Hearing Matters Podcast
Welcome to the Hearing Matters Podcast with Blaise Delfino, M.S. - HIS! We combine education, entertainment, and all things hearing aid-related in one ear-pleasing package!
In each episode, we'll unravel the mysteries of the auditory system, decode the latest advancements in hearing technology, and explore the unique challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss. But don't worry, we promise our discussions won't go in one ear and out the other!
From heartwarming personal stories to mind-blowing research breakthroughs, the Hearing Matters Podcast is your go-to destination for all things related to hearing health. Get ready to laugh, learn, and join a vibrant community that believes that hearing matters - because it truly does!
Episodes
215 episodes
Starkey Omega AI feat. Brandon Sawalich and Dr. Dave Fabry
Want to know what “better hearing in noise” actually sounds like when AI, sensors, and human care work in sync? We bring together Starkey’s president and CEO,
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45:43
Hearing Loss and Dementia: Understanding the Link, Restoring Hope
Dementia is rising, and the toll is personal, social, and economic. From there, we move into a conversation that blends hard data with real life—how hearing loss can quietly erode connection, increase cognitive load, and, according to leading r...
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37:14
Friday Audiogram: When You Can Hear But Can't Understand
Have you ever met someone who says they can hear perfectly fine, but still struggles to understand speech, especially in noisy environments? That puzzling disconnect might be explained by Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) – a conditio...
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9:29
Central Auditory Processing Disorder with Dr. Angela Alexander
The mysterious disconnect between hearing and understanding affects millions worldwide, yet remains largely undiagnosed and untreated. Dr. Angela Alexander pulls back the curtain on auditory processing disorder (APD), revealing why so many peop...
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39:02
Friday Audiogram: Beyond Real Ear Measurement - Why Patient Perception Matters
Ray Woodworth takes us on a deep dive into the nuances of hearing aid fittings, sharing insights from his dual perspective as both a 47-year hearing aid wearer and an industry professional. He challenges the notion that real ear measurement alo...
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9:40
The Human Touch in Hearing Care with Ray Woodworth, BC - HIS
Ray Woodworth, a 25-year veteran in hearing healthcare, brings his passion for perfection in ear impressions to this compelling conversation about the art and science of customization. Having been mentored directly by Starkey founder Bill Austi...
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46:16
Friday Audiogram: From Classroom to Capitol - Why Advocacy Education Matters
Ever wonder why some hearing healthcare professionals seem so passionate about advocacy while others shy away? Our conversation dives into the heart of building an advocacy culture that transforms not just legislation, but patient care itself.<...
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10:45
What if We Managed Tinnitus Differently?
Jeffery Reagan's journey from surviving a heart transplant to pioneering tinnitus care innovation offers a masterclass in turning personal adversity into meaningful healthcare transformation. After experiencing a heart attack on Mount Kilimanja...
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38:40
Friday Audiogram: Unmasking Tinnitus with Dr. Alexandra Tarvin
Ever wonder why your ears won't stop ringing? The answer might surprise you. Welcome to our brand-new Friday Audiogram series! Every week, we'll deliver a concentrated 7-10 minute dose of hearing healthcare wisdom you can enjoy any...
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7:38
How One Tiny House is Shaking Up Hearing Healthcare feat. Dr. Carla Smiley
What happens when a devastating cancer diagnosis collides with a lifelong passion for audiology? For Dr. Carla "Brandi" Smiley, it became the catalyst for reimagining how hearing healthcare could r...
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47:36
From Stage Monitors to Hearing Aids: A Drummer's Audio Evolution
Ever wonder what happens when a musician's most precious tool—their hearing—begins to fade? Moe Jerant, founding member of the Large Flowerheads and a professional drummer for over 20 years, takes us through her remarkable 15-year journey with ...
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33:20
How Hearing Aids Changed a Musician's Life
Ralph Brote's journey from struggling to hear to rediscovering connection offers powerful insights for musicians and anyone facing hearing challenges. Growing up in the family-owned Nazareth Music Store—a fixture in Pennsylvania for 60 years—Ra...
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32:59
Can You Build a Patient-First Practice While Still Being Profitable?
Dr. Lindsay Koble takes us on an extraordinary journey from accidental audiologist to successful practice owner in this eye-opening conversation about the realities of audiology entrepreneurship. After a jaw surgery complication left her with a...
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53:15
Navigating Managed Care While Putting Patients First
What happens when the demands of managed care clash with a provider's commitment to gold-standard hearing healthcare? For Jaysee Soto, owner of Altamonte Family Hearing in Florida, the answer lies in striking a delicate balance between business...
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44:32
Advocacy in Hearing Healthcare: Beyond Politics to Patient Outcomes feat. Dr. Megan Adams
What stands between hearing care professionals and effective advocacy? Dr. Megan Adams shatters common misconceptions with her doctoral research spanning 400 participants across the United States. The surprising truth? It's not time constraints...
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48:49
Celebrating 200 Episodes: From College Radio to Global Impact
Two hundred episodes. Six years. One hundred twenty-one countries. The Hearing Matters Podcast celebrates a remarkable milestone in its mission to educate and connect the global hearing healthcare community.Host
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Episode 200
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55:06
Why Patients Need to Experience Hearing Aids Before They Buy Them
Crossing the threshold into better hearing often feels overwhelming for patients who've postponed treatment for years. What makes the difference between hesitation and confident decision-making? The answer lies in experiencing transformation fi...
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22:59
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing feat. Lindsay Dain
When Lindsay Dain first had a student with hearing aids in her kindergarten classroom, she understood the basics of her FM system but admits she "didn't really understand the value." This honest reflection captures the essence of why Lindsay's ...
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41:14
Tinnitus Management with Dr. Alexandra Tarvin | Elevate Audiology
Tinnitus affects millions, yet remains shrouded in misunderstanding, misinformation, and damaging myths. In this illuminating conversation, audiologist Dr. Alexandra Tarvin of Elev...
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1:00:19
Exploring Auditory Wellness with Dr. Larry Humes
Dr. Larry Humes discusses the critical difference between hearing wellness (pure tone audiometric results) and the broader concept of auditory wellness which encompasses psychosocial health and speech comprehension abilities. This distinction e...
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22:31
Audiologists who shaped our profession share their 50-year journey
Dr. Douglas Beck hosts a special episode featuring audiology pioneers Dr. David Majit and Dr. Gary Dorf, whose combined experience spans nearly a century in hearing healthcare. Unlike typical clinical discussions, this conversation reveals the ...
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29:39
6 Proven Strategies to Reduce Hearing Aid Returns
Achieving a hearing aid return rate below 1% isn't accidental—it's the result of thoughtful systems and genuine patient care. Drawing from years of successful private practice experience, this episode unpacks strategies that transform patient o...
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29:30
Intimacy and Hearing Loss with Gael Hannan
When communication becomes challenging, how do we maintain the deep, meaningful connections that make life worth living? This provocative question lies at the heart of our conversation with Gael Hannan, writer, advocate, and bimodal hearing dev...
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50:25