What makes tinnitus distressing for some people—but barely noticeable for others?In this in-depth conversation, clinical psychologist and tinnitus researcher Dr. Jennifer Gans explains why tinnitus is best understood not simply as a sound, but as a brain-driven experience. Drawing on neuroscience, clinical experience, and mindfulness-based research, she explores how the brain’s response—rather than the sound itself—plays a central role in tinnitus distress, and how that response can change over time.Dr. Gans discusses why accurate education is foundational to effective tinnitus care, how anxiety and stress amplify tinnitus distress, and why habituation is a natural process—not something patients need to force. She also shares insights from her work with thousands of tinnitus patients and introduces her new weekly column at Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM), "Tinnitus Education Corner," focused on evidence-based education and practical guidance.This conversation is designed for clinicians, researchers, and individuals living with tinnitus who want a clearer, more grounded framework for understanding—and reducing—the impact of tinnitus in daily life.

• Check out Dr. Gans' weekly column at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/tinnitus-education-corner
• Learn more about Dr. Gans and her work at: https://mindfultinnitusrelief.com/

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What if hearing technology didn’t try to hide—but instead embraced visibility and style? In this conversation, Nick Morgan-Jones shares his personal journey with hearing loss and the stigma that kept him from wearing hearing aids for years. That experience led him to found Overtone, a consumer-focused hearing technology brand aiming to rethink how hearing devices look, feel, and fit into everyday life.Nick discusses the design philosophy behind Overtone, the challenges of building a new form factor, and why hearing augmentation could be relevant beyond traditional clinical use. The discussion explores stigma, aesthetics, universal design, and how consumer technology approaches could influence the future of hearing health and adoption.

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Why do so many people delay hearing care—even after acknowledging a problem or receiving a recommendation? In this conversation, hearing instrument specialist and researcher Bobbi-Jo Marlatt explores how motivational interviewing (MI) can help hearing care professionals better support patients who feel uncertain, ambivalent, or overwhelmed about treatment. Drawing on her new book, Motivational Interviewing for Hearing Care Providers, Marlatt explains why communication style often matters as much as clinical expertise when it comes to long-term hearing aid adoption.Marlatt discusses how motivational interviewing shifts the focus away from persuasion and toward collaboration, helping clinicians recognize common habits—such as rushing to solutions or labeling patients as “non-compliant”—that can unintentionally create resistance. Through practical examples, she illustrates how asking open-ended questions, listening reflectively, and allowing space for uncertainty can lead to more meaningful conversations and stronger patient engagement, even within the time constraints of everyday practice.The discussion also looks ahead to the role of motivational interviewing in education and research, including Marlatt’s ongoing PhD work examining its impact in hearing care settings. She argues that integrating MI into routine clinical practice may help reduce delays in treatment, improve hearing aid use, and ultimately support better quality of life for patients. The conversation offers practical takeaways for hearing care professionals seeking a more patient-centered approach to counseling and care.

• Motivational Interviewing for Hearing Care Providers: https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publications/motivational-interviewing-for-hearing-care-providers

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What will it take for accessible audio to become the norm rather than the exception in public spaces? In this conversation, Andrew Bellavia is joined by Paul Daft of GN and journalist and accessibility advocate Liam O’Dell to explore the growing momentum behind Auracast and its potential to reshape how people access sound in venues such as theaters, cultural spaces, and other public environments.The discussion frames Auracast as part of a broader accessibility ecosystem rather than a replacement for existing solutions like induction loops, captions, or audio description. Daft and O’Dell emphasize the importance of offering multiple access options, recognizing that different users have different needs. Beyond supporting people with hearing loss, Auracast is discussed as a tool that may also benefit neurodivergent individuals, noise-sensitive listeners, and those seeking clearer speech in complex or noisy settings.The conversation also addresses the practical barriers slowing adoption, including limited awareness among venue operators, misconceptions about cost and complexity, and gaps in education for professionals and end users. While challenges remain, the discussion highlights growing collaboration across industry, advocacy, and media, alongside a shared belief that inclusive audio should increasingly be treated as a standard expectation in public spaces rather than a special accommodation.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

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Dr. Richard W. “Dick” Danielson’s career in audiology spans decades of service, leadership, and innovation across the U.S. Army, academic medicine, and NASA. A retired Army Colonel and former manager of Audiology and Hearing Conservation at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Dr. Danielson has dedicated his professional life to reducing the risk of hearing loss among military personnel, astronauts, and those who support them.In this Giants in Audiology conversation, Dr. Danielson reflects on a remarkable journey that began in a one-room schoolhouse in rural North Dakota and led to leadership roles at major Army medical centers, deployment during Operation Desert Storm, and the development of hearing conservation programs for spaceflight and ground-based missions at NASA. Along the way, he shares stories of building audiology clinics from the ground up, mentoring generations of audiologists and audiology assistants, and shifting the profession’s focus from simply documenting hearing loss to actively preventing it.Dr. Danielson discusses the evolution of military audiology, the critical role of hearing conservation in readiness and quality of life, and how interdisciplinary collaboration—rather than working in isolation—shaped his approach to leadership. He also reflects on the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and professional relationships, emphasizing that his career was built through collaboration with colleagues across audiology, medicine, engineering, and public health.The discussion offers a thoughtful and often personal look at how audiology has evolved over the past several decades—and how one clinician’s commitment to service helped expand the profession’s impact far beyond the clinic walls.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

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What does accessible audio look like when it’s designed for real-world environments—not just controlled settings? In this conversation, Jonathan Hoskin of Ampetronic explains how Auracast was deployed at Bristol Temple Meads railway station to deliver clear station announcements directly to personal devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, earbuds, and smartphones.Host Andrew Bellavia speaks with Jonathan about how the project came together, why Auracast was well suited for a busy, historic train station, and how it addresses common challenges with traditional assistive listening systems. Jonathan walks through how the installation improves clarity in noisy spaces, allows passengers to move freely throughout the station, and provides a more practical listening experience than relying on loudspeakers alone.The discussion also looks ahead to what this deployment could mean for future accessibility, including easier ways to connect, multiple language streams, and emerging tools like live captions. Together, the conversation highlights how Auracast could help make public spaces more inclusive and easier to navigate for people with hearing challenges and beyond.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

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Where do the best ideas in hearing aid innovation come from, and how do they reach patients? In this conversation, Dr. Jason Galster, Vice President of Clinical Research at Sonova, explains how hearing aid research moves from early feasibility to clinical readiness and post-market studies. He discusses how research ideas originate—from clinicians, academic partners, and internal technology roadmaps—and how Sonova evaluates which projects to pursue. Dr. Galster also highlights the role of Sonova’s global Audiology Research Centers, cross-cultural data collection, and emerging tools such as ecological momentary assessment that allow for real-world outcome tracking at scale.The discussion provides insight into how new technologies are evaluated, how research findings are translated for clinicians, and how innovations ultimately reach patients worldwide.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

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Widex has expanded its Allure™ hearing aid platform with new form factors and charging options, giving hearing care professionals more flexibility across a wider range of patient needs. In this discussion, Dana Helmink, Au.D., Senior Director of Clinical Development at WSA, walks through the addition of a rechargeable Allure BTE, Widex’s first rechargeable ITE, and a new portable charger for the Allure RIC — designed to support travel, active lifestyles, and extended daily use.The conversation also explores updates to Widex Compass Cloud™, the company’s cloud-based fitting software. Dana explains how frequent rolling updates, precision fitting tools, and in-ear measurement capabilities like the Allure Sensogram are designed to improve first-fit accuracy, reduce follow-up visits, and support more personalized fittings. The shift to cloud-based software allows Widex to release new features on an accelerated schedule without requiring manual software installs.Together, the platform updates reflect Widex’s continued focus on natural sound, speech clarity, and environmental awareness. The discussion also touches on the role of the W1 chip, backwards-compatible firmware upgrades, AI-supported personalization through the Widex app, and how these advances translate into real-world patient outcomes in complex listening environments.

• For more information on the Allure portfolio expansion: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-technologies/2025/widex-expands-allure-portfolio-with-new-hearing-aid-models-and-charger/

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A fully implantable cochlear implant isn’t just a technical milestone—it's a fundamentally different way of living with hearing loss. In a candid conversation, Gael Hannan speaks with Michael Seufer, one of the first recipients of the Envoy Medical Acclaim, an investigational fully implanted cochlear implant that eliminates external hardware.

Michael shares how his hearing loss, first identified in childhood, shaped his life—from academic challenges to finding refuge in hockey—and how traditional hearing aids eventually stopped providing the benefit he needed.

Michael describes the moment he decided to pursue the Acclaim after years of discouraging experiences with amplification. Motivated by wanting to fully hear his young son, he enrolled in the clinical trial at Mayo Clinic and embraced the risks of cutting-edge technology. He explains that the fully internal system allows him to hear 24/7 without putting anything on, removing daily barriers common to hearing aid and CI users. From waking up able to converse immediately to showering, exercising, and using headphones normally, he says the experience feels “transparent,” allowing him to simply go about his life without thinking about hearing loss.

He also details the device’s internal rechargeable battery, its wireless charging system, and the notable sound quality he experiences—without feedback or the limitations of microphones and speakers. Michael emphasizes that he isn’t a spokesperson, just someone whose life has changed dramatically and wants others to know what may be possible. Above all, he says, the Acclaim represents something deeper for him: “It’s what hope sounds like.”

• Learn more about Michael's story: https://www.echoesofamiracle.com/
• For more information on the Acclaim and Envoy Medical's other products, visit: https://www.envoymedical.com/

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A growing number of people are exploring hearing help earlier, and LXE Hearing believes there is a place for devices that bridge the gap between everyday earbuds and traditional hearing aids. In a detailed discussion, LXE Chief Commercial Officer Brian Maguire explains how the newly formed company—created from the merger of Lexie, hearX, and Eargo—is blending strong hardware engineering with deep software expertise to develop more accessible hearing solutions. Maguire describes LXE’s portfolio, from diagnostics and screening tools to OTC devices, and emphasizes the group’s shared mission: helping people better understand their hearing and giving them approachable, affordable entry points into amplification.The conversation centers on the Lexie H1 hearing buds, LXE’s new earbud-style hearing device designed for situational use. Maguire explains that while traditional CIC and RIC hearing aids remain their core offerings, a growing group of consumers wants an option that boosts hearing only when needed—especially in noisy environments—without the commitment of full-time wear. He highlights the H1’s dual purpose: it functions as a high-quality, everyday wireless earbud with streaming and ANC, but also incorporates hearing amplification with preset programs, adjustable gain through the app, reduced occlusion, and features like directivity and noise reduction for speech-in-noise challenges.Maguire stresses that the H1 isn’t meant to replace all-day devices but to complement them, helping newcomers try amplification sooner and giving existing hearing aid users a tool for specific listening situations. With flexible support, a 45-day risk-free trial, and a $299 price point, he says LXE hopes the H1 will encourage more people to take their first steps toward hearing improvement—at a time when awareness and comfort with ear-worn tech are rapidly increasing.

• Lexie H1 Hearing Buds press release: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-technologies/2025/lexie-hearing-h1-hearing-buds/

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