Hearing Matters Podcast: Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

Audiology Services Summer Internship In January 2020, Audiology Services received an inquiry from Meghan Okken, an undergraduate student from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania studying communication sciences and disorders, most commonly known as speech-language pathology. Meghan was in need of audiology observation hours for her clinical observations course. Observation hours allow students to observe professionals in the communication sciences and disorders field, which assists in their clinical setting decision making process. When Meghan visited our office for the day, we were impressed with her professionalism and how she interacted with our patients. Following Meghan's visit to our office in January, we held a team meeting to discuss offering Meghan a full-time summer internship position. When we held the summer internship interview in early March, Meghan accepted the position with enthusiasm. The Importance of the Summer InternshipA few years ago, I (Blaise) was an undergraduate student studying speech-language pathology at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. It was a requirement to obtain clinical observation hours before graduation. My classmates and I needed 25 speech hours and 5 audiology hours. I was grateful for the supervisors who donated their time and allowed me and my fellow classmates to schedule observation hours in various clinical settings. Encompassing an understanding of the observation process, I personally wanted to open an internship position for an undergraduate student studying communication sciences and disorders. In addition, I've personally had mentors throughout and following my undergraduate and graduate studies. That being said, paying it forward was important to me. The purpose behind the summer internship position was to provide the opportunity for a student to observe first-hand, the processes and procedures in the private practice setting. These processes and procedures include but are not limited to: •Scheduling patients •Rescheduling patients •Greeting patients •Otoscopy •Tympanometry •Comprehensive audiological evaluations •Hearing aid clean and checks •Real ear measurement •Scheduling/hosting effective team meetings  Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

If anyone knows how to build a mobile audiology practice, it's Dr. Brad Stewart! The buzz word in audiology today is "access." But, what does that mean and how does mobile audiology address this problem? Simple. Hearing care providers are hitting the road and bringing their services to patients in nursing homes, independent living centers, and the like. Gearing Up to Hit the Road   When Brad graduated with his Doctorate of Audiology, he knew he wanted to build a business model that implemented best practices and resulted in positive patient outcomes. What attracted Brad to mobile audiology was the low overheard costs and the ability to make a difference in the lives of the hearing impaired on a personal level. Brad talks about the importance of letting go of the ego and practicing empathy. When he first started his mobile audiology practice, he reported that he was calling bingo at a few of the nursing homes. You see, Brad didn't care about his title. He cared about reconnecting his patients to their family members and friends. Making Adjustments in Real Time to the Patient's Hearing Aids Brad had a patient who had a really challenging hearing loss. She wanted to be able to go to different social hours at her senior living community,  hang out with her friends, and have conversations while live music was going on, which is a tough situation. The environment she wanted to be in had high ceilings, echo, overall, the room had poor acoustics. Brad visited her community after hours one evening when one of the social gatherings were being hosted. He brought his laptop, connected to her hearing aids, and made adjustments to her hearing aids in real time! During this "appointment," they had a little audience - a little crowd of people that were all curious what they were doing. They were all gathered around watching Brad make adjustments to this woman's hearing aids, and then seeing her reaction in real time as she was hearing better! The residents that were watching them made statements line, "Oh my goodness, this is incredible!" Brad reports this was a very powerful experience for him and his patient. The Mobile Practice You're a skilled hearing care expert who gets great results for your patients.BUT you're understandably concerned about third party "insurance" companies who don't pay even close to what you're worth, media that portrays you as the greedy middleman, and ongoing disruption and commoditization from outside forces.You entered this profession to provide patient care at the highest level, but now you're feeling the pressure to make compromises.You're looking for something different. Something that lets you provide that extravagant, world-class, ear-to-ear grin level of care...and get paid accordingly.A good mobile audiology practice with a steady stream of patients consists of 5 simple business systems: Marketing, Education, Conversion, Treatment, and Follow-Up System. Ready to hit the road and become that hearing care rockstar you know you can be? Apply now and connect with Dr. Brad Stewart. No seriously, start now! Your patients are waiting for you! Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Shari first noticed her hearing loss in her mid-twenties. It has gotten progressively worse since then and she now wears hearing aids every day to hear better. She is lucky to have only mild tinnitus so far.Shari doesn’t want her hearing loss to define her, but she finds that being open about it can help relieve the pressure of always having to hear everything perfectly. She hopes this blog will serve as an outlet for her experiences and a community for those dealing with similar issues.She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from Duke University.Passionate Advocate, Author & SpeakerShari is a passionate hearing health advocate and writes and speaks frequently on hearing loss topics.The hearing loss journey doesn’t come with an operating manual—until now. Shari’s book Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss, co-authored with Gael Hannan, is the ultimate survival guide for living well with hearing loss. Available wherever books are sold.Documentary Film ProducerShari is an Executive Producer of We Hear You, an award-winning documentary that shines a light on the hearing loss experience. Created during the pandemic, the film strives to build awareness, community and a more inclusive world for all. Watch the trailer here. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Dr. Jason believes that great service comes with great knowledge. He prides himself with staying up to date on all of the latest technology and treatments to best serve his patients. He also has a specialty in tinnitus management. He is here to help find solutions to your hearing, tinnitus and sound sensitivity needs.“There is not one perfect technology for everyone. It is our job to find the best technology to compliment your lifestyle and your hearing profile.  Through our process, I am confident we can come to that solution.”Dr. Jason graduated from A.T. Still University in 2010. He started with Audiology Concepts as a student under Dr. Paula Schwartz in 2008. In 2017, he bought the practice and plans to continue the legacy Dr. Schwartz created. You can expect the best experience with friendly and knowledgeable staff.Jason served as an adjunct assistant professor for A.T. Still University from 2016 to 2019 teaching the tinnitus management course. He has served on several committees, is a Minnesota Sight and Hearing Association board member, was recently elected to The Academy of Doctors of Audiology Board, and serves as president-elect of the Minnesota Academy of Audiology.When not in the office, you can find Dr. Jason outdoors and spending time with his family and friends. The full transcript will be available by 3 pm EST on January 31, 2023. We appreciate your patience with the delayed upload.  Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Gael Hannan is a renowned humorist, author, and speaker on hearing loss issues. She is a leading international hearing health advocate whose work, which includes awareness programs, dramedy performances and writing, helps people better understand the life with hearing loss – both its impact and to live more successfully.She regularly writes for hearing-related publications such as Hearing Health & Technology Matters and Canadian Audiologist. Gael’s critically acclaimed first book, The Way I Hear It: A Life with Hearing Loss, part memoir and part survival guide, has helped readers around the world to embrace their own hearing challenges. Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully With Hearing Loss, her second book, is the how-to guide that she and co-author Shari Eberts wish they’d had earlier in their lives.Gael has profound hearing loss and is bimodal, using both a hearing aid and a cochlear implant. She and her husband, Doug, aka the Hearing Husband, make their home on Vancouver Island, where they live in hope of visits from their children and grandchildren. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Dr. Michelle Hu was diagnosed with mild hearing loss secondary to Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome/Pendred Syndrome and fit with bilateral hearing aids shortly after. Her mom was told that she would probably never read beyond a third-grade reading level.  As a result of EVAS, her hearing loss progressed each time she hit her head. This happened in 1st, 3rd and 5th grade, and by age 10 she had profound sensorineural hearing loss bilaterally.During her senior year of college, she had another sudden drop in hearing. She was sitting in the lobby waiting to have her hearing tested when her mom suggested that perhaps she'd make a good audiologist since she had firsthand experience with hearing loss and hearing aids. She was still unsure of what direction she wanted to go after graduation and this suggestion floored her. Yes, she wanted to help others in a healthcare setting, but she just didn’t have a pull to a specific field. That year, her hearing came back with the help of intratympanic steroid injections, but she was already filling out applications with the goal to attend the Northeast Ohio Audiology Consortium.It was during her third year in graduate school that she and her classmates started to learn about cochlear implants. One night she was excitedly chatting about CI's with her parents, and they told her that she has been a CI candidate since she was young. They had chosen not to move forward since they were wary of the technology at the time and told Michelle she had adapted and learned how to thrive academically, that they did not feel it was a necessity. Michelle decided to undergo pre-CI evaluations and was implanted later that year. For the first time in a very long time, she could hear her feet shuffle on the carpet, the turn signal of her car, utensils tapping on dishes and leaves rustling with the wind. She could hear and understand conversation in a dark car, on the telephone; her confidence soared. She no longer avoided birthday parties, movie theaters or other social gatherings.She's since moved across the country from Kent, Ohio to San Diego, California to work as a pediatric audiologist. She doesn't think she would have made such a big move had she not received her first cochlear implant. She did not have the confidence to feel safe walking alone at night or talking on the phone with anyone other than her parents. About 5 years ago, Michelle had the opportunity to scratch culinary school off of her bucket list. It was THE most difficult listening situation that she chose to subject herself to for a long time (eight months exactly). The tiled floors, stainless steel equipment, appliances, high ceilings, exhaust fans, walls of refrigerators and water constantly running were an educational audiologist's acoustic nightmare! Not to mention, her chef/professor had a heavy French accent! She had him wear her FM system, constantly asked for repetition, asked her station buddy for clarification, and took copious notes. She spilled things, broke dishes, lost fingertips, burned herself - but despite the difficult learning environment, she mastered sauces, broke down poultry and seafood, created menus, plated, garnished, and in her own words, "It was WORTH it!"Connect with Dr. Michelle Hu by visiting her website.  Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

"I hear you, but I don't quite understand you." "If your auditory system works like a computer, your ears are the hardware, and your brain is the software. Even when the ears hear normally, errors in the software (the processing) can interfere with understanding or remembering what was heard. This is called Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) and often leaves sufferers feeling isolated and disconnected. Of the approximately 6% of the population struggling with APD, most don't even know it’s a disorder. The good news is that with specialized audiologist help, dramatic improvement in auditory processing is possible.Dr Angela Loucks Alexander, Audiologist, has spent fifteen years specializing in diagnosing and treating Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), a hearing difficulty with less to do with the ears and more to do with the brain. Despite significantly affecting potential and well-being, many of those affected are unaware of the condition, let alone their treatment options. Angela is the host of Between Two Ears podcast and founder of the Auditory Processing Institute, where she trains audiologists and speech-language pathologists to provide APD services. She has also created an online, searchable map to help clients find the help they need."Angela Alexander, Au.D., CCC-A, MNZAS, graduated from the University of Kansas in 2010 with a Doctor of Audiology.  Angela's passion is in the treatment of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).  Angela was privileged to have been mentored by Jack Katz, Ph.D., a world-leading expert on APD. Learn more about Dr. Katz here. Angela worked with Katz for seven years between 2004 to 2012, building her knowledge and expertise.  Listen to her podcast.Following this, Angela worked as an audiologist in New Zealand for the past decade.  She moved to Sunshine Coast, Australia in November 2020. Her TEDx talk:  Escaping the Hidden Prison of Auditory Processing Disorder was the most-watched TEDx worldwide in September of 2021.With the Auditory Processing Institute, Angela is looking to train her peers in the skills needed to provide effective APD diagnostic and therapeutic options.   She aims to double the number of SLP/Au.D. professionals providing effective auditory processing services through the online APD Master Courses by 2022.Click the links below to review Angela's APD resources: https://www.auditoryprocessinginstitute.com/https://www.apdsupport.com/https://linktr.ee/apdsupporthttp://linkedin.com/in/angelaloucks Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

