Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Decibels, brought to you by Cochlear North America. This episode is the first of a 2-part series, where we’ll explore the growing number of untreated hearing loss cases in the U.S., the broader health and societal costs and the impact on individual wellbeing. As leading researchers in this space, Dr. Jennifer Deal and Dr. Ashley Nassiri will share insights on hearing loss as a public health issue, its comorbidities and the importance of unified efforts to raise awareness and improve access—especially through the use of a simple, scalable metric: the Hearing Number. 

To learn more about the Hearing Number, check out these additional resources: 

Hearing Number - Get Involved

Hearing Number - For Professionals

Ashley Nassiri, MD, MBA is an assistant professor of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is the director of the Cochlear Implant program, and her research focuses on improving access to hearing health care. 

 Jennifer A. Deal is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University, and the Interim Director of the Johns Hopkins Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, a first-in-kind research center dedicated to training a generation of clinicians and researchers to understand and address the impact of hearing loss on older adults and public health. She leads research dedicated to improving the health and well-being of older adults, with a focus on brain aging, sensory health, and disability across the life-course. She also co-leads the SENSE Network), an international network of researchers building the infrastructure to support research on sensory health and cognitive health and wellbeing in older adults.

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

In this episode of Beyond the Decibels, we sit down with Dr. Michael Hoa, neurotologist at MedStar Health and Professor of Otolaryngology at Georgetown University. Dr. Hoa opens up about his unexpected passion for cooking, and dives into the art and science of intraoperative cochlear implant testing. He discusses how rapid advancements in technology are reshaping surgical protocols and shares why lifelong learning remains essential in today’s evolving medical landscape. Dr. Hoa also offers his perspective on the future—hair cell regeneration, gene therapy and what might be possible in the years ahead.

Listen now to hear Dr. Hoa’s full insights and join the conversation shaping tomorrow’s care.

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, the podcast where clinical expertise meets auditory innovation. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Charles Limb, a distinguished otolaryngologist, neuroscientist, and TED Talk speaker whose work is shaping our understanding of how the brain processes music in individuals with cochlear implants.

While cochlear implants have dramatically improved speech perception for many patients, music remains a uniquely challenging domain. Dr. Limb explains why music, with its intricate layers of pitch, harmony, rhythm, and emotional nuance, is fundamentally different from speech, and why some cochlear implant users struggle significantly with music perception while others adapt more successfully.

Drawing from both clinical experience and neuroscience research, Dr. Limb shares practical strategies that clinicians can use to help patients self-train and improve their music appreciation over time.

To check out Dr. Limb's Ted Talks, visit these links:

Ted Talk: Your brain on improv

Ted Talk: Building the musical muscle

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels! In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Meredith Holcomb to talk about how her clinic is streamlining care for hearing implant patients. She shares how the University of Miami's “whole clinic” approach improves coordination and workflow, increases accessibility and helps patients get to implantation faster. You'll also get to hear practical tips from her for other clinics looking to do the same.

To view Dr. Holcomb's research, click here.

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, the podcast where clinical insight meets innovation in hearing healthcare.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Matt Shew, neurotologist at Washington University in St. Louis, whose research is pushing the boundaries of cochlear implant candidacy and outcome prediction. For decades, candidacy has been determined using standardized protocols—effective, but limited in their ability to account for the complex, individualized factors that influence post-implant performance.

Dr. Shew is pioneering the research and use of machine learning to address this gap. We’ll explore how these AI-driven models are being trained on large datasets to help improve preoperative counseling, guide clinical decision-making, and ultimately enhance patient-specific care.

To check out the research referenced in this podcast, visit this link: Machine Learning Feasibility in Cochlear Implant Speech Perception Outcomes-Moving Beyond Single Biomarkers for Cochlear Implant Performance Prediction

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

In this episode of Beyond the Decibels, we sit down with Dr. Kat Tribulski, a leading voice in gaming and sound processor connectivity, to explore how today’s technology is transforming the gaming experience for individuals with hearing loss.

Kat shares how integrated audio streaming and accessory connectivity—especially in immersive games like her favorite, Baldur’s Gate—are allowing gamers with hearing loss to access richer, more inclusive experiences.

Keep listening to hear a fresh perspective on how connectivity can extend beyond daily communication and into the world of entertainment and engagement.

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

Welcome to this episode of Beyond the Decibels. Today, we’re joined by Daisy Kent, a cochlear implant recipient and former contestant on The Bachelor.

In this conversation, Daisy shares her experience adjusting to life with a cochlear implant - from the moment it was activated to the unexpected sounds she encountered along the way. Her story offers a candid look at the challenges and breakthroughs that come with hearing through a cochlear implant.

Whether you're a clinician, a candidate, or just curious about cochlear implants, Daisy’s journey is a great reminder of the real-world impact of this work and why it matters.

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

Welcome to Season 2 of Beyond the Decibels! We are thrilled to kick off this season with the one and only, Dr. Bruce Gantz. Dr. Gantz is the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, and is celebrated for pioneering cochlear implant surgery at the University of Iowa since 1980. 

In this episode, he reflects on the evolution of cochlear implants, hybrid hearing*, and hearing preservation—sharing the breakthroughs, challenges, and future possibilities that continue to shape hearing science.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation with one of the field’s true trailblazers.

*The Hybrid L24 Implant is approved in the US for adults 18 and older for unilateral use only

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

In this episode of "Beyond the Decibels," we sit down with Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD of the Cleveland Clinic to explore her unique journey and insights in the field of audiology and healthcare. Initially pre-dental in college, Sarah looked within to discover her true passions, leading her to a fulfilling career in audiology.

As an Associate Chief Improvement Officer, she discusses how their clinic is delivering care differently and explains how they work to optimize the caregiver experience and enhance value through process improvement.

Tune in to hear Dr. Sydlowski's inspiring story and learn how their innovative approaches are transforming the field of audiology.

To access the resources mentioned in this this episode, use the links below:
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

Team Efficiency Course

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.

"There’s a big difference between just speaking a language and understanding the culture.” In this episode, Dr. Ivette Cejas joins Wendy Potts and Robert Hendry to explore the intersection of psychology, audiology, and cultural competence in cochlear implant care. Listen in as Dr. Cejas highlights her experience in treating the whole patient and offers valuable resources for professionals working with diverse populations.

Links to additional resources: 

Dr. Ceja's University of Miami Lab

Cejas I, Sanchez C, Lochet D, Coto J, Flores G. Cochlear Implant Management and Considerations for Bilingual Families. In: Young NM, Iler Kirk K, editors. Pediatric Cochlear Implantation 2 ed. Switzerland AG: Springer Cham; 2024. Chapter 5; p.109 - 122. 543p.

If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you.

Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North America. Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, offering innovative products like cochlear implants and bone conduction systems. Cochlear technology helps people of all ages reconnect with sound and live fuller, more connected lives. Learn more at www.cochlear.com

The views of the interviewees in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily represent the view of Cochlear North America and Cochlear Limited.

This material is meant for health professionals – if you’re a consumer please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss.  Outcomes may vary and a health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome.