ListenUp!

Cynthia Robinson is a certified educator of the deaf and a Spoken Language Specialist with more than 22 years of experience. She now works as a specialist and educator at We Hear Here. For many years, she has worked with children with cochlear implants and their families to develop listening and spoken language skills. 

Cynthia developed the Mainstream Assessment of Readiness for Children Over Five and served as Co-Director at Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech from 2011 to 2020.

Much of the focus within hearing loss circles is on improved hearing. This leaves significant portions of day-to-day life with underdeveloped systems and assistance — one crucial example is speech. Speaking and verbally communicating is still common among many levels of hearing loss. Especially in younger children, assistance in speech is crucial for development, social health, and education. While there are growing programs and systems in place to help cultivate better speech, there is still a long way left to go. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Cynthia Robinson, the Founder of We Hear Here, to discuss oral programs for children and young adults. They break down the systems she helped create, how she still coaches some families, and why she started We Hear Here. They also go through the potential of telehealth for speech development.

Keith Lewis is a seasoned veteran in marketing, sales, and the medical industry. He is currently the Senior Advisor at ChampionOne Group and Principal at Lewis Ventures, LLC. Across his 40+ year career, he has worked at GN ReSound, Bausch & Lomb, and GN Great Nordic. His passion is for patients and shareholders alike, focusing on helping those affected by hearing loss.

While hearing aid technology is primarily a medical issue, it inevitably becomes a business issue under the Western medical system. Companies, brands, insurance, and clinics all have a vested interest in the financial aspects of the industry. This has its own effect on how hearing technology grows and adapts. The industry is always experiencing new research and innovations. The average consumer is being provided more education, options, and treatment than ever before — this is what you need to know from an active insider. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Keith Lewis, the Principal at Lewis Ventures, LLC, to talk about the business and evolution of the hearing tech industry. They break down the financial realities of hearing aids, how Bluetooth is being utilized, and how the retail price is changing. They also touch on the current and potential future market trends.

Cheryl Nolte is a lip-reading instructor with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness area. She has worked in event management, team building, public speaking, and fundraising. She is currently active with five different charitable organizations while also offering online hearing coaching. In addition to these roles, she takes time to advocate for and consult people regarding hearing aids.

The world can be difficult to navigate for those with hearing loss. Even small impairments can be enough to change the way people go through their days, often adding difficulty to everyday situations. In social situations, they deserve the same level of comfort as everyone else. This is where assistive listening devices come into play. They allow for additional hearing assistance, often in combination with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Many are unaware of how they work and where they can be accessed, so education on the subject is still crucial. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms invites Cheryl Nolte back on the show to discuss ALDs. They break down the social situations and locations where these devices can be found. They also talk about how they can be utilized properly, how they work with different levels of hearing loss, and some of the limitations of these resources.

Dr. Carol Flexer is an audiology expert who lectures and workshops on the development of listening and literacy skills in children, especially those with hearing loss. She has authored more than 150 publications and worked at The University of Akron for 25 years as a Professor of Audiology.

Dr. Flexer received her doctorate in audiology from Kent State University in 1982. She is licensed as an audiologist and holds the CCC/A and the LSLS Cert. AVT.

Hearing aids have been underutilized for many generations now, and the care and refinement that should come after a prescription are often inadequate. Audiologists are aware of this gap in care but may not be aware of just how prevalent it is. Dr. Carol Flexer is an audiologist who has researched and published on the topic of hearing aid programming. Her findings have been both helpful and troubling, highlighting the reality of hearing aid usage in the United States. So what does the research have to say on the subject? In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has an informative interview with Dr. Carol Flexer on the programming pitfalls of hearing aids. They discuss the articles she helped write, their findings, and how it applies to modern audiology. They also go over how audiologists need to care for their patients, the issue of price, and the complications many patients experience.

Cheryl Nolte is a lip-reading instructor with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness area. She has worked in event management, team building, public speaking, and fundraising. She is currently active with five different charitable organizations while also offering online hearing coaching. In addition to these roles, she takes time to advocate for and consult people regarding hearing aids.

In recent years, there have come to be an overwhelming amount of available resources for those with hearing loss. The modern advancements in technology and software make it easier than ever to create apps. While this is ultimately a great thing, it does mean it takes more time and knowledge to find the most valuable apps. Cheryl Nolte has taken on much of that hard work as a hearing loss coach. Out of the plentiful options, she has found and tested many that provide genuine results. There is a vast variety of resources for different needs, so there is certain to be an app to fit your needs. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms invites Cheryl Nolte back on to give advice and recommendations on hearing apps. They go through each category and give thoughts on which apps are worth considering. They also touch on different use cases, how to find what works for you, and how they work with other hearing technology.

Chase Prieve is an account manager in the telecommunications and technology industries with experience working with everything from startups to Fortune 1000 companies. He is the Founder of Hi There Solutions, developing innovative solutions for the Deaf and hard of hearing as well as their family and friends.

John Prieve is the Director of Operations at Hi There Solutions and the father of Chase Prieve. He has severe hearing loss and is a bilateral hearing aid user. He brings his own experiences to the company and now helps others work through their hearing loss.

Day-to-day accommodations for the Deaf and hard of hearing communities can be surprisingly sparse. There are well-known systems in place for blind people but fewer options for those with hearing issues. Some of this is due to a lack of advocacy, but there are also gaps between technology and its potential use.

John Prieve has dealt with severe hearing loss for much of his life and has recently partnered with his son to create better accommodations for those in a similar position. They have worked diligently on the hardware and software and are ready to reveal their progress. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Chase Prieve returns with his father John Prieve to discuss their app and how it can help those with hearing loss. They go through the research and hardware behind the product, how it fits into the modern world, and the business model that drives it. They also touch on John’s own story and the struggles he has worked through to get where he is today.

Keenan Tully is a British racing driver who recently relocated to Mooresville, North Carolina to compete in NASCAR. He is the Founder and Owner of UnDEAFeated, a brand seeking to spread awareness of hearing loss through his story in motorsport. Prior to his racing career, he served as a race mechanic.

Keenan leads a YouTube channel, an upcoming podcast, and print media through UnDEAFeated.

Hearing aid advocacy is a difficult prospect since it often overlaps with public perception. Even with the right information, many individuals will still be hesitant to adopt the hearing technology they need due to stigma. This is especially true with children and young adults — so how do you help them see the importance of hearing aids? Stories and role models are a great tool for advocacy — they help people feel less alone in their struggles and give a clear example of someone who can succeed despite the obstacles. Keenan Tully has dedicated himself to spreading awareness and using his personal brand as a precedent for others. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms sits down with Keenan Tully, a NASCAR driver and the Founder and Owner of UnDEAFeated, to discuss his story and his organization’s activism. They discuss Keenan’s experience with hearing loss, how UnDEAFeated was started, and the lessons he’s learned. They also touch on his racing career and how he navigates the racing world with his hearing loss.

Dr. Judy Huch is a Senior Audiologist and the Owner of Oro Valley Audiology. Since 1991, she has provided her patients with assistive listening devices, hearing loss diagnosis, and audiological treatment. She created Grace Hearing Center, a nonprofit in Arizona, to help those who have limited access to treatment. 

Additionally, Dr. Huch participates in mission trips through Entheos Hearing and is a board member of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

The single greatest limiting factor for audiological treatment is cost. Many people are reluctant to receive help due to high prices or the difficulties of insurance. This becomes a non-starter, leading to damaged hearing and potentially-worsened health. So what can be done to change the financial reality of audiology? There are no simple answers, but some centers are doing their best to help. Nonprofit audiology practices are able to administer care with little to no cost. Dr. Judy Huch currently leads the Grace Hearing Center, offering hearing healthcare to those in need. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks to Dr. Judy Huch, the President of Grace Hearing Center, to talk about how nonprofits are assisting undertreated people. They talk about the center, how they raise resources, and the work they do with other practices. They also discuss her career in audiology and where the industry is heading in the future.

Dr. Kim Cavitt is the Owner, President, and Chief Solutionist of Audiology Resources. Since 2001, they have provided hearing aid consulting services to healthcare providers throughout the United States. Concurrently, she served as an adjunct and a clinical placement coordinator at Northwestern University.

Dr. Kavitt received her bachelor’s and master’s at Indiana University and her Doctorate in Audiology from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

Audiology school is meant to prepare future audiologists, but this education only goes so far. There are many, many details involved in running a successful clinic. Not only are there constant shifts to new best practices, but the logistics and daily routines of running a clinic can be difficult in their own right.

Dr. Kim Cavitt started Audiology Resources for this very reason — to be an organization that helps audiologists with every step of the process. She pulls from her own time in audiology and now helps others to improve their systems. So how does she offer assistance to her peers in the audiology field?

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has an informative discussion with Dr. Kim Cavitt, the Owner and President of Audiology Resources, about audiology practices and how she consults audiologists. They touch on her career, advice for practices, and where the industry is heading in the future.

Jenni Ahtiainen is a successful Finnish designer working in the fashion, beauty, and hearing aid industries. Her designs are sold internationally and she’s designed stage costumes for musicians like Marilyn Manson, Snoop Dogg, and Bono. She started her own brand, Deafmetal, which sells fashion-forward jewelry created and designed for hearing aid and cochlear implant users.

Hearing aids and cochlear implants have historically held a stigma. One of the greatest contributors to this hesitancy is the appearance of the technology. The cold, medical appearance has a social impact that many go to great lengths to avoid. While every part of our appearance is up to us, hearing aids have primarily stayed unappealing and inexpressive. Jenni Ahtiainen is a prominent fashion designer who has lived with hearing loss for much of her life. She saw a hole in the industry at the cross-section of fashion and hearing aids. As a result, she started Deafmetal, a jewelry brand for hearing aids and cochlear implants. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Jenni Ahtiainen, the designer and Founder at AIDesign, to discuss her vision and process for the Deafmetal brand. She breaks down her own journey with hearing loss, how she started the brand, and how they have continued to scale and grow. The two also talk about the designs behind the brand and where it is heading in the future.