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The ringing is real...and so is the plan to fix how we manage it. Blaise sits down with Jeffery Reagan, a heart transplant survivor, tinnitus patient, and founder of Tinnitus Learning Health Network, to share a practical blueprint for transforming tinnitus care through a learning health network that centers outcomes, empathy, and shared data. Instead of waiting years for guidelines to catch up, Jeff shows how patients, clinicians, and researchers can collaborate in near real time to reveal which therapies—CBT, TRT, sound therapy, hearing aids—work best for specific subtypes and life contexts.

We explore the watershed moment that pushed Jeff to act, the structure of a learning health network, and why placing the patient’s voice at the center changes everything. You’ll hear how standardized measurement with tools like the Tinnitus Functional Index and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory lets clinics compare results, reduce disparities, and end the dead-end phrase, “there’s nothing we can do.” Along the way, Jeff introduces the team guiding this movement, including leaders like Dr. James Henry and Dr. Donna Murray, and outlines concrete milestones: pilot sites across VA and academic centers, a rebrand to the Tinnitus Learning Health Network (TLHN), and a path to insurer buy-in through real-world evidence.

If you or someone you love lives with tinnitus, this conversation offers both hope and a plan. We talk funding models, data culture, and how machine learning can guide (not replace) clinical judgment to speed up the path to relief. Join us as we turn fragmented efforts into a connected community that learns, shares, and improves together. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find expert-backed tinnitus care built on real outcomes.

Omega AI hearing aids don’t just keep up. They redefine what it means to be modern and discreet yet durable and comfortable for all-day wear.

They’re waterproof, everyday-proof, and designed to go the distance of your day and then some. All while tailored to your unique hearing needs.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

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A quieter problem carries loud consequences: when hearing loss goes untreated, risks rise for cognitive decline, cardiovascular strain, and falls. We pull that chain into the light and show how one change—adopting hearing technology earlier—can shift the long‑term outlook. With better devices, rising satisfaction, and less stigma, the path to clearer sound and stronger health is getting shorter and friendlier.

We walk through fresh insights from MarkeTrak 2025, including how consumers perceive prescription hearing aids, what over‑the‑counter devices get right, and where they fall short. The data is clear: satisfaction is high across the board, but loyal users value the guidance of a hearing care professional, especially for the hardest tasks—accurate assessment, the right device selection, and real troubleshooting. We explore why counseling and expectation setting matter as much as hardware, and how theory of mind helps clinicians solve problems that algorithms miss, like clarity in noise and the fatigue of constant listening effort.

Access still matters, and OTC can be a smart on‑ramp—if it connects people to support when they need it. That’s where community steps in. Friends, family, and colleagues influence the first move, while clinics can demystify the journey with quick, transparent demos of an annual hearing test. We share practical ways to normalize hearing care as part of total well‑being—physical, emotional, and mental—so taking action feels positive and routine. Ready to rethink hearing health as preventive care you can feel every day? Follow the show, share this episode with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help more people find their way to better hearing.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

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Policy shifts, lived experience, and modern tech meet in a conversation that makes hearing health feel urgent, hopeful, and actionable. We sit down with HIA executive director Bridget Dobyan to connect the dots between 2026 advocacy priorities, the real value of professional care, and what the latest MarketTrak 2025 data tells us about adoption, satisfaction, and consumer behavior. From state-level licensing updates after the OTC rule to federal student loan reforms that shape the workforce pipeline, we map a clear path for clinicians and consumers to navigate change with confidence.

Bridget shares a practical playbook: invite lawmakers into your clinic during district work periods, show them the full care journey, and partner with AAA, ASHA, ADA, Listen Carefully and IHS to align messaging. We dive into why the timeline to seek help is shrinking, how satisfaction remains high for both devices and professionals, and why many OTC users say they would have benefited from clinical guidance on assessment, selection, and troubleshooting. This isn’t theory; it’s data-backed insight that reinforces the power of counseling, empathy, and real-world fine-tuning, even as AI tools evolve.

You’ll also hear how HIA’s man-on-the-street campaign blends humor and education to make hearing health relatable at every age. A new mother finds comfort in newborn screening; a new hearing aid user lights up about Bluetooth streaming and wishes he hadn’t waited. These stories counter fear with possibility, positioning hearing care as part of total health—supporting communication, safety, and cognitive well-being. If you’re a clinician, you’ll leave with steps to boost advocacy and awareness. If you’re a listener on the fence, you’ll see how earlier action leads to better outcomes.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s been “waiting to hear better,” and leave a quick review with your biggest takeaway—we read them all.

Omega AI hearing aids don’t just keep up. They redefine what it means to be modern and discreet yet durable and comfortable for all-day wear.

They’re waterproof, everyday-proof, and designed to go the distance of your day and then some. All while tailored to your unique hearing needs.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast

Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

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Struggling to catch every word or feeling like voices are loud but still muddy? We unpack the real differences between over-the-counter hearing aids and prescription fittings, focusing on when each path makes sense and how to get results you can actually feel in daily life. Drawing on clinical standards and FDA guidance, we map clear criteria for safe OTC use, the red flags that call for an audiologist or ENT, and why a baseline hearing test is one of the most valuable health checks you can get.

We walk through what a prescription fit includes—diagnostic testing, individualized programming, and real-ear verification—so you understand how precise tuning translates into sharper speech clarity. Then we contrast that with self-fit OTC devices: accessible, affordable, and helpful for some adults with mild hearing loss, but limited by generalized amplification and lack of objective verification. You’ll hear why noise is the top complaint across users, how directionality and signal processing drive comprehension more than raw volume, and how realistic expectations, coaching, and follow-up shape satisfaction.

Along the way, a simple vision-care analogy brings the trade-offs to life: readers can help in a pinch, but complex needs benefit from a tailored prescription. We also look ahead at how AI is enhancing hearing care without replacing the professional, and how OTC options have expanded awareness while underscoring the value of expert guidance. If you’re wondering whether to start with an OTC device or book a comprehensive evaluation, this conversation gives you the clarity to choose confidently—and the next steps to take.

If this helped you make sense of your options, follow the show, share it with someone who’s hesitating on hearing help, and leave a quick review so others can find it too.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

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Buying hearing help shouldn’t feel like guesswork. We break down over-the-counter hearing aids with plain talk: what they are, who they’re designed for, and how to know whether self-fit amplification is a smart starting point or a detour that delays the clarity you want. You’ll hear the critical differences between OTC and prescription devices, from diagnostic testing and individualized programming to real-ear verification and ongoing counseling that actually moves the needle in noisy, real-world settings.

We share evidence-backed criteria to decide if OTC suits your needs—perceived mild to moderate loss, comfort managing tech, and realistic expectations—and the red flags that call for a professional evaluation right away, like sudden or asymmetric changes, persistent ringing or pain, or continued trouble understanding speech even when it’s loud. Along the way, we talk through the biggest complaint users have in daily life: speech in noise. You’ll learn why clarity, not just volume, drives satisfaction, and how targeted signal processing and guided adaptation can turn “I can hear” into “I can understand.”

This conversation is about access and outcomes, not choosing sides. Used as directed, OTC devices are safe and can reduce stigma and encourage earlier engagement. The real risk is delay—waiting years to act or assuming nothing works after a poor first try. If you’re on the fence, start with our online hearing test to get a baseline, then use our provider locator to find a professional who will meet you where you are, explain your hearing test results, and map options without pressure. Subscribe, share this with someone who keeps asking for repeats, and leave a review to help more people hear life’s story with confidence.

Omega AI hearing aids don’t just keep up. They redefine what it means to be modern and discreet yet durable and comfortable for all-day wear.

They’re waterproof, everyday-proof, and designed to go the distance of your day and then some. All while tailored to your unique hearing needs.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast

Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

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Most tech works instantly. Hearing care doesn’t, and that gap can turn hope into frustration if we don’t name it and guide it. We take you inside the real reasons hearing aids get returned and share a practical playbook for turning the first two weeks into a solid foundation rather than a ticking clock.

We start with expectations, showing how “normal hearing now” thinking collides with the reality of brain-based adaptation. You’ll hear why own-voice changes, sharper background sounds, and early fatigue are not warning signs but normal steps in neural recalibration. We lay out simple ways to frame realistic optimism, set clear milestones, and keep patients focused on meaningful wins like easier conversations and less strain across weeks, not minutes.

Then we go deeper into the human side. Hearing loss affects identity, relationships, and confidence, especially in life stages where connection and contribution matter most. When emotions are ignored, the device absorbs the blame. We share language that validates those feelings, maps goals to daily life, and uses small, achievable wins to build momentum. You’ll learn how to schedule early follow-ups that actually matter, craft supportive check-ins, and fine-tune without overwhelming. Beyond real-ear and hearing aid test boxes, we outline best practices that integrate counseling, acclimation guides, and team-wide consistency to reduce returns and raise satisfaction.

If you want fewer returns, steadier outcomes, and patients who feel seen and supported, this conversation gives you the tools to make it happen.

Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review to tell us which strategy you’ll try first.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

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The fastest tech in the world can’t outpace human change, and that tension shows up as hearing aid returns. Blaise digs into a process-first approach that keeps patients engaged, supported, and satisfied without chasing the latest hardware. Drawing on years of private practice experience, he unpacks why returns are usually about expectations and support, and how small, deliberate shifts in language, follow-up, and outcome tracking can dramatically reduce churn.

We start by reframing returns as feedback from the process. Patients arrive with Amazon-speed expectations, OTC noise shaping beliefs, and limited tolerance for friction. Instead of pushing harder, we slow down to set realistic optimism: hearing aids begin the change and the brain finishes it. You’ll hear practical ways to normalize early challenges: own-voice changes, loud backgrounds, listening fatigue - so patients see them as milestones, not red flags.

From there, we lay out a simple, repeatable system. Front load support with a 24-hour check-in, thoughtful texts, and one- and two-week follow-ups that signal presence without crowding schedules. Anchor goals to what matters most (family conversations, work meetings, faith services) and include the primary communication partner to build resilience at home. In follow-ups, treat every adjustment as information. Use data logging to guide open questions, not lectures, and bring in validated tools like the abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit (APHAB) to make progress visible. Small wins compound when they’re measured together.

By the end, you’ll have a clear playbook: shift from device language to process language, normalize early experiences, align on meaningful outcomes, and document a consistent journey from first call to six-month care. Technology fits ears, but communication fits lives. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a lift, and leave a quick review so more hearing pros can find the show. What one change will you try this week?

Omega AI hearing aids don’t just keep up. They redefine what it means to be modern and discreet yet durable and comfortable for all-day wear.

They’re waterproof, everyday-proof, and designed to go the distance of your day and then some. All while tailored to your unique hearing needs.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast

Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Send us a text

Stop treating hearing aids like a scare tactic and start seeing them as tools that support your brain. We unpack how evidence-based counseling replaces fear with clarity, why correlations matter in the hearing–cognition conversation, and how a simple education journey can turn uncertainty into confident action.

We share a practical framework that works across clinics: pre-visit education through short videos, talks, and mailers to set expectations; a welcoming, living-room-style environment and best-practice testing to make results meaningful; and a post-visit drip of plain-English resources and event invites that keep learning going. Along the way, we talk through the real moments patients face—noisy restaurants, overlapping voices, mental fatigue—and explain how restoring speech cues reduces listening effort and frees up attention, memory, and executive function.

You’ll hear why we center research without overpromising, how we use visuals and patient stories to make cognition tangible, and where cognitive screeners like MOCA may belong in a hearing care workflow. The goal isn’t to diagnose dementia; it’s to inform referrals, track function, and align care with what the brain actually needs. If you’re ready to replace anxiety with trust and turn hearing care into brain care, this conversation offers steps you can use today.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a colleague or loved one who’s on the fence about hearing help, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Your feedback guides future episodes and helps more people hear—and think—their best.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast

Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast