This Week in Hearing

What does it take to compete at the highest level of sport while growing up with hearing loss? In this conversation, U.S. ski jumper Estella Hassrick shares her journey—from being diagnosed with hereditary cochlear dysplasia at age three to competing on the U.S. national team. She discusses the realities of hearing loss in high-performance sports, including the challenges of wearing

Could understanding individual sound preference be the key to improving hearing aid adoption and satisfaction? Bob Traynor, live from WSA headquarters in Copenhagen, speaks with Lise Henningsen, Head of Audiology Evidence & Validation at WSA, about the emerging concept of sound preference—and why it may be a missing piece in hearing care. Drawing on WSA’s latest research, they discuss how

What happens when a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience is made truly accessible? In this conversation, Shari Eberts speaks with Dr. Alison Richard—former Provost of Yale and a leading primatologist—about a recent trip to Madagascar and the Seychelles. While the journey itself was memorable, one thing that stood out was how a simple tool—PowerPoint captions—transformed the experience for participants with hearing loss.

In Part 2 of this conversation, the focus shifts from understanding tinnitus to how it’s actually managed. Dr. Jennifer Gans returns to speak with Shari Eberts about tinnitus management strategies. Building on their previous conversation, she outlines a practical framework for evaluating treatments, centered on three core elements: Reducing anxiety Providing accurate education; and Supporting nervous system regulation Rather than

Dr. Harvey Dillon’s career in audiology spans more than four decades of research, innovation, and leadership that have helped shape modern hearing care around the world. A former Director of the National Acoustic Laboratories and Professor of Audiology at both Macquarie University and the University of Manchester, Dr. Dillon’s work bridges psychoacoustics, engineering, and clinical practice, influencing everything from hearing

The NAL-NL3 fitting algorithm is now entering clinical practice, following GN’s recent global rollout—marking a significant evolution from the widely used NL2 standard. In this discussion, Pádraig Kitterick of the National Acoustic Laboratories explains how NL3 moves beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach, introducing new modules designed for real-world listening challenges, including speech in noise and individuals with minimal or no measurable

Hearing loss affects millions of people across all ages—but you wouldn’t know it from mainstream media. New data from a multi-country survey reveals just how rarely hearing aids and cochlear implants are seen in everyday media—and how often those portrayals miss the mark. Andrew Bellavia speaks with Ceri Whittaker, Senior External Relations Manager at GN, who leads communications around initiatives

How has cochlear implant care evolved—and are clinical practices keeping pace with today’s technology? Brian Taylor speaks with Dr. Terry Zwolan, Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Cochlear Americas, about the evolution of cochlear implants and the newly developed the Cochlear™ Care Consensus. Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Dr. Zwolan reflects on how cochlear implant technology—and the

What if cochlear implant care didn’t always require a trip to the clinic? Host Shari Eberts speaks with Dr. Kensi Saia, Product Manager at MED-EL, about how new telehealth tools are changing the way cochlear implant recipients and clinicians connect. MED-EL’s Remote Care platform and HearCare app allow audiologists to monitor devices, review patient data, and even make programming adjustments

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) remains one of the more complex and often misunderstood areas in audiology. In this week’s episode of This Week in Hearing, host Bob Traynor is joined by Dr. Frank Musiek to discuss the upcoming third annual “Quest for the Best in CAPD and Neuroaudiology” Pathways Symposium, a virtual event taking place March 28. During the