This Week in Hearing

This Week in Hearing

The place where subject matter experts across the "World of Hearing" come together to discuss all things hearing health, hearing aids, hearables, consumer audio, and everything in-between.

  1. 330 - Auracast at Marriott Theatre — Audience Reactions and a Behind the Scenes Look

    3D AGO

    330 - Auracast at Marriott Theatre — Audience Reactions and a Behind the Scenes Look

    What does Auracast actually feel like in a real-world performance? In this episode, Andrew Bellavia visits the Marriott Theatre near Chicago, where he was invited to personally experience Auracast during a live production and speak with the people behind its implementation. The deployment brought broadcast audio into a working theater environment, giving hearing aid users—and others—the opportunity to connect directly to the performance in a new way.After trying the system himself, Andrew speaks with theater leadership, technical staff, and attendees about why Auracast was added alongside the venue’s long-standing loop system, how installation was completed, and how coverage extends beyond the seating area. Audience interviews capture meaningful reactions, with some participants describing the experience as reconnecting them to music and dialogue in ways they had not experienced in years.As more venues explore next-generation broadcast audio, this real-world implementation offers insight into how Auracast may expand accessibility, improve engagement, and influence the future of shared listening in theaters and other public spaces.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

    12 min
  2. 329 - A Brain-Based Approach to Understanding and Managing Tinnitus

    FEB 3

    329 - A Brain-Based Approach to Understanding and Managing Tinnitus

    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-cornerLearn more about Dr. Gans and her work at: https://mindfultinnitusrelief.com/Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

    39 min
  3. 327 - From Ambivalence to Action: Rethinking Patient Counseling in Hearing Care

    JAN 20

    327 - From Ambivalence to Action: Rethinking Patient Counseling in Hearing Care

    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-providersBe sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

    24 min
  4. 326 - Can Auracast Redefine Audio Accessibility in Public Spaces?

    JAN 12

    326 - Can Auracast Redefine Audio Accessibility in Public Spaces?

    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. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

    55 min
  5. 325 - Giants of Audiology: Interview with Richard W. Danielson, PhD

    12/26/2025

    325 - Giants of Audiology: Interview with Richard W. Danielson, PhD

    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. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

    1h 5m
  6. 324 - Auracast in Action: Exploring Hearing Accessibility in a Busy Railway Station

    12/17/2025

    324 - Auracast in Action: Exploring Hearing Accessibility in a Busy Railway Station

    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. - https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

    34 min

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The place where subject matter experts across the "World of Hearing" come together to discuss all things hearing health, hearing aids, hearables, consumer audio, and everything in-between.