This Week in Hearing This Week in Hearing

Gael Hannan and Shari Eberts interview Dr. Barbara Weinstein, a distinguished professor at CUNY and adjunct professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Weinstein shares her recent research on the InnoCaption app, which provides real-time captions for phone calls, making them accessible to individuals with hearing loss.

Dr. Weinstein highlights that many hearing professionals are not familiar with captioning apps like InnoCaption, despite their potential to greatly improve phone call experiences for hearing aid and cochlear implant users. Her research involved a comprehensive survey of InnoCaption users, focusing on both technological and psychosocial benefits. Key findings revealed that before using the app, users experienced high levels of frustration and anxiety during phone calls. However, after three months of using InnoCaption, participants reported increased phone usage, reduced listening effort, and improved emotional well-being. They felt more relaxed and confident, especially during important calls such as medical appointments.

InnoCaption, which is free and funded by the FCC, offers both live stenographer and automated speech recognition options, enhancing accessibility at no cost to users. Dr. Weinstein emphasizes the importance of audiologists inquiring about their patients' phone call experiences and recommending tools like InnoCaption to improve their quality of life.

For more details on the research, visit https://www.innocaption.com/white-paper

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The Audible Contrast Threshold (ACT™) test is the quickest method to accurately measure a person’s ability to hear in noisy environments. Developed by the Interacoustics Research Unit, ACT™ uses a non-linguistic, contrasting stimulus to provide a personalized testing experience. The results offer objective data that directly guides hearing aid fitting by predicting aided speech-in-noise performance.

In this session, originally part of the 2024 Future of Hearing Healthcare conference, Dr. Ashley Hughes will explain the research behind the ACT™ test, demonstrate how to perform it, and interpret the results. Additionally, she will discuss how these results can inform hearing aid recommendations and setting adjustments.


For the full experience, we highly recommend watching the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E3iGJ7JBTHw

For those interested, a Q&A on the ACT™ test can be viewed here:


https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hear-in-private-practice/2023/audible-contrast-threshold-test-audiology/



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This week, Shari Eberts welcomes Dr. Michelle Wiebke, the Lyric Audiology and Education Manager at Phonak. Dr. Wiebke discusses the recent FDA approval that allows experienced Lyric users in the U.S. to self-replace their devices, a significant development aimed at enhancing accessibility and reducing the need for frequent in-office visits.

This new clearance empowers certified Lyric providers to offer the self-replacement option to their patients, which promises greater convenience and autonomy for users.

Dr. Wiebke elaborates on how this change will impact users' lives, emphasizing the benefits of Lyric's discreet and continuous-wear design. The conversation also covers the fitting process, maintenance, and typical user experience, highlighting the ease of use and minimal upkeep required for Lyric hearing aids. Shari and Dr. Wiebke explore the advancements in hearing aid technology and Phonak's ongoing commitment to improving hearing health through innovation and user-centered solutions.



Learn more about Phonak's Lyric device here: https://www.phonak.com/en-us/hearing-devices/hearing-aids/lyric

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Join us for an insightful discussion on how cutting-edge connectivity is revolutionizing hearing care through Bluetooth® LE Audio and Auracast™. Originally presented by Andrew Bellavia at the 2024 Australian College of Audiology conference on May 9th, this session delves into the transformative impact of these technologies on everyday listening experiences, enabling people to hear their best in various situations.

The conversation highlights the significant advantages of LE Audio and Auracast over current systems, emphasizing the benefits for both hearing care professionals and their patients. By addressing the shortcomings of Bluetooth Classic and showcasing the value of a standardized system, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the future of hearing technology.

The discussion also covers the broader implications of Auracast's deployment beyond traditional assistive listening systems, illustrating how it can enhance accessibility for people with hearing loss and others.


For the full experience, we highly recommend watching the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u14yWwwcSWQ


Resources:



The Australian College of Audiology: https://www.acaud.com.au/

Summary of hearing recall study: https://agemed.org/e-journal/age-management-medicine-news-march-2020-3/

Full recall study (paywall): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-44485-001

Phonak study on acceptable streaming delay: https://www.phonakpro.com/content/dam/phonakpro/gc_hq/en/resources/evidence/field_studies/documents/fsn_2010_September_TVLink.pdf

Intel innovation summit - hearing device connectivity with AI features: https://youtu.be/iuU2YJohuZE?t=3445

Bluetooth SIG and GN Resound live Auracast interviews at EUHA 2023: https://youtu.be/ZxPUEe8MenU?si=bjit4jHENmsSGE5u

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**The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. The Auracast™ word mark and logos are trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc

Host Andrew Bellavia explores crucial aspects of hearing health policy and coverage with guest Bridget Dobyan, Executive Director of the Hearing Industries Association. The discussion begins with an introduction and a policy discussion on the Medicare Audiologist Access Improvement Act (MAAIA). The focus then shifts to the current state of Medicare coverage for hearing aids and the gaps in accessibility, especially within Medicare Advantage plans.

Bridget highlights ongoing legislative efforts, such as Ally's Act, which aims to ensure private insurance coverage for bone anchored auditory implants and services. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) decision on hearing screenings by doctors is also examined, with an emphasis on the need for more research to develop effective hearing screeners.

They also discuss the future of MarkeTrak, an ongoing and essential market research tool for the hearing industry, and the significant role of the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) in education and advocacy. The episode concludes with insights into the Hear Well campaign, aiming to raise awareness and promote hearing health across the community, and the collaborative efforts needed to bring about positive change in hearing health.


Resources:


ADA statement on MAAIA legislation:

Ear Community, the group behind the Ally's Act bill:

USPSTF recommendation on hearing screening in older adults referenced in discussion

HIA's comments on the draft USPSTF recommendation

Andy's PSA video for HIA's Hear Well campaign



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Dr. Marshall Chasin, Director of Auditory Research at the Musicians' Clinics of Canada, explores innovative topics around music and hearing aids. In this session, originally part of the 2024 Future of Hearing Healthcare Conference, Dr. Chasin examines aspects we may not have considered yet for optimizing hearing aids for musical inputs.

Dr. Chasin provides practical tips such as disabling advanced noise management features on hearing aids for music programs, using more linear settings for compressed streamed audio, and allowing user control over equalization settings. He also introduces novel concepts like potential frequency raising algorithms to help cochlear implant users better perceive low frequencies.


For the full experience, we highly recommend watching the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WngFgaHr3dE

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest episodes each week, and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter):


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https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing