How Hearing Works — Inner Ear Mechanics

My guest is Konstantina Stankovic, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology at Stanford School of Medicine. She explains how hearing works and why hearing loss—affecting over 1.5 billion people—impacts people of all ages. We discuss how hearing loss impairs focus and increases the risk of cognitive decline, as well as the role of menopause and other biological milestones in hearing health. We share science-backed protocols to protect your hearing and highlight risks to avoid. And we discuss tinnitus—its causes and treatment options.

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Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

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00:00 Konstantina Stankovic

03:27 Hearing Loss, How Hearing Works, Types of Hearing Loss

10:58 Sound Waves, High vs Low Frequency, Communication, Importance of Hearing

15:26 Sponsors: Wealthfront & Our Place

18:40 Sound Projection, Intensity, Speech; Moving Ears; Larger Ears

22:59 Sounds & Emotionality; Tinnitus

26:43 Painful Sounds, Hyperacusis, Phonophobia; Memory, Auditory Hallucinations

32:19 Concerts & Ringing in Ears, Hidden Hearing Loss; Tool: Safe Sound Threshold

39:15 Concerts & Protecting Hearing, Tools: Ear Plugs, Magnesium Threonate

43:44 Magnesium Food Sources & Supplements; Migraines & Tinnitus

47:30 Tinnitus; Hearing Loss, Genetic & Environmental Factors

53:19 Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & David

56:04 Individualization; Tinnitus Examination & Treatment, Supplementation?

1:04:36 Headphones, Tough vs Tender Ears, Children, Tool: Safe Sound Levels

1:09:41 Compounded Damage, Concerts & Hearing Loss, Tool: Ear Plugs

1:12:59 Transitioning Environments, Hyperacusis; In-Utero Hearing

1:15:56 Dogs & Sea Animals, Sound Pollution

1:19:54 Hearing Loss, Dementia & Cognitive Decline; Tool: Slow Speech & Face Listener

1:26:26 Sponsor: Joovv

1:27:38 Lip Reading; AI-Enhanced Hearing Aids

1:30:12 Sleep, Tool: Earplugs; Hearing Yourself Speak, Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence

1:36:54 Hearing & Balance, Vibrations; Sound Therapy

1:42:05 Music, Dance, Hearing & Frequency Map; Cochlear Implants

1:48:20 Sponsor: LMNT

1:49:52 Hearing & Social-Cognitive Development, Mental Health; Cochlear Implants

1:56:07 Men vs Women, Estrogen; Hearing Loss, Environment, NSAIDs

2:01:52 Environmental Toxins, Heavy Metals, Plastics; Tool: Heating Plastic

2:06:39 Tool: Avoid Regular NSAIDs Use; Birds & Hair Cell Regeneration; Cancer

2:12:05 Head & Neck, Lymphatic System & Surgery

2:14:44 Adult Auditory Plasticity, Music & Language

2:17:37 Splitting of Senses, Podcasts, AI & Human Progress

2:22:20 Prevent Hearing Loss & Recap

2:25:09 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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