Beyond the Decibels

Episoade

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  Lisa Goldin, PhD: How do Fellows and Clinics find the Right Match? 20.07.2026 24min

  Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, brought to you by Cochlear North America. Today we’re joined by Dr. Lisa Goldin, Senior Audiologist at NYU Langone Health. She shares key considerations for clinics and applicants in the fellowship process, and the qualities her team looks for in strong candidates - including what they call the “hangability factor." You'll also hear her perspective on how the fellowship experience is evolving. Click here to learn more about ACEN (Audiology Clinical Educat...
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  Jamy Claire Archer, SLP: Why Auditory-Verbal Therapy? 15.06.2026 21min

  In this episode, Bob Hendry and Wendy Potts reconnect with Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Listening & Spoken Language Specialist Jamy Claire Archer to explore how auditory-verbal therapy helps children and adults with hearing loss build listening and spoken-language skills. They share memorable therapy moments, explain what comprehensive care looks like (from device checks to family coaching), and discuss how strong audiology–SLP collaboration can expand access—especially in rural ...
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  René Gifford, PhD: What is the Cochlear Care Consensus? 04.05.2026 27min

  Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, sponsored by Cochlear North America. Today we’re chatting with Dr. René Gifford about how cochlear implant care is changing and why the new Cochlear Care Consensus was developed. She discusses why this collaborative effort is important, what it means for clinical decision‑making and how it can help patients achieve their full hearing potential. For more information on the Cochlear Care Consensus, visit ProNews. *René Gifford, PhD, is Chief of Audiology and Rese...
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  Kevin Zhan, MD: What’s Next for Hearing Health? (Part 2) 13.04.2026 21min

  Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, brought to you by Cochlear Americas. Today we are wrapping up our 2-part series on untreated hearing loss. For this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Zhan who will discuss the importance of hearing health, the new clinical practice guidelines for age-related hearing loss and where wearable tech fits in. We’ll also explore why hearing loss doesn’t just affect your ears—it can impact many aspects of your overall well-being—and why Dr. Zhan is optimistic about th...
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  Ashley Nassiri, MD & Jennifer Deal, PhD: Could One Number Change Hearing Health in America? (Part 1) 16.03.2026 20min

  Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Decibels, brought to you by Cochlear North America. This episode is the first of a 2-part series, where we’ll explore the growing number of untreated hearing loss cases in the U.S., the broader health and societal costs and the impact on individual wellbeing. As leading researchers in this space, Dr. Jennifer Deal and Dr. Ashley Nassiri will share insights on hearing loss as a public health issue, its comorbidities and the importance of unified efforts...
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  Michael Hoa, MD: What Drives Innovation? 23.02.2026 20min

  In this episode of Beyond the Decibels, we sit down with Dr. Michael Hoa, neurotologist at MedStar Health and Professor of Otolaryngology at Georgetown University. Dr. Hoa opens up about his unexpected passion for cooking, and dives into the art and science of intraoperative cochlear implant testing. He discusses how rapid advancements in technology are reshaping surgical protocols and shares why lifelong learning remains essential in today’s evolving medical landscape. Dr. Hoa also offers hi...
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  Charles Limb, MD: Is Music the Final Frontier? 19.01.2026 25min

  Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, the podcast where clinical expertise meets auditory innovation. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Charles Limb, a distinguished otolaryngologist, neuroscientist, and TED Talk speaker whose work is shaping our understanding of how the brain processes music in individuals with cochlear implants. While cochlear implants have dramatically improved speech perception for many patients, music remains a uniquely challenging domain. Dr. Limb explains why music, with ...
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  Meredith Holcomb, AuD: What If Everyone Worked Together? 15.12.2025 29min

  Welcome to Beyond the Decibels! In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Meredith Holcomb to talk about how her clinic is streamlining care for hearing implant patients. She shares how the University of Miami's “whole clinic” approach improves coordination and workflow, increases accessibility and helps patients get to implantation faster. You'll also get to hear practical tips from her for other clinics looking to do the same. To view Dr. Holcomb's research, click here. If you enjoyed this episo...
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  Matt Shew, MD: Could AI Predict Cochlear Implant Success? 24.11.2025 36min

  Welcome to Beyond the Decibels, the podcast where clinical insight meets innovation in hearing healthcare. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Matt Shew, neurotologist at Washington University in St. Louis, whose research is pushing the boundaries of cochlear implant candidacy and outcome prediction. For decades, candidacy has been determined using standardized protocols—effective, but limited in their ability to account for the complex, individualized factors that influence post-implant per...
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  Kat Tribulski, AuD: Leveling Up with a Cochlear Implant 27.10.2025 23min

  In this episode of Beyond the Decibels, we sit down with Dr. Kat Tribulski, a leading voice in gaming and sound processor connectivity, to explore how today’s technology is transforming the gaming experience for individuals with hearing loss. Kat shares how integrated audio streaming and accessory connectivity—especially in immersive games like her favorite, Baldur’s Gate—are allowing gamers with hearing loss to access richer, more inclusive experiences. Keep listening to hear a fresh perspec...
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  Daisy Kent: Will She Tell All? 30.09.2025 24min

  Welcome to this episode of Beyond the Decibels. Today, we’re joined by Daisy Kent, a cochlear implant recipient and former contestant on The Bachelor. In this conversation, Daisy shares her experience adjusting to life with a cochlear implant - from the moment it was activated to the unexpected sounds she encountered along the way. Her story offers a candid look at the challenges and breakthroughs that come with hearing through a cochlear implant. Whether you're a clinician, a candidate, or j...
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  Bruce Gantz, MD: What Sparked the Cochlear Implant Era? 10.09.2025 33min

  Welcome to Season 2 of Beyond the Decibels! We are thrilled to kick off this season with the one and only, Dr. Bruce Gantz. Dr. Gantz is the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, and is celebrated for pioneering cochlear implant surgery at the University of Iowa since 1980. In this episode, he reflects on the evolution of cochlear implants, hybrid hearing*, and hearing preservation—sharing the breakthroughs, challenges, and future ...
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  Sarah Sydlowski, PhD: How is Cleveland Clinic Delivering Care Differently? 21.07.2025 33min

  In this episode of "Beyond the Decibels," we sit down with Sarah Sydlowski, AuD, PhD of the Cleveland Clinic to explore her unique journey and insights in the field of audiology and healthcare. Initially pre-dental in college, Sarah looked within to discover her true passions, leading her to a fulfilling career in audiology. As an Associate Chief Improvement Officer, she discusses how their clinic is delivering care differently and explains how they work to optimize the caregiver experience ...
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  Ivette Cejas, PhD: What's Missing in Translation? 30.06.2025 35min

  "There’s a big difference between just speaking a language and understanding the culture.” In this episode, Dr. Ivette Cejas joins Wendy Potts and Robert Hendry to explore the intersection of psychology, audiology, and cultural competence in cochlear implant care. Listen in as Dr. Cejas highlights her experience in treating the whole patient and offers valuable resources for professionals working with diverse populations. Links to additional resources: Dr. Ceja's University of Miami L...
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  Chelsea Anderson, PhD: What is "Eyes Open, Ears On"? 13.05.2025 13min

  On this episode of Beyond the Decibels, Chelsea Anderson, PhD, a Speech-Language Pathologist and researcher who worked at Hearts for Hearing in Oklahoma, shared her experiences in counseling children with hearing loss. Hear about how the Hearts for Hearing philosophy of “Eyes Open, Ears On” and their approach to counseling the “whole child” have brought about more empowered parents and successful rehabilitation. The Cochlear Nucleus Implant System has not been approved by FDA for use in chi...
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  Sandra Porps, AuD: What Simple Strategies Can Improve Clinic Efficiency? 21.04.2025 26min

  When audiologist, Sandra Porps, AuD, of Michigan Ear Institute needed to improve efficiencies in her clinic, she had no idea of the positive impact it would have on the whole practice. To meet the needs of their patients, Michigan Ear Institute adopted a new care model for cochlear implant patients. These changes enabled them to reduce their patient visit schedule and increase remote care support, all while maintaining patient satisfaction and outcomes and allowing them to serve even mo...
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  Matt Bush, MD: How Do We Address Healthcare Inequities? 02.04.2025 22min

  Join us for an engaging discussion with Dr. Matt Bush, a leading expert in otolaryngology and hearing implants. Dr. Bush shares his journey into the field and the key moments that led him to specialize in hearing implants. You’ll hear this take on the challenges of access to care and healthcare inequities, along with innovative strategies he’s used to address these issues. You’ll also hear him discuss considerations and capabilities of telehealth and get a chance to learn how LEGO sets relate...
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  Katie Farnsworth, AuD: How is Lurie Children's Finding Unique Ways to Support Their Patients? 18.03.2025 12min

  We had the pleasure of chatting with fellow podcaster, audiologist and bimodal recipient, Katie Farnsworth, AuD. Dr. Farnsworth is a pediatric audiologist at Lurie Children’s hospital of Chicago and launched a podcast with the support of her team. Listen to our discussion on how Katie supports her patients with empathy, and an understanding that each person’s path is different, and how she finds new ways to support her patients through connection. For more information, check out these r...
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  Bill Shapiro, AuD: 40 Years in Audiology – How has the patient journey changed? 26.02.2025 17min

  If you've worked with cochlear implants, you likely know Dr. Bill Shapiro. Join us for a special birthday edition to gain insights from his extensive experience, learn about his methods for measuring success, and hear his vision for the role of artificial intelligence in the future of cochlear implants. If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you. Beyond the Decibels is a podcast brought to you by Cochlear North Am...
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  Scott Brown, MD: Next day activations? 28.01.2025 18min

  We had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Scott Brown from Atlanta Institute for ENT. He shared his ideas on how to increase awareness for cochlear implants, how he has seen the cochlear implant procedure evolve through the years and what that means for activation timing. For additional information on the Nucleus SmartNav System, visit our website. If you enjoyed this episode, please press the subscribe button, give us a rating and a review. We’d love to hear from you. Beyond the Decibels is...