ListenUp!

Dr. Jed Grisel is an Otolaryngologist at Texoma ENT & Allergy where he has served for over a decade. He completed his undergraduate training in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University and finished medical school at the University College of Medicine at Texas A&M. Along with Texoma, he also works as a site lead for ENT Specialty Partners and is the Chief Medical Officer & President at Amptify Hearing.

Optometry and audiology are deeply related fields. Both are specialized fields that focus on the senses and tend to go undertreated. In the UK, there have been successful partnerships between these two — so why has the model not been brought to the United States?

Amptify is bringing a new approach to hearing care for patients and professionals alike. Their president, Dr. Jed Grisel, is an experienced otolaryngologist who also works to make hearing treatment more accessible. He shares what the company is doing to bring the two worlds together.

Dr. Mark Syms talks with Dr. Jed Grisel, an Otolaryngologist at Texoma ENT & Allergy, about introducing audiology into optometry. The two talk about the work being done at Amptify and how they bring a new business model to the industry. They then discuss audiology as a whole, cognitive impairment, and the limits of cochlear implants. Check out the rest on this episode of ListenUp!

Dr. Janet S. Choi is an otolaryngologist with both a master’s in public health and doctorate in medicine. She currently serves in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota. She has a research area focusing on addressing the problems of low-yield utilization and awareness of hearing healthcare. Her recent research publication is entitled Association of Hearing Test History With Awareness of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use in Older Adults.

Most of us realize we need more hearing treatment, but that vague notion is hard to uphold without the science to back it up. Any significant movement in public health is founded on new research and simple numbers. Fortunately, there are doctors working to find out exactly what people need. Dr. Janet S. Choi is an otolaryngologist and neurotology physician fellow at the University of Minnesota. She recently published a new study on hearing screenings for adults and how it tangibly affects them. Her research is built on the findings of those who came before her and lays the groundwork for even greater findings to come. So what exactly does the study have to say? In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms sits down with Dr. Janet S. Choi, a doctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota, to talk about her study and what she discovered about adult hearing screenings. They discuss Dr. Choi’s own hearing issues and how it influenced her career. They go on to cover the connection between hearing loss and cognitive health, objective hearing tests, and why there should be a functional formula for hearing.

Dr. Rhee Rosenman-Nesson is an audiologist and the Founder and Director of the audiology department of the Hearing Doctors of New Jersey. The organization provides a personalized approach to hearing by using the latest hearing health technology techniques. She has been in the healthcare field for two decades serving at locations such as the Kubick & Kubick Hearing Aid Center and the Dunshaw Audiology and Hearing Aid Center.

Hearing treatment is a complex and lifelong journey. For audiologists, the key is to keep patients coming back and improve their quality of life. It’s crucial to take care of them from their first consultation to their routine checkups. Accomplishing this while maintaining an honest living can be difficult for audiologists. Fortunately, some doctors are able to maintain this balance. Dr. Rhee Rosenman-Nesson recently founded the Hearing Doctors of New Jersey. Her practice is equally focused on the treatment, the technology, and the service behind helping those with hearing loss. She has learned a lot across her two decades in audiology, and now, she shares some of her insights with you. Dr. Mark Syms speaks with Dr. Rhee Rosenman-Nesson, the Founder and Doctor of Audiology at the Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, to touch on what it means to run your own practice. They talk about Dr. Nesson’s inspiration and her approach to hearing treatment. The two go on to discuss real ear verification, charging for your time, consultations, and more. Hear it for yourself on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast!

Dr. Amyn M. Amlani is an experienced health research leader and the Owner and President of Otolithic LLC. His company operates in consulting, accounting, and business economics. He has worked in hearing care for over 25 years with time spent in audiology practice channels and within the industry. Dr. Amlani has also served in academia at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of North Texas.

