit cochlear implant users, Deaf ASL users, and anyone navigating communication barriers in daily life.The discussion also highlights the emotional and social impact of communication accessibility, including how captioned video calls can help improve understanding between people with hearing loss and their friends, family members, and colleagues.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing - https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing Visit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

  • April 30 · 6 min

    346 - Phonak and USA Pickleball Team Up to Promote Hearing Health

    What does hearing have to do with performance on the pickleball court?Live from the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Conference 2026 in San Antonio, Shari Eberts speaks with Christine Jones, Vice President of Marketing, Wholesale U.S. at Sonova, about Phonak’s new partnership with USA Pickleball and the launch of the nationwide “Hear to Win” campaign.The initiative aims to encourage a more proactive approach to hearing health by highlighting the role hearing plays in social connection, communication, and active lifestyles. With nearly 20 million players in the U.S., pickleball offers a fast-growing platform to engage consumers through tournaments, courtside activations, and digital outreach—including hearing screenings, technology demonstrations, and connections to local providers.In the conversation, Jones discusses how hearing technology is being positioned as a performance enabler in both sports and everyday environments, and how the campaign is designed to bring greater awareness to hearing health through community engagement and real-world experiences.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing - https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing Visit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

  • April 28 · 20 min

    345 - U.S. Ski Jumper Estella Hassrick on Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Competing at the Highest Level

    What does it take to compete at the highest level of sport while growing up with hearing loss?In this conversation, U.S. ski jumper Estella Hassrick shares her journey—from being diagnosed with hereditary cochlear dysplasia at age three to competing on the U.S. national team. She discusses the realities of hearing loss in high-performance sports, including the challenges of wearing hearing aids under a helmet, navigating school and training environments, and adapting along the way.Estella also reflects on how hearing technology has evolved over her lifetime, her experience working with audiologists, and the role of support systems—including her partnership with Widex. Throughout the discussion, she offers perspective on resilience, identity, and what it means to pursue ambitious goals while managing hearing loss.Her message is clear: hearing loss may change the path—but it doesn’t define the outcome.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/Audio podcast can be found on all major platforms, including Apple & Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisweekinhearing

  • April 20 · 24 min

    344 - Sound Preference: Bridging the Gap in Hearing Aid Fit and Satisfaction

    Could understanding individual sound preference be the key to improving hearing aid adoption and satisfaction? Bob Traynor, live from WSA headquarters in Copenhagen, speaks with Lise Henningsen, Head of Audiology Evidence & Validation at WSA, about the emerging concept of sound preference—and why it may be a missing piece in hearing care. Drawing on WSA’s latest research, they discuss how patients with similar audiograms can have very different reactions to sound processing, and why traditional best practices alone don’t always lead to successful outcomes. The conversation explores how clinicians have long observed this variability in practice, often working across multiple brands and sound philosophies to better match patient needs. Henningsen explains how sound preference—though difficult to measure—plays a meaningful role in patient experience, influencing comfort, satisfaction, and long-term device use. WSA is now working to better define and quantify sound preference through ongoing research, including controlled studies with the University of Washington and Vanderbilt University. These efforts aim to better understand how preference affects acclimatization, mood, and overall outcomes—and how simple tools, such as short listening assessments, could help guide more personalized hearing care. To learn more about WSA's sound preference research and clinical implications visit: https://www.wsa.com/soundpreference/ Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing - https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing Visit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

  • April 14 · 28 min

    343 - How PowerPoint Captions Helped Everyone Follow Along

    What happens when a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience is made truly accessible? In this conversation, Shari Eberts speaks with Dr. Alison Richard—former Provost of Yale and a leading primatologist—about a recent trip to Madagascar and the Seychelles. While the journey itself was memorable, one thing that stood out was how a simple tool—PowerPoint captions—transformed the experience for participants with hearing loss.Dr. Richard shares her personal journey with hearing loss and reflects on how communication challenges show up in lectures, fieldwork, and group settings. The discussion highlights how enabling live captions during presentations made it possible to fully participate in lectures, Q&A sessions, and group learning moments—something that is often difficult in traditional environments. What began as a small request quickly became a powerful example of inclusive design. As Dr. Richard explains, captions didn’t just benefit those with hearing loss—they improved comprehension and engagement for everyone. The conversation also explores why accessibility tools like captions are still underutilized in academic and professional settings—and how small changes can have a broad impact. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing - https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing Visit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

Showing 21–26 of 26 episodes