This Week in Hearing

What happens when technology, human connection, and sign language expertise come together to close access gaps for the Deaf community?

In this episode, Shari Eberts sits down with Cirrus co-founders Chris Fillman and Rhett Youngberg to explore the mission behind CirrusTranslate—a new AI-assisted, human-delivered platform for American Sign Language (ASL) translation. The platform aims to increase accessibility while protecting the role of qualified interpreters.

The conversation highlights challenges in interpreter education, limitations of automated tools, and how Cirrus is working to support Deaf access in healthcare, education, and beyond.

🔗 Learn more at: https://cirrustranslate.com

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What happens when hearing loss shapes an artist’s path? Priscila Soares—a Brazilian-American artist, illustrator, and mother—draws on her experience with single-sided deafness and raising a child with profound hearing loss to create artwork that reflects, honors, and connects with the hearing loss community.In this thoughtful conversation, Priscila shares how reconnecting with her creativity through therapy led to a growing body of work now featured in audiology clinics, children’s books, and private collections. Her art conveys both personal and shared experiences around hearing difference, helping others feel seen and understood.🎨

Explore Priscila’s collections here: https://myluckyears.com/

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What happens when audiology students learn directly from people living with hearing loss?In this episode, Shari Eberts talks with Dr. Kathleen Cienkowski, audiologist and professor at the University of Connecticut, about her recent efforts to incorporate community-engaged learning into the audiology curriculum. Their conversation centers around a class project where students read Hear & Beyond—the practical guide to living well with hearing loss co-authored by Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan—and participated in in-person support group meetings through the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA).These experiences gave students the opportunity to go beyond technical training and hear directly from individuals with lived experience, helping them develop empathy, cultural humility, and a more person-centered approach to care. Dr. Cienkowski shares how students responded to these activities and how incorporating the patient perspective earlier in education may help bridge gaps in hearing care, improve trust, and increase the uptake of hearing healthcare interventions.

📚 Watch their full seminar, “How to Elevate Aural Rehabilitation Education Through Community and Engaged Learning”: https://www.audiologyonline.com/audiology-ceus/course/aural-rehabilitation-education-40399📬 Contact the speakers:

• Shari Eberts – [email protected]

• Dr. Kathleen Cienkowski – [email protected]

Learn more about Hear & Beyond: https://livingwithhearingloss.com/hearandbeyond/

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What happens when a global hearing aid manufacturer and a fashion house join forces to challenge stigma?In this episode, host Andrew Bellavia speaks with Marie Schleimann Nordlund, Director of Communication and Community at GN Hearing, and Kristian Rye, CEO of Han Kjøbenhavn, about their recent collaboration showcased at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Together, the two companies brought hearing health to the runway, featuring models with hearing loss and integrating hearing devices into the show’s visual and auditory design. The project supports GN’s “New Norm” initiative, which promotes inclusive and authentic representation of hearing aid users in media.The conversation explores how the collaboration came about, why representation matters—especially for invisible disabilities—and how both brands hope to influence cultural perceptions of hearing loss going forward. It’s a thoughtful look at how fashion and hearing care can intersect to drive meaningful change.

• For more information on 'The New Norm' initiative, visit: https://www.gn.com/the-new-norm

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For many with hearing loss, traditional meditation practices fall short—one woman is working to change that. Janaki Zaremba is a lifelong meditator who also lives with hearing loss, she’s developing a more inclusive and sensory-friendly approach to mindfulness that goes beyond traditional audio-based guidance.In this conversation with Shari Eberts, Janaki shares how meditation helped her navigate the emotional landscape of hearing loss, and why it’s essential to design mindfulness practices that meet people where they are. From visual cues to multi-sensory experiences and future plans for a dedicated app, her mission is to make inner calm more accessible to the hearing loss community.Resources:Guided Meditation for People with Hearing Loss (Q&A):https://livingwithhearingloss.com/2025/06/24/guided-meditation-for-people-with-hearing-loss/Janaki on IG: https://www.instagram.com/janakimayazaremba/YouTube:  @janakimayazaremba  Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).- https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing- https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

Dr. Tena McNamara’s audiology journey has spanned clinical practice, academic leadership, advocacy, and national service. With more than four decades of experience and dual certification in audiology and speech-language pathology, Dr. McNamara has worked across educational systems, early intervention, and higher education. She currently serves as a pediatric audiologist at Midwest Children’s Therapy and is the immediate past president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).A strong believer in mentorship and lifelong learning, Dr. McNamara has shaped the profession both locally and nationally. She has helped launch multiple audiology clinics, co-chaired major conventions, led state and national organizations, and advocated on Capitol Hill for legislation that expands audiologists’ role in patient care. In this conversation, she reflects on her wide-ranging career, from rural schools to academic departments, and shares lessons learned about leadership, service, and the future of audiology.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).- https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing- https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

Hearing care professionals often face challenges when trying to evaluate and compare performance claims across hearing aid brands. Andrew Bellavia speaks with Michael Preuss, Audiology Manager at Sonova, about Phonak’s approach to validating its claims through objective, lab-based methods designed to better reflect real-world listening environments.Preuss explains how Phonak uses a 12-speaker array and ambisonic sound recordings to simulate complex acoustic settings like cafés and dinner parties—scenarios where traditional test setups fall short. He also outlines the development of Sphere mode, powered by a deep neural network (DNN), and how it differs from directional microphone technology. The conversation underscores a broader call for industry-wide standardization to support more informed clinical decision-making.

• Paper: What is behind the numbers? Understanding how quality, robust evidence is achieved through realistic technical assessments. https://www.phonak.com/content/dam/phonak/en/evidence-library/white-paper/technical-paper/PH_Insight_StudySpotlight_210x297_EN_028-2716-02_V1.00.pdf
• Background on how manikins are used in hearing aid performance assessments: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/abellavia_hearingaids-hearingloss-audiology-activity-7224045390709321728-ZwGi
• Exploring Phonak Audeo Sphere Infinio launch https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/2024/phonak-infinio-hearing-aids-review/

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What does it take to build sustainable hearing care infrastructure in underserved regions of the world? In this inspiring interview, Andrew Bellavia is joined by Richard Brown, Chairman and President of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and Alfred Mwamba, Executive Director of the Starkey Hearing Institute in Zambia, to explore the foundation’s evolution from mission-based outreach to a scalable, community-empowered model of hearing healthcare.Brown and Mwamba detail how the Starkey Hearing Institute is training local healthcare workers to become hearing care providers, especially in regions where audiologists are scarce or non-existent. They share the foundation’s efforts to ensure long-term care, improve professional recognition, and work in partnership with local governments and universities to expand services across Africa and beyond. Their conversation highlights the importance of dignity, respect, and community-rooted solutions in tackling global hearing loss.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).- https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing- https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

How well do hearing aids handle noisy, real-world environments? Dr. Bob Traynor sits down with Drs. Sheena Oliver and Eric Branda of WS Audiology to discuss a recent independent study conducted by Hörzentrum Oldenburg. The research compared speech understanding performance between Signia's Integrated Xperience (IX) hearing aids and another leading device featuring an AI co-processor.The conversation explores the implications of split processing and RealTime Conversation Enhancement in helping users follow group conversations—particularly in challenging acoustic environments. They also highlight the study's relevance to patient populations such as U.S. veterans, noting the recent availability of BCT IX devices through VA, DoD, and IHS channels.

• Press release: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-technologies/2025/signia-bct-ix-va-dod/

• Full research study can be viewed here: https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/improving-speech-understanding-in-noisy-29273

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What if a digital tool could help bridge the gap between hearing loss and informed action?In this session from the 2025 Future of Hearing Healthcare Conference, Dr. Mel Ferguson of Curtin University introduces the Hear Choice project—a co-designed, evidence-based decision aid developed to empower adults with hearing loss. Backed by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council, Hear Choice is designed to address long-standing barriers in the hearing care pathway, from lack of knowledge and stigma to limited care options.Dr. Ferguson outlines how the tool was developed through stakeholder engagement, usability testing, and ongoing clinical evaluation. Early feedback from users and clinicians suggests that Hear Choice not only improves understanding but may also prompt meaningful behavior change. Watch now to learn how this scalable, brand-agnostic resource could support better-informed decisions and earlier intervention in hearing healthcare.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).- https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing- https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/