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Two hundred episodes. Six years. One hundred twenty-one countries. The Hearing Matters Podcast celebrates a remarkable milestone in its mission to educate and connect the global hearing healthcare community.

Host Blaise Delfino's journey from college radio DJ to global hearing healthcare advocate encapsulates the power of finding your purpose. What began in a 400-square-foot family practice as a simple tool to answer patient questions has evolved into an international platform reaching thousands of hearing care professionals and patients alike. With early episodes designed to prepare patients for appointments and guide them through the hearing healthcare journey, the podcast created a seamless educational experience that transformed how patients engaged with their hearing health.

"The podcast absolutely positioned us as thought leaders in our community," Delfino reflects. "When prospective patients tuned in, it was a representation of the practice." This approach to patient education and experience proved extraordinarily effective, with fewer than ten hearing aid returns over five years—a testament to how education, transparency, and patient-centered care create lasting success in healthcare.

Throughout the podcast's evolution, Delfino has observed significant shifts in hearing healthcare: the emergence of deep neural networks and AI in hearing devices, the growing importance of telehealth options, and increasing patient demand for transparency and best practices. "Today, now more than ever, the hearing care professional plays such an important role in the patient experience," he emphasizes, highlighting how the relationship between provider and patient remains central despite technological advances.

Looking toward the future, the Hearing Matters Podcast is launching a provider locator tool to connect listeners with qualified hearing care professionals in their communities, expanding into speech-language pathology topics, and continuing to bridge the gap between education and action. For hearing care professionals and patients alike, the message remains consistent: "Continue to lead with your heart. Continue to keep your why as your North Star. Every day that you go into that office, reflect and think to yourself: I have the opportunity to change someone's life."

Share these episodes with someone who might be struggling with hearing loss – your recommendation could be the first step in their journey toward better communication and connection.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast

Twitter: @hearing_mattas

Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

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Crossing the threshold into better hearing often feels overwhelming for patients who've postponed treatment for years. What makes the difference between hesitation and confident decision-making? The answer lies in experiencing transformation firsthand through expertly conducted in-office hearing aid demonstrations.

This episode dives deep into why these demonstrations represent a crucial moment in the patient journey. When a patient has waited 7-10 years to address their hearing loss, simply reviewing an audiogram and quoting prices falls woefully short of what they deserve. By contrast, a thoughtfully orchestrated demonstration allows patients to hear with unprecedented clarity in challenging environments like restaurants, creating powerful "wow moments" that validate their decision to seek help.

The most effective demonstrations go beyond the technical aspects of hearing technology. They involve familiar voices, realistic background noise, and careful observation of how patients react when communication barriers suddenly diminish. We explore how these demonstrations serve multiple purposes simultaneously, educating patients about their hearing loss, showcasing technology benefits, assessing physical capabilities for device selection, and building unshakable trust in the provider's recommendations.

For hearing healthcare professionals, this episode offers practical guidance on creating meaningful demonstration experiences that lead to better patient outcomes and satisfaction. For those beginning their hearing journey, it provides valuable insight into what to expect and demand from quality providers. No matter where you are in understanding hearing health, you'll gain perspective on how transformative moments in a clinical setting can change lives.

Ready to experience or deliver hearing healthcare that prioritizes education and empowerment over transactions? Listen now and discover why seeing is believing when it comes to better hearing.

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast

Twitter: @hearing_mattas

Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

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When Lindsay Dain first had a student with hearing aids in her kindergarten classroom, she understood the basics of her FM system but admits she "didn't really understand the value." This honest reflection captures the essence of why Lindsay's work matters so deeply today; there's a critical gap between having hearing technology and truly understanding its importance in a child's life.

Lindsay's journey from mainstream educator to deaf education specialist to children's book author illuminates how powerful representation can be in the hearing healthcare space. Her book "I'm Getting a Cochlear Implant" breaks down complex audiological concepts into accessible language, serving both children who want to see themselves represented and parents navigating unfamiliar medical terminology.

The conversation takes a particularly moving turn when Lindsay shares how a foster mother approached her to say the book had helped her decide to pursue cochlear implants for her child. "You are the person that I wrote this book for," Lindsay reflects, her voice revealing how meaningful this feedback was to her creative mission.

Beyond the book itself, Lindsay offers valuable insights about advocacy in education, revealing how IEPs now frequently include self-advocacy goals for deaf and hard of hearing students. These skills, teaching children to explain their needs and educate others about their hearing technology, are life-changing foundations that extend far beyond the classroom.

Perhaps most compelling is Lindsay's personal transformation. When voice problems threatened her teaching career, she faced an identity crisis that ultimately led her to pursue writing. "It has helped me remove the ceiling of what I think I can or can't do," she shares, a powerful message for anyone hesitating to follow their creative calling.

Whether you're a hearing healthcare professional seeking resources for families, an educator working with deaf or hard of hearing students, or someone personally affected by hearing loss, this conversation reminds us that advocacy begins with accessible information and that representation truly matters. Check out Lindsay's book and share it with someone who might need to see themselves or their child in its pages.

Here is the Titze straw phonation video.

Below, please find the ISBN numbers for "I'm Getting a Cochlear Implant"

ISBN for libraries: 979-8-9885896-1-7 (Hard Cover)

Paperback: 979-8-9885896-0-0

eBook:979-8-9885896-2-4

Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast Team

Email: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast

Twitter: @hearing_mattas

Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast