Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a textIt's true. Running a private audiology practice can be hard. Heck, running any small business is hard! However, when you lean into mentorship and  surround yourself with like-minded individuals, this is when business owners experience the growth they've been looking for. In this episode, Blaise Delfino interviews Dr. Amit Gosalia, co-founder of AudBoss.  About AudBossAudBoss: Private Practice Owners is a private Facebook group for 850+ private practice OWNERS (Audiologists and HIS) to inspire, support and learn from one another. We are focused on improving business efficiencies and promoting best practices in the hearing industry.The annual AudBoss Private Practice Summit is open to anyone interested in learning more about private practice. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran with years of knowledge to share or a newbie dreaming of someday owning your own clinic, we invite you to JOIN US and see what all the buzz is about!AudBoss FoundersDr. Amit Gosalia Dr. G, as his patients call him, started his hearing career working for a hearing aid dispenser in Phoenix. After realizing there had to be some form of didactic education and theory behind the hearing system, he jumped into Audiology. He received his M.S. from Arizona State University, and 4 years later, his Au.D. from AT Still University, where he subsequently taught the Amplification course on site for the Au.D. students.His leadership in Audiology began when he joined a licensure committee and quickly learned the struggles of our profession. He became the chair of the Arizona political action committee for audiology, and then ran, and was elected President of the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2006. He joined Audiology Clinic, Inc in Vancouver, WA in 2008, and then purchased it with his wife in 2012. Within 4 years, he and his wife had almost tripled their business, and decided to move back South for more sun! They sold the practice in 2017, and moved to Los Angeles, where Dr. Gosalia joined West Valley Hearing Center.Dr. Gosalia is board certified by the American Board of Audiology (ABA), and is a member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). He served a 3-year term on the Board of Directors for the ABA in 2012-2015 and has served as Chair of the AAA Marketing sub-committee. April Royan, M.A. April is the founder of AudBoss, a private Facebook group for private practice owners to inspire, support and learn from one another. April graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Audiology from Illinois State University in 2001 and a Master of Science in Audiology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 2003. She began her Audiology career in Naples, Florida at a busy ENT practice before working for Sonic Innovations as a Regional Training Manager for the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. In 2009, she opened her private practice, Decibels Audiology, which she and her husband Mark built to three locations, dozens of employees and hundreds of headaches before gloriously cashing out and selling the practice in 2019. Following her “retirement” from clinical practice, April and her family reloca Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a text Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a textAbout the Hearing Matters Podcast The Hearing Matters Podcast discusses hearing technology (more commonly known as hearing aids), best practices, and a growing national epidemic - Hearing Loss. The show is hosted by father and son - Blaise Delfino, M.S. - HIS and Dr. Gregory Delfino, CCC-A. Blaise Delfino and Dr. Gregory Delfino treat patients with hearing loss at Audiology Services, located in Bethlehem and Nazareth, PA.  The Lehigh Valley’s First Ear Mold LabIn this episode Blaise Delfino interviews Ed Graham of ProtoCAM Additive Manufacturing in Allentown, Pa. Ed has extensive experience in the additive manufacturing field. (Additive manufacturing is more commonly known as 3-D printing.) Ed has been with ProtoCAM since 1996 after graduating from college as a polymer engineer. An Idea Meets Manufacturing Blaise met Ed at a conference where Blaise was giving a talk on Fader Plugs, the world’s first adjustable, mechanical ear plug, which he invented and patented. The ProtoCAM employees immediately wanted to get involved. They offered to help Blaise with the manufacturing of Fader Plugs. Prototyping BeginsThe Fader Plug filter was the start of ProtoCAM’s relationship with Fader Plugs. After several design iterations, Bob and Ed realized this was something that had never been developed before. Neither of them knew much about audiology in general, so it was a huge learning experience for everyone. After three iterations of the filter, it was recommended that the filter size be decreased. They did manage to decrease it by 67 percent; however, it did not function correctly. Turn-Around TimeThis technology will enable a turn-around time of only a couple of days. This is important because those that need Fader Plugs are construction workers, musicians, people with hyperacusis, or anyone around continual noxious noise. It is important to get people into Fader Plugs as soon as possible so they can preserve their hearing. New Lab is IntroducedAs a result of the partnership between Fader Plugs and ProtoCAM, the first ear mold lab ever in the Lehigh Valley has been introduced. This is groundbreaking. It is also something that ProtoCAM CEO Ron Belknap has always wanted to do: manufacture a product from start to finish. A Contribution to Society ProtoCAM is excited to be helping others maintain their hearing health. They are also very dedicated to their customers, in this case Fader Plugs, and want to manufacture only the best, highest quality goods. Also knowing that the entire product was invented and manufactured in the Lehigh Valley is thrilling. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a textThe Hearing Matters Podcast discusses hearing technology (more commonly known as hearing aids), best practices, and a growing national epidemic - Hearing Loss. The show is hosted by Blaise Delfino, M.S., HIS, and his father, Dr. Gregory Delfino, Au.D., CCC-A. Blaise Delfino and Dr. Gregory Delfino treat patients with hearing loss at Audiology Services in Bethlehem and Nazareth, PA. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a text Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a textTele-Audiology: Creating Greater Access to Hearing HealthcareTeleHear will allow you to video chat with an audiologist who can help assess your needs and offer any needed advice, including assisting with programming or troubleshooting hearing devices.TeleHear is the practice of using telecommunications technology to evaluate and care for patients with hearing aids at a distance. Visits are done using video conferencing over the internet. The patient and audiologist communicate using an application designed for the purpose. The patient may participate using a personal computer with a webcam or smart mobile device with a built-in video camera.TeleHear is a great way for patients to get specialty care especially if they are unable to leave their home due to injury or illness.What are the Benefits of TeleHear?  Less exposure to illness Save time and money from commuting Hearing aid adjustments made in your home environment About Dr. Kristy LoweryDr. Kristy Lowery, Ph.D., CCC-A, FAAA has over fifteen years of experience helping patients of all ages in a variety of settings including ear, nose and throat clinics as well as in private practice.  She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Audiology and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association.  Dr. Lowery received her undergraduate degree from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and received a Master’s Degree in Audiology and her Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  Her area of interest and specialty is in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss.  Most of her clinical research was in the area of amplification, specifically looking at noise reduction technology in hearing aids as it relates to the objective and subjective outcomes of hearing aid users.Dr. Lowery has been recognized for multiple awards and honors, including the Mary Whiton Caulkins Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research and the James Jerger Award for Excellence in Student Research.  One of her published manuscripts was named “The Best of Audiology Literature 2007,” by Gustav Mueller.  She also served as a member of a collaborative audiology advisory board through Ear Q in 2013.  Dr. Lowery holds a license in every state.Outside of work, Dr. Lowery enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.  She enjoys cooking, reading, and is a self-proclaimed fitness junkie, who can often be found in the kitchen trying to figure out how to make eating healthy more delicious (and convince her kids of it!).  She also enjoys live music as well as watching college football (go Vols!)  Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a text Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a textBefore You Listen to This EpisodeHello there! I'm Blaise Delfino, host of the Hearing Matters Podcast! I want to thank you for donating your time and listening to this episode. If you've listened to previous episodes, you will notice this one is  a little different. You see, there's been a lot of changes in my life that I wanted to share with our listeners and my patients at Audiology Services. Before sharing new journey, I wanted to bring you back to where it all started. I am where I am today because of the experiences I had the tail end of high school and college (undergrad and grad).  I am genetically predisposed to hearing healthcare. My parents are hearing healthcare providers and started a private audiology practice over 20 years ago. It's safe to say almost every dinner table discussion was centered around hearing healthcare. I knew about compression and digital processing at the age of 10. I know, not the most riveting conversation when you're a child. However, it is because of these conversations and my life experiences I have been able to help patients Hear Life's Story.  Treating Patients at Audiology ServicesI graduated with my Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders. During my commencement speech I told my fellow colleagues that we have all put in our "10,000 hours" to deliver patient centered care. Following graduation, all of my classmates had secured positions in different clinical settings. When asked what my plans were following graduation and what setting I would be going in to, I responded, "Well, I won't be getting my CCC's. I'm going to work at Audiology Services and build Fader Plugs." You see, it was at this time I was not sure I was making the right decision. Mentors, friends, and family members asked if this was what I really wanted. In my heart of hearts, I knew this was the right decision. Five years later, Audiology Services is continuing to serve the Lehigh Valley with two locations in Nazareth and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I thoroughly enjoyed my full-time position at Audiology Services. It was during this time I had the opportunity to interface with patients and work with them throughout their new hearing journey. Many of my patients trusted me with their hearing weeks after I graduated from graduate school. Living in the Lehigh Valley they have many treatment options. However, they chose and trusted Audiology Services.  That is a sacred trust and I always wanted to ensure they received 110% from us. The Phone Call I Will Never Forget It's 6:00 p.m. on a Sunday. My wife and I are both home with the flu. We're eating Chick-fil-A and all of a sudden, my phone starts ringing. It's a Minnesota area code. I think to myself, "Who could this be calling me from Minnesota? On a Sunday?!" I answer the phone. "Hello, this is Blaise." "Hi, Blaise. It's Brandon Sawalich with Starkey. I understand you want a little bit of a challenge and want to make a greater impact inConnect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a text Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a text Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast