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, CC, located in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. C-A. Blaise Delfino and Dr. Gregory Delfino treat patients with hearing loss at Audiology Services.Over-the-Counter (OTC)President Biden recently signed an executive order calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider issuing proposed rules for hearing aids to be OTC within 120 days. These devices are a new category of hearing aids that consumers will be able to buy directly, without visiting a hearing health professional. They are intended to help adults who believe they have mild-to-moderate hearing loss, at budget friendly prices. However, lower prices often result in lower quality of care.​Hearing loss is unique to each individual, which is why it’s important that licensed, trained hearing health professionals continue to play a key role in a patient’s hearing loss journey.​It is critical OTC hearing aids are properly regulated and labeled to protect Americans’ long-term hearing health.In the absence of proper regulations, companies are currently marketing unregulated, low-quality amplification devices as hearing aids. This has prompted more than 17 states’ attorneys general (AGs) – both Democrats and Republicans – to warn consumers about these harmful products.Listen Carefully A person’s hearing affects all aspects of their life — whether it is listening to the bustling city or cherishing a birthday song from loved ones. Protecting this vital gift should be done with care. If it is damaged, people should be able to access effective, safe devices that help them.Listen Carefully is committed to facilitating greater connection between hearing health professionals and lawmakers to ensure thoughtful, quality solutions for the over 44 million Americans suffering from some degree of hearing loss. Life is loud, so you must listen carefully.Why Now?Recent conversations in Washington discussing access to, and utilization of, hearing aids have narrowly focused on cost, rather than the many factors that keep people from seeking help, such as they believe they can hear well enough, believe they are too young to need hearing aids, or are embarrassed to wear them. 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.Hearing Healthcare Model Getting your hearing checked should be routine, like getting your teeth cleaned. Because each ear is unique, hearing loss requires personalized care through a trained, licensed hearing health professional. With an abundance of hearing health options coming to market and varied information being shared, it is important that individuals affected by hearing loss are provided the right tools to make informed decisions. After all, hearing health is directly connected to overall health and well-being. 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, CC, located in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. C-A. Blaise Delfino and Dr. Gregory Delfino treat patients with hearing loss at Audiology Services.In this episode, Blaise Delfino speaks with Mary Ann Stefko, an interventionist at the Scranton School for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children. A Lifelong PassionAs a child, Mary Ann had a deaf friend at the Scranton School for the Deaf, whom she visited regularly. It was there she learned ASL. She knew then she wanted to work with the deaf and hard of hearing, particularly babies.Teaching Babies to SignMary Ann says teaching what’s known as “baby sign language” to children with hearing loss is vital. The non-verbal child learns simple words using hand signals, such as “milk,” “mommy” and “daddy.” By teaching baby sign language, the neural pathways needed to communicate are created. Speech is a neuro muscular process, while language is a code of shared ideas. Newborn Hearing Screenings are CriticalNewborn screenings were a pivotal point in the hearing healthcare field. 30 years ago, it was not uncommon for a child to be diagnosed with hearing loss for the first time at age 3, 4 or even 5. These screenings have made a huge difference for children with unilateral hearing loss. Often this type of hearing loss wasn’t diagnosed until grade school when background noise became an issue. Now children can get appropriate amplification and families learn sooner how hearing loss effects learning. Children are meeting milestones they would not have met without newborn screenings.  Technology Has BoomedThe technology of hearing instruments has changed dramatically over the years, from large hearing aids worn on the body to today’s small, inconspicuous hearing instruments that fit in the ear. In addition, technology in general has leveled the playing field for those who have hearing loss. Deaf and hard of hearing students learn to use computers and other technology when they are in preschool. They become quite techno-savvy and have the same opportunities in all areas of life as their hearing peers.Dr. Gregory Delfino adds that children who are identified very early and get amplification during the critical language learning period are doing great things with their lives. They don’t let their hearing loss stop them, and go on to live full, happy productive lives, including getting advanced degrees, having loving families and great jobs.A Team ApproachIt is essential that parents of hard of hearing or deaf children understand that helping their children is a team effort. Very few heard of hearing children are born to parents who expect this. Parents are encouraged to go through the process with hearing healthcare professionals. They need to work with an audiologist to get their child the best amplification possible. They also need to understand that they should not lower their expectations foConnect 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, CC, located in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. C-A. Blaise Delfino and Dr. Gregory Delfino treat patients with hearing loss at Audiology Services.In this episode, Blaise Delfino speaks with Audiology Services patient Richard Taylor about hearing loss and getting hearing instruments. A Lifetime in the Printing IndustryMr. Taylor spent his entire career, 50 years, in the printing business. He did not use hearing protection, although as the owner of a printing company, he encouraged his workers who ran the presses to do so. They would wear headphones or some form of hearing protection when he was there, but we he went on sales calls, they would take them off. They claimed they couldn’t adjust to wearing them, and that they were uncomfortable.In the NavyMr. Taylor also spent several years in the Navy aboard aircraft carriers, where he says, it was impossible to get away from the noise. It was noisy 24/7.Mr. Taylor didn’t think much about his hearing loss, until his daughter, Pam, made him aware of it. Also a patient at Audiology Services, Pam took her father to see the practitioners at the age of 90. He put off getting hearing aids because of vanity.Most People Delay Getting HelpDr. Gregory Delfino says most people delay getting hearing instruments because of the way they look and the stigma that “only old people get hearing aids.” Usually once people get hearing instruments and find out how wonderful it is to hear again, they no longer care about how the hearing aids look.  Mr. Taylor says he is so happy to have gotten hearing instruments. He can’t say enough good things about them. He says it’s like having a whole new life. He encourages everyone who has hearing problems to get help. He adds that if a person has financial problems, that can be worked out with the audiologist. There are a number of payment plans and a variety of prices to fit every budget. Audiology Services now offers a leasing plan, with the lowest costing hearing aids at $15/month.Blaise adds that the cost of untreated hearing loss is much greater than that of hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss has a number of comorbidities, including dementia, diabetes, heart disease and many other chronic diseases.A Whole New WorldMr. Taylor says he’ll never forget the day he left Audiology Services with his new hearing instruments. He heard a bird chirping and was just delighted. He says it was an emotional moment. He waited 90 years but now can hear. He strongly advises anyone who is having trouble hearing to get fitted with hearing instruments. He says, “Don’t ignore hearing loss another day.”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 PodcastThe 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, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. What are Best Practices?Dr. Beck explains that best practices are not set by individuals in the hearing healthcare profession. They are determined and codified by a group of national organizations. The International Hearing Society, the American Academy of Audiology, and the American Speech and Language Hearing Association assemble groups of experts, who come together and decide what practitioners need to do for their patients. They use outcomes-based research to make their determinations.Best practices include, but are not limited to: air and bone conduction, word recognition, speech reception thresholds, otoacoustic missions, ipsi and contralateral reflexes, tympanometry, speech in noise testing, and communication and listening assessments.Why are Best Practices Important?Best practices follow the primary thought used by physicians: diagnose first, treat second. A physician will not prescribe antibiotics simply because a person has a cold. The cold could be caused by a virus, and antibiotics would not help. As with medical care, hearing healthcare is not one size fits all. Research has shown that people who go to practitioners who use best practices do much better than those who do not. Audiology Service strictly adheres to best practices, and only one percent of patients return because they are unhappy with their hearing instruments.Real Ear MeasurementA procedure known as real ear verifies that the fitting the practitioner does is meeting the standards and is giving the patient the best possible hearing experience and meeting his/her goals. About 50 percent of hearing healthcare practitioners use real ear, but only about one in five use it on every patient. To do real ear the practitioner inserts an incredibly small microphone into the ear canal within five millimeters of the ear drum. A measurement is taken to determine how the patient’s ear canal responds to sound. The measurement is taken again with the hearing aid in the patient’s ear. The practitioner measures to determine if the hearing aid is producing the sound curve that is correct. If not, the patient may hear loud noises too loudly and soft noises not loud enough. The practitioner wants to get the most power for the quietest sounds and not increase the power when a sound is normally loud to the patient. If a hearing aid is not adjusted properly with real ear, the patient may suffer damage to his/her auditory system.Discussions with the PatientDr. Beck explains that having a discussion with the patient is far better than giving him/her a questionnaire to fill out. It helps the patient feel secure with the practitioner’s expertise and gives the practitioner the chance to fully understand what the patient is experiencing and how 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, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. 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, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. In this episode, Blaise Delfino discusses the importance of hearing protection for those who are in bands and/ or those who got to live concerts with Dr. Douglas Beck, vice president of academic sciences at Oticon.Dr. Beck explains that he plays several instruments. He was first runner-up for the part of Ringo Starr in the musical Beatlemania on Broadway. He played in a band that made several albums. In the past, most band members had no idea that they were causing hearing loss simply by wearing in-ear monitors.OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has set guidelines for hearing loss. It says listening to 90 decibels of sound for eight hours causes hearing loss. It goes up from there. Listening to 95 db for four hours, 100 db for two hours, 110 db for 30 minutes and 115 db for15 minutes cause hearing loss. People who leave a concert with ringing in their ears have caused temporary hearing loss that could become permanent. Dr. Beck encourages practicing and playing musicians to wear musician earplugs. While they are expensive, they take out the highest and lowest frequencies, allowing the wearer to converse. They also protect the wearer from hearing loss. Over-the-counter ear plugs are better than nothing, but custom-made earplugs are the best.In-ear monitors are worn by singers in a band so he/she can hear his/her own voice over the other musicians. Custom in-ear monitors are made to prevent hearing loss from loud noise. The person first gets an audiometric evaluation, a custom mold is made and a measure of the noise level the wearer will experience is taken. Dr. Beck says it’s very important to use in-ear monitors safely so they do the job. Whatever costs are incurred, it is worth saving your hearing. 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, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. In this episode, Blaise Delfino discusses Cognition, Audition and Amplification with Dr. Douglas L. Beck, Vice President of Academic Sciences at Oticon.Dr. Beck explains that the connection among cognition, audition and amplification is the human brain. The three are intertwined and cannot be separated. There are 26 million Americans who have no hearing loss but still cannot understand speech in noise. This can be caused by a traumatic brain injury, dyslexia, and many other conditions. An audiologist can determine if the problem is central auditory processing. Dr. Beck explains the term “cross-modal recruitment.” It occurs when one area of the brain is not stimulated, and another area of the brain takes it over. In a study done by Drs. Sharma and Glick, titled “Frontiers of Neuroscience,” the area of the brain that processes sound was not stimulated, and the part of the brain that processes sight took it over. Drs. Sharma and Glick found that by fitting patients who have hearing loss with hearing instruments reversed the cross-modal recruitment that had taken place in their brains. Hearing screenings are not something that Dr. Beck advocates. He believes that they are usually not done in sound-proof booths, the instructions are not well presented, and headphones are generally not used. He is in favor of Universal Newborn Screenings, however, which tests the hearing of all babies born in hospitals and birthing centers. He is also in favor of cognitive screenings in older adults who are having difficulty with speech in noise. He says once people reach a certain age there are many conditions that can cause hearing loss. Among them are neurovascular conditions that reduce blood flow to the brain.Dr. Gregory Delfino adds that he has seen many patients over the past 20 years who have central auditory processing problems and have significantly improved with low-level amplification. Buying hearing instruments online or over the counter is not something Dr. Beck advises. He says a person may be experiencing hearing loss for any number of reasons, from a hair up against the ear drum or the bones in the ear malfunctioning to a brain tumor. The rule in medicine he says is first diagnose then treat. Without a diagnosis by a trained hearing healthcare professional, a person could do more harm than good by buying over-the-counter hearing aids. He adds that a person can get well-made hearing aids provided by a professional for as little as $1,000 per pair.      Have questions? Let's hear em'! Email: Blaise@audiologyservicesllcpa.com Phone: 610.694.0141Connect 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, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. The Benefits of Deep Neural Networks in Hearing AidsIn this episode, Blaise Delfino discusses the deep neural network in the new Oticon More hearing aid with Dr. Douglas L. Beck, vice president of academic sciences at Oticon. Dr. Beck explains that in Oticon’s newest hearing aid, the Oticon More, there is a deep neural network, or DNN, which enables a wearer to have an even better hearing experience than before.  He explains that artificial intelligence (AI) is as simple as a thermostat in the refrigerator. It senses when it needs to adjust the temperature and then does so. DNN is a much more sophisticated form of AI. It learns in the same way the human brain does. It’s used in a variety of everyday tasks, for example buying something on Amazon. Once you buy a certain item, Amazon will let you know when similar items become available. The general idea of a DNN is that it learns through repetitive action from a collection of samples. In a hearing aid, the DNN is trained with millions of real-life sound scenes – a restaurant, train station or busy street. The DNN learns to identify and balance each sound within it, so the wearer can access the sounds most important to you.The Oticon More was trained with 12 million complex real-life sound, which it then learned to analyze, organize, and balance. This hearing device can utilize the DNN’s intelligent capabilities when balancing and prioritizing the sounds that are important to the wearer.The benefit of the DNN is that the wearer’s brain has access to the full sound scene, so he/she can hear the person next to him/her, as well as other environmental sounds, all balanced and amplified in a true-to-life way.This is because a DNN provides the brain with more meaningful sound information, which makes sound much clearer and speech easier to follow. In fact, research shows that Oticon More delivers 30 percent more sound to the brain and increase speech understanding by 15 percent. 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, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA.About Dr. Phillip ZazoveOn this week’s episode, Blaise Delfino talks to Dr. Phillip Zazove, the George A. Dean Chair and Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan. Dr. Zazove is Deaf.Dr. Zazove explains that he was not diagnosed with profound hearing loss until he was four years old. At that time children who were deaf were put in state schools for the deaf. His parent however believed that he could compete in a regular school setting, so he was in mainstreamed. He was the first deaf child to be mainstreamed in the northern Chicago suburbs. His parents were great advocates for him. When he was a child, there were no cell phones or other technology to help deaf children. Hearing aids were big and bulky. He refused to wear hearing aids because he didn’t want to be different. Today’s children have greater advantages than kids even 25 years ago. Dr. Zazove says he got his passion and grit from his parents, who were both doctors. He adds that getting to know other people with disabilities also drove him to want to help others, especially those with disabilities.Advocating for yourself as a deaf person is especially important. If a deaf or hard of hearing person doesn’t tell his doctors, for example, that he can’t hear, he may not get the best care. The doctor needs to know so he/she can be sure the patient understands what’s going on. He adds that people need not be embarrassed that they have a hearing loss and should think about wearing hearing aids the same as wearing glasses. Dr. Zazove did studies that show a doctor will treat a hearing patient differently when it comes to recommending having colonoscopy, mammogram, cancer screening, etc. Another study demonstrated that a deaf or hard of hearing patient is more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days than a hearing person. He says processes and procedures need to be set in place, so doctors know to ask patients if they have hearing loss.Dr. Zazove applied to about 30 medical schools and was only accepted to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He was the third deaf person to go through medical college.He believes there are four things that can help an individual who is Deaf the most: 1. Parent advocacy when the child is going through school. 2. Learning a language by age three, whether it’s sign language, English, Russian, etc. 3. Make whatever accommodations are needed, whether it’s sitting at the front of the class, getting hearing aids or a cochlear implant or having an interpreter. 4. Join support groups.Dr. Zazove runs a foundation for Deaf high school  students who wish to go to college. It is known as the Louise Tumarkin Zazove Medical Foundation and is in its 17th year. It generally pays for a deaf or hard of hearing student’s full tuition for four years.  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, Nazareth, and East Stroudsburg, PA. The Newest TechnologyIn this episode Blaise Delfino discusses the newest hearing technology with Scott Bunnell, senior global product manager of Sonic Innovation. Scott says the newest hearing aid is called the Radiant. It uses a new technology platform known as Extend. This latest processing chip has more power and more memory than Sonic's previous chip. It also has a new way of processing sound, new compression technology and noise management and reduction. It uses 24 bands, whereas the old platform used only 16.Joint Compression SystemScott says the new technology uses a combined compression system that has both fast and slow capability. The slow compression handles the narrow band noises, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders, and keeps them at bay. The fast compression emphasizes every part of speech and puts the emphasis where it is needed.  Increased ConnectivityThe new Radiant hearing aid is also now able to be connected to an Android phone. In the past it was only able to connect to an iPhone. Audiologists can also do remote fittings and fine adjustments. This is especially important for those who are physically unable to come to the office and those who are out of town. The Radiant also has a new open/closed dome that keeps its shape better in the ear canal and is more comfortable because of changes in venting.Great for MusiciansScott, who is a musician himself, explains that hearing aids were first made for people to be able to hear speech. Listening to music was not something companies considered. He says the wave lengths of speech are predictable as are the frequency ranges. Music however has a wider range of frequencies and an extended range. Because of that the new Radiant has a smart music program that enables wearers to really enjoy music. Final AdviceAfter giving a brief history of his musical life as a singer and guitar player, Scott offered the following advice. “If you have hearing loss, don’t wait to do something,” he says. “The longer you wait the worse the hearing loss becomes. Untreated hearing loss is the number one risk factor for acquiring dementia. Don’t listen to the horror stories about hearing aids. They are nothing like they used to be. They’re great.”  Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast