ListenUp‪!‬ Dr. Mark Syms

Dr. Ron Leavitt, an audiologist with a doctorate in Audiology from Arizona School of Health Sciences, has published scientific articles and textbooks on hearing aids, ear mold acoustics, noise induced hearing loss, and assistive listening technology. 

He has served as a consultant to organizations like the U.S. Forest Service, American Bar Association, and Hearing Loss Association of America. Prior to private practice, he worked at Good Samaritan Hospital and Oregon State University. 

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

Dr. Ron Leavitt approach Auditory Rehabilitation  Dr. Leavitt’s consumers education and comprehensive program  Extensive Auditory Training  How price factors into conversation Many hearing aids do not treat the patient’s hearing loss Markets of the over-the-counter hearing aids 

In this episode… 

Auditory rehabilitation is a comprehensive process designed to help individuals with hearing loss or hearing impairments improve their communication and listening skills. This rehabilitative approach encompasses various strategies and techniques to address the physical, emotional, and cognitive aspects of hearing loss. 

Dr. Ron Leavitt ensures that all hearing aids recommended in his clinic meet rigorous standards and use advanced scientific methods and technology. 


In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has an informative interview with Dr. Ron Leavitt on the hearing rehabilitation and hearing aids treating patient’s hearing loss. They discuss the articles he wrote, the findings, and how it applies to modern audiology. They also go over comprehensive education programs, extensive auditory training and over-the-counter hearing aids. 

Sponsor for this episode... 

This episode is brought to you by the Arizona Hearing Center. 

The Arizona Hearing Center is a cutting-edge hearing care facility providing comprehensive, family-focused care. Approximately 36 million Americans suffer from some sort of hearing loss, more than half of whom are younger than the age of 65. That’s why the team at the Arizona Hearing Center is focused on providing the highest-quality care using innovative technologies and inclusive treatment plans. 

As the Founder of the Arizona Hearing Center, Dr. Mark Syms is passionate about helping patients effectively treat their hearing loss so that they can stay connected with their family and friends and remain independent. He knows first-hand how hearing loss can impact social connection and effective communication. By relying on three core values—empathy, education, and excellence—Dr. Syms and his team of hearing loss experts are transforming the lives of patients. 

So what are you waiting for? Stop missing out on the conversation and start improving your quality of life today! 

To learn more about the Arizona Hearing Center, visit https://www.azhear.com/ or call us at 602-307-9919. We don’t sell hearing aids—we treat your hearing loss. 

Cynthia Robinson is a certified educator of the deaf and a Spoken Language Specialist with more than 22 years of experience. She now works as a specialist and educator at We Hear Here. For many years, she has worked with children with cochlear implants and their families to develop listening and spoken language skills. 
Cynthia developed the Mainstream Assessment of Readiness for Children Over Five and served as Co-Director at Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech from 2011 to 2020.
In this episode… Much of the focus within hearing loss circles is on improved hearing. This leaves significant portions of day-to-day life with underdeveloped systems and assistance — one crucial example is speech.

Speaking and verbally communicating is still common among many levels of hearing loss. Especially in younger children, assistance in speech is crucial for development, social health, and education. While there are growing programs and systems in place to help cultivate better speech, there is still a long way left to go.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Cynthia Robinson, the Founder of We Hear Here, to discuss oral programs for children and young adults. They break down the systems she helped create, how she still coaches some families, and why she started We Hear Here. They also go through the potential of telehealth for speech development.

Keith Lewis is a seasoned veteran in marketing, sales, and the medical industry. He is currently the Senior Advisor at ChampionOne Group and Principal at Lewis Ventures, LLC. Across his 40+ year career, he has worked at GN ReSound, Bausch & Lomb, and GN Great Nordic. His passion is for patients and shareholders alike, focusing on helping those affected by hearing loss.
In this episode… While hearing aid technology is primarily a medical issue, it inevitably becomes a business issue under the Western medical system. Companies, brands, insurance, and clinics all have a vested interest in the financial aspects of the industry. This has its own effect on how hearing technology grows and adapts.

The industry is always experiencing new research and innovations. The average consumer is being provided more education, options, and treatment than ever before — this is what you need to know from an active insider.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Keith Lewis, the Principal at Lewis Ventures, LLC, to talk about the business and evolution of the hearing tech industry. They break down the financial realities of hearing aids, how Bluetooth is being utilized, and how the retail price is changing. They also touch on the current and potential future market trends.

Cheryl Nolte is a lip-reading instructor with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness area. She has worked in event management, team building, public speaking, and fundraising. She is currently active with five different charitable organizations while also offering online hearing coaching. In addition to these roles, she takes time to advocate for and consult people regarding hearing aids.
In this episode… The world can be difficult to navigate for those with hearing loss. Even small impairments can be enough to change the way people go through their days, often adding difficulty to everyday situations. In social situations, they deserve the same level of comfort as everyone else.

This is where assistive listening devices come into play. They allow for additional hearing assistance, often in combination with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Many are unaware of how they work and where they can be accessed, so education on the subject is still crucial.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms invites Cheryl Nolte back on the show to discuss ALDs. They break down the social situations and locations where these devices can be found. They also talk about how they can be utilized properly, how they work with different levels of hearing loss, and some of the limitations of these resources.

Dr. Carol Flexer is an audiology expert who lectures and workshops on the development of listening and literacy skills in children, especially those with hearing loss. She has authored more than 150 publications and worked at The University of Akron for 25 years as a Professor of Audiology.
Dr. Flexer received her doctorate in audiology from Kent State University in 1982. She is licensed as an audiologist and holds the CCC/A and the LSLS Cert. AVT.
In this episode… Hearing aids have been underutilized for many generations now, and the care and refinement that should come after a prescription are often inadequate. Audiologists are aware of this gap in care but may not be aware of just how prevalent it is.

Dr. Carol Flexer is an audiologist who has researched and published on the topic of hearing aid programming. Her findings have been both helpful and troubling, highlighting the reality of hearing aid usage in the United States. So what does the research have to say on the subject?

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has an informative interview with Dr. Carol Flexer on the programming pitfalls of hearing aids. They discuss the articles she helped write, their findings, and how it applies to modern audiology. They also go over how audiologists need to care for their patients, the issue of price, and the complications many patients experience.

Cheryl Nolte is a lip-reading instructor with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness area. She has worked in event management, team building, public speaking, and fundraising. She is currently active with five different charitable organizations while also offering online hearing coaching. In addition to these roles, she takes time to advocate for and consult people regarding hearing aids.
In this episode… In recent years, there have come to be an overwhelming amount of available resources for those with hearing loss. The modern advancements in technology and software make it easier than ever to create apps. While this is ultimately a great thing, it does mean it takes more time and knowledge to find the most valuable apps.

Cheryl Nolte has taken on much of that hard work as a hearing loss coach. Out of the plentiful options, she has found and tested many that provide genuine results. There is a vast variety of resources for different needs, so there is certain to be an app to fit your needs.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms invites Cheryl Nolte back on to give advice and recommendations on hearing apps. They go through each category and give thoughts on which apps are worth considering. They also touch on different use cases, how to find what works for you, and how they work with other hearing technology.