On the Ear: An Audiology Podcast

Guest: Margaret Dillon, AuD., Ph.D - Dr. Meg Dillon shares the history of treatment for single-sided deafness (SSD), how cochlear implants have become a good intervention option for this population, and how our approach to programming CI for SSD has evolved. Her new approaches include incorporating imaging and addressing frequency mismatch.

Guest: Matthew Bush, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS - Dr. Matthew Bush is a leader in the field of research regarding disparities in hearing healthcare. He shares his work in assessing these disparities and what clinicians can practically do to begin addressing these gaps and barriers to care.

Meredith Berger is the Director of Clarke School New York, a leader in the field of early intervention for children who are deaf and hard of hearing, and parent of a child with bilateral microtia/atresia. She discusses her experiences and the connections across these disciplines, as well as provides an in-depth discussion of microtia and atresia.

Guest: Derek Stiles, PhD, CCC-A - Dr. Stiles is the Director of the Diagnostic Audiology Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, and his team recently developed metrics for measuring productivity in their department. In this episode, he describes their process for developing wRVUs, how it affects workflow, and how current clinicians can incorporate these ideas into their productivity metrics.

Guest: Madison Howe, AuD, CCC-A - Dr. Howe shares the ways that clinicians can adjust their practice to improve inclusivity for their gender-diverse patients. Her discussion includes tips, training, language, and opportunities for growth that audiologists can utilize to ensure their care is compassionate and culturally competent.

Guest: Teddy McRackan, MD - The guest shares his work evaluating the poor correlation between cochlear implant speech recognition scores and patient-reported outcome measures. Discussion explores how we can improve pre-CI evaluations and patient expectations, as well as a new tool developed to assess CI Quality of Life.

Guest: J. Riley DeBacker, AuD, Ph.D. - Mentorship is a topic not often formally taught but critical to the success of professionals in a variety of backgrounds. Not only can mentorship benefit mentees, but also mentors and the profession as a whole. Dr. DeBacker shares his insights on the impact mentorship has played in his career, and how those not currently engaged can seek it out.

While many audiologists specialize in different types of care, such as tinnitus, vestibular, or cochlear implants, few emphasize the distinct connection between our field and that of musicians. Dr. Heather Malyuk is a clinician who focuses on providing cutting-edge care for musicians, as a specialist in Music and Alternative Audiology. She explains her work with this population, and how the future of audiology can be shaped by this work.

Pediatric audiologists serve a variety of roles in providing hearing healthcare, but in hospitals and medical-based programs, that role can stretch into the complex realm of palliative care. This discussion includes where the audiologist fits into this sensitive aspect of care, and how they can work collaboratively with other professionals involved. Follow us on Instagram: @OnTheEarPodcast (https://www.instagram.com/ontheearpodcast/) Like us on Facebook: On The Ear: An Audiology Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/ontheearpodcast/)

Donna Sorkin, executive director of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, shares her journey to receiving a cochlear implant, including the sounds, experiences, stresses, and successes. She explains how music sounds with her implant, accessible technology, and how she uses the technology to empower her life and leadership role. Follow us on Instagram: @OnTheEarPodcast (https://www.instagram.com/ontheearpodcast/) Like us on Facebook: On The Ear: An Audiology Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/ontheearpodcast/)

Dr. Donna Smiley explains her journey of over 30 years in audiology, from clinical to educational settings, and now in a leadership role at ASHA. She shares how audiologists can become better advocates for the profession, insights into what the future may hold for the field, including what to expect with over-the-counter hearing devices, and the unexpected opportunities they might offer. Follow the podcast on Instagram! @OnTheEarPodcast Like the podcast on Facebook! www.facebook.com/OnTheEarPodcast

Dr. Liz Fuemmeler and Dr. Daniel J Romero are vestibular scientists that are involved in research and clinical work. Liz is one of a handful of private practice vestibular specialists, and Daniel is at the forefront of vestibular research. Tune in to find out how each of them became interested in the vestibular field, and what their advice is to other audiologists looking to improve their balance care. From lessons learned while collaborating with other healthcare professionals, to their favorite cases, you won’t want to miss out on this fascinating episode!

Dr. McCreery discusses his experience transitioning from clinical audiology to research work with the Outcomes of Children with Hearing Loss (OCHL) study at Boys Town National Research Hospital. He reviews their findings, including the impact of newborn hearing screening, early intervention, and advances in hearing technology on a wide range of outcomes for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Dr. Melanie Morris shares her process of establishing a remote auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing program, including the training, equipment, and challenges involved. Her experience working with “TeleABRs” has improved access to care in areas where the diagnostic evaluation has limited (and sometimes no) provider options, and also where COVID-19 has further limited access. Free resources for establishing a TeleABR program from Melanie and her team can be found here (https://www.livebinders.com/b/2812746) and here (https://www.gamobileaudiology.org/training-modules-for-providers).

Dr. Danika Pfeiffer’s research examines the clinical implications and expressions of inter-professional practice (IPP). Her discussion with Dr. Dakota Sharp covers the importance of IPP, the common misconceptions of practitioners, and how IPP can be utilized more effectively to improve outcomes for patients and clinicians alike. She also shares information about her new podcast, "About, From, & With: A SLP Podcast." You can check out that podcast here (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/about-from-with-a-slp-podcast/id1568966242).

Dr. Emily Spitzer discusses the process of becoming an audiologist who primarily works in a research role. She explains what audiology students can do to prepare for a career in research, as well as connects current practicing clinicians with opportunities to conduct research of their own, including funding opportunities, and how the landscape of research is evolving.

Although the traditional hearing aid candidate has audiometric thresholds outside normal limits, research shows that nontraditional candidates can demonstrate significant benefits from the devices as well. Dr. Whitelaw explains how individuals with auditory processing disorder (APD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hidden hearing loss (HHL) can be fit and be successful with hearing technology.

Dr. Fridriksson shares his groundbreaking research on how the brain changes after recovery from COVID-19, with an emphasis on cognitive and language-based symptoms. His background as an SLP and researcher in aphasia shows connections between the cognitive problems seen in stroke, TBI, and COVID-19 survivors alike.

Dr. Scheifele shares his expertise in the realm of Animal Audiology, including the training involved to work with animals, the evaluations and interventions for providing care, and the work his lab at the University of Cincinnati is completing to improve hearing and vocal care for animals.

Amanda shares her experience as a parent of a child with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), as well as her role as the Program Director for the National CMV Foundation. Her discussion with Dr. Sharp covers transmission of the disease, audiologic symptoms and diagnosis of cCMV, and a path toward screening for and eliminating cCMV for future generations. Click here to sign the petition to nominate congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) for uniform newborn screening (https://www.change.org/p/advisory-committee-on-heritable-disorders-in-newborns-and-children-achdnc-nominate-congenital-cytomegalovirus-cmv-for-uniform-newborn-screening-18a6356e-341a-4ddc-b84a-44303b4d23a2) Click here to learn more about the National CMV Foundation (https://www.nationalcmv.org/default.aspx) Interested in earning ASHA CEUs for listening to On The Ear? Click here (https://www.speechtherapypd.com/podcasts/ear)!