The Future Is Sound

The purpose of research and development in understanding hearing loss and creating hearing technology and strategies is to help people who are living with hearing loss. It’s important to hear from the people who ultimately benefit from hearing strategies. In today’s episode, you’ll hear a child's and parent's perspectives on hearing loss and hearing strategies. Today’s guests are Fern, who has hearing loss and wears hearing aids, and her mother Leah. During the episode, they’ll discuss what it was like to notice that Fern wasn’t hearing correctly, why tubes weren’t the ultimate solution for Fern, and what it was like for her to get hearing aids. This episode helps explain what hearing loss and hearing solutions are like from the perspective of a child with hearing loss and their parent. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Introduction to Fern and Leah When Leah started to notice that Fern had hearing loss What in-person hearing testing was like Why tubes weren’t the solution Finding out that Fern was going to need hearing aids How often Fern needs to get her hearing tested What they called the hearing aids to get Fern excited about them What Fern started to notice when she got her hearing aids What Leah noticed about her speech after fern got hearing aids How Fern overheard her teacher on speakerphone How it feels when Fern takes the hearing aids out Fern’s favorite sounds

Research into hearing technology is an important subject, and today’s guest has a wealth of knowledge on the subject. Rr. Dave Gordey AUD (C), Ph.D. is the Director of Research, Education, Audiology, Program Development, and Professional Relations at Oticon A/S. In today’s podcast episode, we discuss different aspects of conducting research in the hearing aid industry, including its challenges, what Dr. Gordey enjoys about the process, and what’s coming in the future. Listen to what he has to say about his Ph.D. research and how it’s fueling his studies today, the steps involved in publishing a peer-reviewed paper, and the challenges of getting children participants. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Dr. Gordey’s experience and time at Oticon Dr. Gordey’s Ph.D. research Whether the things Dr. Gordey discovered during his Ph.D. research are fueling his studies today Where to find Dr. Gordey’s studies The steps of a peer-reviewed paper Parts of the research process that Dr. Gordey enjoys The challenge of getting children participants in Oticon research Why there aren’t many side-by-side hearing aid manufacturer comparisons Climatization for children with hearing aids Research coming from Oticon Resources: Dave Gordey Register for the PIH Community page

Dive into the importance of public health awareness around hearing loss. Jessica Niemela is a pediatric Audiologist living in Vernon, BC. She is currently promoting an exhibit at the Okanagan Science Centre for Speech and Hearing Month. The event itself is very timely for several reasons, which we explore together in this episode. The event will run for the entire month of May and has been designed for all ages. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: The exhibit Jessica is involved in organizing How the exhibit came about Jessica’s background Why public health awareness about hearing is so important Why May is such an important month BC’s accessibility act Resources: Jessica Niemela Okanagan Science Centre Register for the PIH Community page

Olivia Meriano – or Liv – is a middle child. Liv is dyslexic, one of her older sisters was born with Cerebral Palsy, and her two younger brothers have hearing loss. Olivia’s grandparents were born Deaf, so her mother grew up using American Sign Language as her first language, a skill that she brought into her own family as an adult. In today’s conversation, you’ll learn more about Olivia’s home and family life, her experience growing up in the Deaf community, and how this helped shaped her work as a speech pathologist. Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode: Who Olivia Meriano is and what she does The gene that Olivia may carry that causes hearing loss How the gene affects boys and girls What it was like for Olivia to grow up in the Deaf community The differences between Olivia’s experience and her mother’s experience Olivia’s sister and how she shaped Olivia’s choice to be a speech therapist How Olivia’s family talked about disabilities Olivia’s mother’s reaction to being told two of her children suffered from hearing loss What looking at disability through a medical lens can be like Olivia’s work with the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation Improv as a therapy tool A lesson learned from Olivia’s improv program Language to use and avoid around disabilities Resources: Register for the Partnership in Hearing community page here Olivia Meriano at the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation The Down Syndrome Resource Foundation Five Moore Minutes with Shelley Moore Instagram accounts: @MsDeafQueen @Shayleemansfield @AdventuresInDeafEd @Fidgets.and.Fries @TheAutisticats @crutches_and_spice @AndrewGurza @Zach.Anner @disabilityreframed The views, information or opinions expressed in this Podcast are solely the views of thos