In this episode, Blaise Delfino speaks with Wendy Harkins Davis, Outreach Director of Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation. Wendy is responsible for developing and implementing PATF’s housing and outreach activities including managing PATF’s smart home technology projects and working to educate both professionals and Pennsylvanians about PATF’s programs and services.Wendy worked for eight years in outreach for CaptionCall, a federal phone captioning provider. Her children’s and husband’s hearing loss led her into advocacy for the Deaf/deaf/hard-of-hearing community. Prior to that, she worked in the technology sector for 13 years in software development, project management, and product management. Her work included a 6-month project in Barcelona, Spain developing and executing a training program for the IT department at the Hospital Clinico. She served for over two years on PATF’s Board of Directors and is the Entertainment Chair for the HLAA PA Walk4Hearing.Wendy and her husband, Evan, live in Malvern, PA. At any given time, there can be between five and eight people living in the Davis home. Wendy’s parents are aging in place with them, and it is a revolving door with their four children who are all in university studies, two in undergraduate and two in doctorate. The entire family is involved with the PA Walk4Hearing, and together enjoy paddle-boarding, skiing, hiking, and endlessly throwing balls for their Labrador, Aurora Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

The last five years, Starkey has had the loudest voice in the hearing healthcare industry regarding OTC hearing aids. They wanted to ensure that patients, individuals with hearing loss, and hearing professionals were given the most up-to-date information on policy, and that their voices were heard throughout the process. The day has now come and passed that we have OTC hearing aids. The new regulation  was released in August 2022 and then went into effect in mid-November of 2022. In this episode you will learn: The latest news related to OTC hearing aids. How hearing healthcare professionals are responding.  How providers are becoming involved in their community, specifically the Listen Carefully Ambassador Program, to ensure patient safety and satisfaction remain the top priority. What one hearing healthcare provider in Ohio did to ensure his licensure was not replaced with a registration. Do you suspect you have hearing loss and want to know if OTC hearing aids are for you? Well, before you click "add to cart," learn the differences between OTC hearing aids and prescription hearing aids below: Prescription Hearing Aids: For any degree of hearing loss; hearing aid is programmed to the individual hearing loss profile (audiogram)For all ages Standard and customized options are available Return policy is mandated by the state OTC Hearing Aids: For perceived mild to moderate hearing loss For ages 18+ One size fits most No state requirements for return policy*Full episode transcript will be available by 12 pm EST* Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Matthew Starner of Echo-Norvell Hearing Aid Service in Newark, Ohio, acted swiftly upon receiving news that his Ohio state Hearing Aid Specialist licensure could be eliminated and replaced with a registration. The proposed bill, HB 509, was recommended by the Sunset Review Committee of Ohio, and was made known by the Hearing Healthcare Alliance of Ohio. This news comes at a pivotal time in the hearing healthcare industry where there have been changes to the hearing aid device and service delivery model.Matthew contacted his Listen Carefully representative at Starkey to review a plan of action in response to the proposed bill. The Starkey team, led by Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations Michael Scholl, convened with a plan to address the importance of licensure as it ensures patient safety and satisfaction. On November 30, 2022, Matthew testified in front of Ohio’s 134th General Assembly. “Substitute HB 509 has some good ideas; however, the unintended consequences of this bill would greatly hamper the ability of Ohio's hearing-impaired community. By changing the Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters licensing to a "registration,” Ohio would no longer have hearing aid practices because it would be breaking Federal law. Ohio residents would also not be able to get hearing aids through their insurance plans because you have to have a license to be credentialed,” explains Matthew. Michael Scholl reports, “Matthew’s advocacy and testimony played a key role in educating elected officials about the importance of licensure. In the end the legislature restored the licensure language ensuring individuals with hearing loss have broad access to qualified licensed hearing care providers. Hearing care is best served in the hands of a licensed hearing healthcare professional.” Listen Carefully aims to shed a light on all aspects of hearing loss to better inform our leaders as they formulate solutions directly impacting the long-term health of millions of Americans living with hearing loss. Listen Carefully relies on the support of local hearing professionals to make their voices heard with their corresponding state and local lawmakers. In this effort, the campaign has kickstarted a Listen Carefully Ambassador Program to enlist the help of private practice hearing healthcare professionals that are leaders in their communities and are willing and able to make their voice heard.  Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast