Hearing Matters Podcast

"I got tired of the incremental thinking." - Brandon Sawalich Our co-host, Dr. Douglas Beck, Au.D., F-AAA, CCC-A sat down with Starkey Hearing's President and CEO, Brandon Sawalich, to talk about innovation in hearing healthcare. Listen/read the transcript here: https://lnkd.in/exXSiFVj Brandon details how groundbreaking innovations like Edge AI—featuring AI and sensors—are redefining hearing aid technology. With advancements such as accelerometers for fall detection and vestibular diagnostics for fall prevention, the importance of educating audiologists and hearing professionals becomes paramount. You can watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/etvH46Tk

Incredible weekend in Clemson, SC 🏈 👏🏼 A few weeks ago, my friend Andrew Rossetti asked if I wanted to help with “in game video” (IGV) during the Clemson V. South Carolina game. Without hesitation I said absolutely 💯 I have to say, seeing what goes on BTS to prep for a college football game is incredible. Having a passion for tech, I was impressed with the patch work, the comms, and the test/retest process before the game. Since I knew I’d be on the field helping with IGV, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t miss a word if anyone had a question or we had to troubleshoot the system. I wore my Starkey Hearing / SoundGear Phantoms the ENTIRE game. I was protecting my hearing while enhancing my ability to communicate effectively with the IGV team. Congrats to South Carolina on the win 🏆 It was an incredible game and both teams fought til the end. #CollegeFootball #ESPN #Communication

#StarkeyEdgeAI is like a personal assistant in your ear. Thanks to my good friend and Starkey Hearing's Chief Hearing Health Officer Dave Fabry for sharing about the difference that #AI-powered hearing technology makes. Listen to the full episode at the link in the comments. #HearingTechnology #MedTech #AI Douglas Beck, Au.D., F-AAA, CCC-A Hearing Matters Podcast

As a former private practice owner, I understand that returns are something we have to face. When I first started in 2017, I took my first return to heart. Seriously. I was bummed for like 2 days 😳 okay, maybe 3. “But I did everything by the book. I went above and beyond for this patient. I even conducted real ear measurement!” Brutal fact ~ some patients just aren’t ready. In five years at the practice, we had less than 10 returns. I don’t share that to brag, boast, or to impress you. Rather, impress upon you that we set up systems, held ourselves to a high standard, and delivered first class patient care. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/etPu2wQx In the latest Hearing Matters Podcast I discuss 6 ways to reduce returns and enhance patient experience in 2025! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🦃🙏🏼

"The scariest moment was probably pulling my checkbook out to make payroll. Sometimes you have to put your personal skin in the game." A few weeks ago, I sat down with Joel Lockwood, President of Sycle. He shared his entrepreneurial journey with me, the peaks and valleys, and how the tough times in business allowed him to think differently and make data driven decisions. We discussed the importance of understanding hearing loss metrics, the introduction of the 'hearing number' as a universal metric for hearing health, and the role of AI in enhancing efficiency in hearing clinics. Joel shares insights from his journey, the challenges faced in developing new technologies, and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the industry. Join our conversation here: https://buff.ly/4eTl45f

Beethoven's birthday is coming up in December, and while much has been made of the types of hearing aids that were available during his lifetime to compensate for his progressive hearing loss, there's also been some debate over the nature of Beethoven's hearing loss, and how he was able to continue to compose at such a high level when his loss progressed, leaving him with very little residual hearing. It was really fun to speculate a little bit with Douglas Beck, Au.D., about the nature (from an audiological perspective) of how this might be possible for him to have extremely elevated thresholds, and still be able to compose some of his greatest works when he had nearly no hearing left. I welcome you to join the conversation. I will leave the link to the article in the comment section.

One of the things I've been thinking about lately is interventional audiology. What does that mean? What is that really all about? And another question that we don't often talk about - is the audiologist/ hearing care professional part of the suicide watch team? I think the answer to that is yes. I wanted to reach out to an expert so we have a brand new Hearing Matters Podcast episode with Dr. Lori Zitelli, Au.D., CH-TM from the University of Pittsburgh. Listen to/read the transcript here: https://lnkd.in/g7hszf6K - - - DLB

Thanks to Dr. Douglas Beck, Au.D., for having me on the Hearing Matters Podcast to discuss #StarkeyEdgeAI. At Starkey Hearing, our goal isn't to be the biggest, it's to be the best. Our relentless pursuit of innovation means we are not just building hearing aids — we are building the future of hearing health care and technology. Listen to the full episode at the link in the comments. #HearBetterLiveBetter

🎉 Some exciting personal news! 🎉 I am now officially a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist here in South Carolina! Having grown up in a hearing-focused household and after five wonderful years in private practice (2017-2022), I really missed the interactions with my patients. I am pleased to announce that I will be available for new patients during the weekends. This opportunity allows me to reengage with the hands-on aspect of my work, which I deeply value, and to contribute meaningfully to an industry from which I have gained immensely. I am committed to enhancing the quality of life for my patients through improved hearing and listening, and I look forward to the positive changes we will achieve together! #HearingHealth #Audiology #SouthCarolina

We're excited to introduce Sorenson Forum! Elevate your events with real-time language interpretation, captions, and transcriptions— accessible directly on attendees' mobile devices! 📲💬 Say goodbye to language barriers and hello to improved inclusion for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Limited English Proficiency attendees! From conferences to trainings, Sorenson Forum makes events more accessible for all. 🎉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d77BQb2Z #ConnectBeyondWords #InclusionForAll #SorensonForum #BreakingBarriers ID: Graphic for product release titled "Introducing: Sorenson Forum." The graphic is divided into two sections. On the left, there is an image of a person with their back to the camera, looking at a group of people seated at a table. The word "FORUM" is written across this image, with the Sorenson logo above it. Below the image, there are two buttons labeled "HOST A SESSION" and "JOIN A SESSION." On the right side of the graphic, there is a chat interface with messages. The messages are as follows: 1. John Appleseed: "Interesting, I will introduce this theory as well as some basics of quantum mechanics." 2. Jeanne Poiré: "Pourquoi est-il important d'étudier aussi la théorie quantique?" followed by "Why is it also important to study quantum theory?" 3. John Appleseed: "Those 2 theories are the basis used nowadays to describe the universe." 4. Another message from John Appleseed is partially visible: "What is lacking though is a way to unify them in order to..." At the bottom of the chat interface, there are icons indicating a video call and language options.