Before they ever treat their first patient, all audiology professionals start with extensive education. Any professional audiologist utilizes years upon years of training and teaching to give them a strong foundation for their practice. However, this education is becoming a more difficult prospect with rising prices and decreased incentives. If audiology is to keep growing and thriving, something has to change. Dr. Amyn M. Amlani is a health research leader with experience in the business and academia sides of audiology. He has worked with countless students to help them avoid issues, but greater changes need to be made. So what does that look like in action? In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has a powerful conversation with Dr. Amyn M. Amlani, the Owner and President of Otolithic LLC, to talk about the problems of higher education in audiology. They start with Dr. Amlani’s own career and how he witnessed the problems of his students. They also touch on the adoption of hearing aids, the fundamentals of hearing treatment, and his plans for the future.

Dr. Brian Taylor is an audiologist with over 23 years of clinical and research experience. He is the Senior Director of Audiology at Signia, a leading brand of hearing aids. He has spent over a decade as the Editor of Audiology Practices at the Academy of Doctors of Audiology and has directed several other audiological programs. Along with countless lectures, Dr. Taylor has published five textbooks and numerous articles.

Due to the nature of audiology, customer experience is crucial. Since hearing is often undertreated and many are reluctant to be treated, it takes a consistent environment to ensure new and old patients continue to come. An inconsistent practice on any level can have ripple effects on peer-to-peer recommendations. So what’s the best solution?

Dr. Brian Taylor is an expert in audiology, having worked on the clinical, research, and business sides of the industry for a combined 23 years and counting. He has learned over time what it takes to treat hearing loss and to create a better customer experience. His approach to standardizing practices has not only helped his own company, but can help yours as well.

In this episode of ListenUp!, Dr. Mark Syms speaks with Dr. Brian Taylor, the Senior Director of Audiology at Signia, about standardized practices for hearing care. They begin with Dr. Taylor’s own career and understanding of patient experience before diving into topics of over-the-counter hearing aids, bundled and unbundled models, and what the technology may hold in the future.

Dr. Jill Davis is the Owner and Clinical Director of Victory Hearing & Balance, based in Austin, Texas. Dr. Davis connected her passion — helping cognitively-impaired patients improve their communication abilities — with music training supported by research. The result was the Music Training Program at Victory Hearing & Balance, which was specifically designed to help patients with memory, information retention, and brain function using music as a form of auditory rehabilitation.

Music is a common artform often used to amuse, entertain, and inspire. But for some people, it can be even more than that.

Dr. Jill Davis is a strong advocate for using music as a form of rehabilitation for patients with hearing impairment. Backed by neuro-musical research, Dr. Davis believes that music training not only helps patients with poor cognition communicate better, but also improves memory and the ability to hear background noise. 

In this episode of ListenUp!, Dr. Mark Syms sits down with Dr. Jill Davis, the Owner and Clinical Director of Victory Hearing & Balance. With more than 10 years of practice as an Audiologist, Dr. Davis has successfully implemented music training in her program as a way to help patients with hearing impairments experience a considerable improvement in their cognitive abilities.

Dr. Virginia Ramachandran is an audiologist and educational specialist who is currently the Head of Audiology at Oticon and the President-elect at the American Academy of Audiology. She works as an adjunct instructor at Wayne State University and Western Michigan University where she leads courses on amplification. She also spent nearly 15 years as an associate editor at Plural Publishing. Her clinical research has touched on student and professional issues.

Most people would agree that there needs to be more emphasis on hearing health. However, the necessary policies and advancements are less accepted in reality. This makes it crucial for hearing health to be promoted in both public and private sectors. Few people are up for the challenge, but Dr. Virginia Ramachandran has taken up the mantle. Dr. Ramachandran is an audiologist, educator, and executive who recently accepted the position of President-elect at the American Academy of Audiology. She has already advocated and trained at Oticon and now extends her talents to an organization that works directly to advance hearing healthcare. Now you have the chance to know exactly what that looks like. Dr. Mark Syms has an enlightening discussion with Dr. Virginia Ramachandran, the Head of Audiology at Oticon, to discuss advocacy and how to improve the world of hearing health. They go through her work at Oticon, the AAA, and her experiences in the field. The two also touch on the issues with amplification, hearing aid coverage, and the current priorities of the hearing health community. Hear it for yourself on this episode of the ListenUp! podcast.

Dr. Edmund Farrar is the Co-founder and CEO of Oto, a digital therapy app for overlooked chronic conditions. He is a NHS Clinical Entrepreneur and went through the Y Combinator program to launch Oto in 2020. For five years, he served in the Royal Air Force in a variety of medical positions including core surgical trainee and foundation doctor. He received his bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery from the Hull York Medical School.

Tinnitus is a common problem with few solutions. There are some treatments and tricks to ease the discomfort, but any lasting help is hard to find. This only gets harder when medical costs and accessibility are factored in. A handful of self-therapy solutions have reached the market, and Oto is at the forefront. Oto is an app that specifically treats tinnitus through clinically-proven techniques. Their diverse and experienced team has worked hard to find treatments to meet everyone’s specific needs. So how exactly does the app work and what does it mean for people struggling with tinnitus? In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms speaks with Dr. Edmund Farrar, the Co-founder and CEO of Oto, about tinnitus and how the app helps ease symptoms. They discuss the different modules of the app and their application to distinct kinds of tinnitus. They also touch on habituation, what Dr. Farrar learned during his time in the military, and how Treble Health has helped people receive proper treatment.

Dr. Heather Malyuk is a certified audiologist with a passion for music and hearing health. She started her own mobile clinic, Soundcheck Audiology, to help musicians and community members maintain their hearing. She also spends her time as a sub-investigator at the University of Akron and as the head of audiology at Tuned. Her career has led her to work with some of the top musicians in the industry.

While musicians are reliant on their hearing to perform, they can often take it for granted. Hearing is not a given, and plenty of musicians have suffered the consequences in their career. Tinnitus and hearing loss are unfortunately common in the music industry, usually due to a lack of education. 

Dr. Heather Malyuk saw this deficit and dedicated herself to helping musicians with their hearing health. She joined a niche group of audiologists who specialize in the music industry and the unique challenges it presents. Her expertise has led her to work with some of the top musicians touring today. So what does she do to help those who need their hearing the most? Dr. Mark Syms talks with Dr. Heather Malyuk, the owner of Soundcheck Audiology, about the state of audiology among musicians. They start with the distinct problems facing musicians and how she treats their hearing. The two then discuss the best technology for hearing health, the craziest stories in Heather’s career, and the people who have helped her find her passion. Hear all of this and more on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast.

Dr. Parichita Choudhury is a cognitive neurologist at Banner Health in Arizona. She received her M.D. from the University of Alberta and immediately joined the University of Calgary as a Resident Physician. She was a fellow at the Mayo Clinic Rochester and now shares her passion for medical education with others.

Dr. Choudhury’s clinical research focuses on neurodegenerative dementia, diagnosis, and prognosis, with an emphasis on early detection.

Recent research has pointed toward a connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. While it’s invaluable to treat hearing loss to combat neurological disease, that’s not the only solution. In fact, as more work is done in the field, science is offering more ways than ever to diagnose and fight against cognitive decline.

As a cognitive neurologist, Dr. Parichita Choudhury is aware of the impact hearing has on brain function. She is a proponent of healthy mental exercise and testing, working hands-on with her patients to help their cognitive health, and now, explains exactly what that looks like in practice. Dr. Mark Syms has a thorough discussion with Dr. Parichita Choudhury, a cognitive neurologist at Banner Health, about cognitive decline and how to fight against it. They discuss her qualifications and observations in the field before diving deep into subjects such as brain testing programs, how the MoCA works, and exercises people can perform to strengthen their cognition. Hear the full conversation on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast!