ListenUp!

Nick Morgan-Jones is a freelance product designer who specializes in user experience and interface. He has recently put his efforts into his own project called Decibels, which functions as an alternative hearing enhancer for those who don’t want to use hearing aids. Having grown up with hearing loss, Nick has applied his lived experiences into his design work. He has served as a consultant and designer for companies such as door2door, Code & Co, and One Sound Hire. 

The primary drive for innovation in hearing technology is for better hearing — that’s their medical purpose, but we as people are drawn towards expression and creativity. Just about any item that serves a function also offers a form of self-expression using small options like color or material to demonstrate a person’s style. So why is there no such option for hearing tech?

Nick Morgan-Jones is the Co-founder of Decibels, a product that looks to both improve the technology of hearing aids and its aesthetic design. When he was younger, Nick felt reluctant to use hearing aids because of their looks, so now he seeks to offer an alternative. He is currently working on the early models and is getting the word out about his innovative technology.

Dr. Mark Syms interviews Nick Morgan-Jones, the Co-founder of Decibels, to talk about his product and what it brings to the market. They start with Nick’s own life, his experiences with hearing loss, and how it drove him to start the project. They touch on topics such as user experience, fashion, and the process of creating new hardware. Find out all this and much more on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast.

Gael Hannan is an author, speaker, and advocate for the hard of hearing. She has lived with restricted hearing from the age of three and has since turned her experiences into advocacy. She served as the Director of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association for over a decade and a Program Specialist for the Hearing Foundation of Canada. Gael is the author of The Way I Hear It as well as Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss, both of which tackle how best to live with hearing loss.

Last week, Shari Eberts spoke on how to skillfully live with hearing loss. This week continues the conversation with Shari’s co-author Gael Hannan, who has lived a life of restricted hearing.

Over the years, Gael has transitioned from limited hearing, to severe hearing loss, to using technology to restore some of her ability. It’s given her a range of understanding that she utilizes in consulting and writing. It has also given her a better understanding of how to live skillfully with hearing loss and better interact with the people in her life. So how can people with hearing loss overcome such challenges?

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms interviews Gael Hannan, a writer and advocate for hearing loss, to go over her own experiences and the tips she prescribes to help others. They go through her interactions with her child and husband along with her first use of hearing aids before tackling topics like social bluffing, advocacy, and her book Hear & Beyond. Stay tuned for more!

Shari Eberts is an internationally recognized advocate for hearing loss, having lived with hearing loss herself. She runs the weekly blog, “Living With Hearing Loss,” which has been cited by publications such as The Huffington Post, Healthy Living Magazine, and Woman’s Day. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on hearing loss issues and is the author of Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss. She is a Board Member for the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and the Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary, We Hear You.

Approximately 5% of people currently live with hearing loss and a wide range of experiences exist within that number. For some, it’s a slight impediment that doesn’t change their daily routine. For others, it’s a condition that comes with a host of challenges and additional considerations. It can be hard to relate if you don’t share the diagnosis, which is why it can be so powerful to hear from those who do. 

Shari Eberts has lived with hearing loss for most of her adult life, driving her towards advocacy in the field. She has a published book, updates a successful weekly blog, and speaks at conferences and panels. During her experience, she has developed certain tips and outlooks on what it means to live with hearing loss. Now she talks about them with the other 95%.

Dr. Mark Syms sits down with Shari Eberts, an internationally recognized advocate for hearing loss, to discuss hearing loss and how to live skillfully through it. They touch on Shari’s journey and share a host of tips and tricks on how to navigate life with hearing loss. Lastly, they talk about the need for community and further acceptance of accommodations. Check out all of this and more on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast.

Vance Morris is a former Disney leader, Disney and customer experience strategist, and international speaker. He has built his career on the tenets of Disney’s brand of service. He’s spent the past 10 years sharing the insider secrets for a customer and guest service experience that works like magic. After a decade with Disney, he’s put those same principles to use in his own position as President and Owner of Chesapeake Service Solutions, which owns multiple chem-dry franchises on the U.S. east coast. Vance has been featured on NBC, CBS, FOX, and more.

What can ruin even the best product or business out there? Poor customer service. Creating a valuable customer service experience is crucial for long-term success, ensuring repeat customers who will be loyal to your brand. It’s what separates some of the largest companies in the world from middling businesses.

Among those titans is Disney, known for their thorough customer service. Vance Morris worked for them for almost a decade and learned many of their secrets and techniques. He’s implemented those same principles at every position since. Now, he spends much of his time as a customer experience strategist, helping others understand what great customer service truly looks like.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Vance Morris, former Disney leader, Disney and customer experience strategist, and international speaker, about Disney’s approach to customer service and what every business can learn from it. They start with Vance’s own time at the company and the universal points that he took away from his experience. Then, they go into the importance of training, how to learn from your employees, and why you need a clear mission for your company.

Barbara Mellert is a cochlear implant advocate and has worked as an Academic Technology Consultant at Dartmouth College for more than 20 years. She started as an advocate with her two children, both of whom have bilateral cochlear implants. She runs the Facebook page “Parents of Children with Cochlear Implants,” which currently has over 14,000 members. She is also on the board of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance as a parent representative.

Being the parent of a child with hearing loss can be especially difficult. It’s not only dealing with the normal stresses of parenthood but also wading into uncharted territory for most. One of those challenges includes navigating hearing technology. However, there are many supportive communities built around facing these obstacles together.

Barbara Mellert is the mother of two sons, both with bilateral cochlear implants. Her experience has taught her a lot, so she now commits to helping others with the Facebook group, “Parents of Children with Cochlear Implants,” which supports more than 14,000 members. She is familiar with both advocacy and parenting, and is happy to share her knowledge with all who want to hear.

Dr. Mark Syms has an illuminating conversation with Barbara Mellert, Academic Technology Consultant at Dartmouth College and cochlear implant advocate, to discuss parenting children with cochlear implants and advocacy for the technology. They start with Barbara’s own story and how her boys went on to live fulfilling lives. They then cover the positive effects and common hesitations of cochlear implants. They also touch on the need for understanding educational environments and more.

Dave Kemp is the Director of Business Development at Oaktree Products, a wholesale store that was started by his family for audiology supplies and equipment. He received much of his prior experience in marketing solutions by working at other businesses such as Marketwired and Market Track. He is known for running Future Ear, a blog and podcast dedicated to hearing technology. He also recently helped start another podcast on hearing health and consumer audio called This Week in Hearing.

The world of hearing technology is so much more than hearing aids and cochlear implants. While those are two of the most important instruments, there’s a wide range of equipment and programs that help with hearing. There has also been a recent push to develop hearing tech that is smarter about processing noise. And who knows better about all of this than the suppliers themselves?

Dave Kemp is the Director of Business Development at Oaktree Products. He has worked in multiple positions across the company and has steadily learned all about the field of hearing technology. As recent advancements are being researched and rolled out, Dave has stayed ahead of the curve. Now he shares exactly what’s happening with you.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms interviews Dave Kemp, the Director of Business Development at Oaktree Products, to talk about what the future holds for hearing technology. Together, they work through topics such as selective hearing programs, recent developments in the field, and the nature of noise-induced hearing loss. They also touch on Dave’s shows and his personal experiences in hearing tech.

Dr. Mark Syms is a Neurotologist/Otologist and the Founder of the Arizona Hearing Center. He is one of the first physicians in the country to be board-certified in neurotology and is currently a national leader in hearing technology. After nearly two decades of experience treating ear problems, Dr. Syms has helped thousands of people improve their quality of life.

Dr. Syms graduated with honors from Boston College before earning his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. He completed his fellowship training at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles, one of the world’s premier surgery organizations. Today, Dr. Syms frequently gives lectures on neurotology both nationally and internationally. He is also an extensively published author, a member of numerous professional organizations, and the host of his own podcast, ListenUp!.

Over the past year, Dr. Mark Syms has had a wide variety of guests on the ListenUp! Podcast. Doctors and experts across audiology and other related fields have come on to share their knowledge. They have discussed everything from personal stories and burgeoning research to helpful discussions on hearing loss. 

With each episode, the diverse subject of audiology has been made a little more understandable. Whether you’re new to the field or a specialist wanting to hear from other audiologists, this past year has had something for everyone.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz flips the script and interviews Dr. Mark Syms to go over the past year on the ListenUp! Podcast. Together, they go through the different topics and themes that came up across all of the episodes. They touch on important takeaways, the stories behind some of the guests featured, and why there is still a stigma behind hearing aids. Stay tuned for this episode and many more to come!

Donna Sorkin is the current Executive Director of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA), an organization that seeks to eliminate the barriers to implant acceptance. She is an expert and renowned advocate for cochlear implants. She previously served as the Vice President of Consumer Affairs at Cochlear Americas before transitioning into the nonprofit sector. Throughout her career, she’s worked as the executive director at other leading organizations for the deaf and those with hearing loss.

Most medical professionals within the audiology sphere know how important cochlear implants are. More specifically, they see firsthand the stigma and lack of acceptance for the devices. There has been a recent push for more understanding in the cultural consciousness, but many advocates don’t have the influence to make the impact they want. One person who does, however, is Donna Sorkin.

Donna has served at multiple organizations, including Cochlear Americas, the Hearing Loss Association of America, and now the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA). She now works exclusively in advocacy and has even presented to the United States Congress on cochlear implants. Few people understand the subject like she does, so what does she think are the next steps for cochlear advocacy?

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has an in-depth conversation with Donna Sorkin, the Executive Director of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA), about cochlear implant advocacy. The two go over the current challenges in both legislation and cultural perception of implants. They also talk about the ACIA’s work and Donna’s own experience with her hearing loss. Stay tuned to hear all of this and much more!

Dr. Nicholas Salvatore Reed is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is an expert in a variety of intertwined studies such as biostatistics, epidemiology, and audiology. His passion is based on a deep concern for the lack of hearing care in the United States.

Because of this, his research focuses on new strategies for patients and providers and the efficiency of over-the-counter hearing solutions. Dr. Reed is also a member of the core faculty for the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health.

The primary concern for most audiologists is untreated hearing loss. So many people wait too long to get tested and end up losing valuable time along with potential damage. While there has been a considerable push for hearing loss awareness, the same can’t be said for undertreated cases. 

Dr. Nicholas Reed is a researcher and Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University. One of his passions is increasing hearing care in the United States, which further extends to treating hearing loss the right way. Much of his experience and research is on this topic, so are you ready to learn?

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has a conversation with Dr. Nicholas Reed, an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University, to talk about the current state of hearing treatment and how it may not be enough. They touch on a host of topics, including self-awareness of hearing loss, the chronic issue of undertreatment, and the potential neurological effects it can have. They also discuss why competition among hearing aid companies may be a good thing.

Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens is a National Hearing Loop Advocate through the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and the Loop Wisconsin website. With more than 40 years of experience in audiology, Dr. Sterkens has had a long career of fitting hearing instruments and counseling. She spent over 30 years as the Managing Partner of Fox Valley Hearing Center. 

She received her AuD from the Arizona School of Health Sciences and her master’s in audiology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

As the world grows in accessibility, it’s important to keep those who are hard of hearing in mind. There are some provisions made for those with hearing loss in public spaces, but not much progress has been made overall. While older methods and technologies are still seen as the standard in most places, there is one piece of technology that is quickly growing in popularity.

Hearing loops are an FM or infrared systems alternative that provide additional clarity rather than pure amplification. It’s an elegant solution that has been incredibly effective when implemented. The difficult part is finding acceptance and places that are willing to invest in them. Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens has spent a considerable portion of her career dedicated to this endeavor and invites you in to see the work she’s doing.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms sits down with Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens, a National Hearing Loop Advocate through the HLAA, to discuss hearing loops and why they’re so important. They go over the logistics and realities of the technology as well as their incredible utility. They then discuss the success stories so far, places where they’re needed, and what the future holds for them. Stay tuned to hear all of this and more!