This Week in Hearing

Rally Caps is not just another baseball movie—it's a powerful story about overcoming adversity, friendship, and authentic representation of hearing loss. In this episode, Shari Eberts speaks with Jodi Cutler, co-author of the book that inspired the film, and Lee Cipolla, the film’s director. Rally Caps follows Jordy, a young baseball player with cochlear implants, and Lucas, his teammate and mentor who also has hearing loss. Together, they navigate the challenges of growing up, finding confidence, and bonding over their love of baseball. With support from Phonak and Advanced Bionics, the film integrates real hearing technology naturally into the storyline, offering a true-to-life portrayal of hearing loss in mainstream media.

What will audiology look like in 2050? In this insightful discussion, Doctors Amyn Amlani and Jason Leyendecker sit down with Dave Kemp to explore the Audiology 2050 initiative, a visionary roadmap from the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) aiming to elevate the profession to meet future challenges.

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OTOPLAN©, a specialized tool for surgeons and audiologists, enables 3D reconstructions of patients' cochleas using CT and MRI scans. This capability optimizes electrode array selection before surgery and enhances implant programming afterward. Since achieving FDA clearance in the U.S., OTOPLAN has been adopted by over 225 clinical centers, processing more than 3,200 scans and providing clinicians with precise anatomical insights that significantly improve patient outcomes.

How does audiology intersect with the legal system? Dr. Robert Traynor, an expert in forensic audiology, delves into this unique area where audiologists apply their knowledge to assist in legal cases involving hearing loss, tinnitus, and injury claims. Dr. Traynor, inspired by Marc Kramer’s 1982 book Forensic Audiology, explains how forensic audiologists help attorneys and courts understand complex auditory issues, whether in noise-induced hearing loss lawsuits or other legal disputes involving hearing health.

What if we could dramatically accelerate the process of turning tinnitus research into real-world clinical solutions? In this discussion, Jeffery Reagan and Dr. James Henry introduce the idea of a Tinnitus Learning Health Network, a collaborative model aimed at bridging the gap between research, clinical practice, and patient experiences.

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Interested in learning more about the latest in tinnitus care? You won't want to miss the upcoming InFocus: Rethinking Tinnitus virtual symposium, scheduled for November 19-21. Open to both professionals and the public, the symposium will showcase the latest innovations in tinnitus care and provide a platform for discussing transformative initiatives like the Tinnitus Learning Health Network. Learn more:

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Starkey's Dave Fabry and Achin Bhowmik delve into the advanced capabilities of the Edge AI hearing aids, discussing the improvements over the previous Genesis AI model. They highlight the always-on deep neural network (DNN), which continuously adapts to different sound environments, offering a seamless experience for users. The Edge mode feature has been enhanced, allowing users to boost speech clarity or reduce noise based on their surroundings, ensuring a more customized hearing experience throughout the day.

Building on their reputation as a direct-to-consumer innovator, Eargo is now entering the prescriptive hearing aid market, offering patients and audiologists a new level of control and care with their cutting-edge devices. CEO Bill Brownie reflects on Eargo's journey, highlighting how their invisible, rechargeable devices have evolved to meet the demands of patients who want both cutting-edge technology and expert guidance of hearing professionals.

Jian Zuo, CEO of Ting Therapeutics, discusses the latest updates on otoprotective agents for three conditions: antibiotic-induced hearing loss, cisplatin-induced hearing loss, and noise-induced hearing loss. Dr. Zuo explains the science behind the company's innovative drug candidates and how they aim to address the unmet need for hearing protection.

How do we communicate the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline without misleading patients? In this keynote session from the 2024 Academy of Doctors of Audiology conference, Dr. Jan Blustein dives deep into the challenge of delivering clear and ethical messages about hearing health.

Host Bob Traynor continues his conversation with Renee Lefrancois, Director of Audiology at Shoebox, on the vital role of ototoxicity monitoring. Renee explains the different types of ototoxicity, including cochleotoxicity, vestibulotoxicity, and neurotoxicity, and how early signs like hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance issues can indicate ototoxic damage.

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