Stephen explains the role of speech-language pathologists who work in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and how their expertise in communicative technology intersects in the world of hearing loss. He breaks down modern AAC devices, the challenges and joys of his patient population, and how audiologists can best collaborate with professionals in AAC.

Dr. Cheryl Wiggins explains her role as an audiologist who works in the fascinating and sometimes mysterious world of intraoperative neuromonitoring. Her discussion with Dr. Sharp details the additional training required, differences from the traditional role of an audiologist, and what a career can look like in the world of IONM.

Becky Hales, former TODHH and current Au.D. student, shares her experiences working as a TODHH, and how audiologists can better collaborate with TODHH. Her background includes multiple educational settings, using both ASL and Spoken English, with the additional perspective of a parent of a child with a disability.

Dr. Alexander provides a clear explanation of auditory processing disorder (APD), including its evolved definition, assessment, and treatment. Her discussion with Dr. Sharp covers the Buffalo Model for APD, and her focus on incorporating qualitative measures into her quantitative evaluations. She also includes tips for beginners and a favorite case study.

Valli Gideons, better known online as MyBattleCall, discusses her journey as a parent of children with hearing loss with Dr. Sharp, including the professionals involved, how she feels families can be better supported, and how to help build children with hearing loss and their families into better self-advocates. Her insights are inspiring and challenging to clinicians of all backgrounds.

David Kemp joins Dr. Dakota Sharp to break down current trends where voice technology, wearables, and hearing healthcare meet. Their discussion encompasses what the future looks like for hearing aids in a world of new hearables, apps that patients can utilize to better tune in to the world around them, and exciting new innovations that are breaking down walls in hearing healthcare.

Guests: Ashley Hughes, AuD and Natalie J. Nelson, AuD - Dr. Hughes, Dr. Nelson, and Dr. Sharp trek through the often-unspoken world of job negotiations and debt, with a focus on students in the world of communication sciences and disorders. Dr. Hughes and Dr. Nelson share specific tips for navigating job offers and loan payments with fresh, exciting ideas for new graduates to consider.

Dr. Lindsay Cockburn joins Dr. Dakota Sharp to discuss her experience launching a website and social media brand to connect with parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and professionals. Their conversation spans the challenges of navigating modern social media, understanding ethical boundaries, and how clinicians can build their brand to better distinguish your clinical practice.

The presenters discuss their experiences in early intervention, and their roles on early intervention teams. Michelle’s expertise in pediatric feeding and swallowing, paired with Dakota’s expertise in newborn hearing, combine for an exciting conversation that spans how clinicians can connect with other professionals to create an early intervention team and better understand their role.

Dr. Sharp and Dr. Saperstein discuss the current model that families experience after their child is diagnosed with hearing loss, its flaws, and how it can be improved. They explore supporting these parents and families when discussing communication options, and how shared decision making can improve their emotional journey.

Guest: Dawn Heiman, AuD, FAAA - Dr. Heiman and Dr. Sharp discuss current trends in aural (re)habilitation for adults and children with hearing loss, including how audiologists approach strategies based on patient age. She offers strategies for how to improve the provision of these services, and explains how audiologists and SLPs can collaborate to make the process easier and better for patients.

Guest: Logan Faust, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA - Dr. Faust discusses her challenges navigating hearing healthcare as a biracial audiologist, including her experiences as an audiology student and student preceptor. She provides insights into the importance of discussions about race between clinicians of all backgrounds, and how these discussions impact patient success.

Guest: Maria Morrison, AuD, FAAA - Dr. Morrison discusses how audiologists who do not currently provide tinnitus evaluations and care can incorporate simple elements of best practice to meet the needs of a majority of patients with tinnitus. She includes tips for counseling and evaluations, and how she navigates providing tinnitus care and seeking reimbursement in the realm of her private practice.

Guest: Liz White, AuD, ABA Certified - Dr. White details her experience in opening her own private practice that focuses on patient-centered care and utilizes evidence-based practice. She provides insights into the challenges and rewards of this specialized form of practice, first steps for audiologists interested in a similar path, and pitfalls to watch out for on the road to ownership.

Guest: Sofia Roller, AuD - Dr. Roller describes her experience as a clinical audiologist with congenital single sided deafness (SSD), and its impact on her patient experience and clinical technique. She discusses current options for patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL), including CRoS and bone-anchored hearing aids, as well as offers counseling tips to help patients become better self-advocates.

Guest: Lisa Park, AuD, CCC-A - Dr. Park reviews the progression of pediatric cochlear implant candidacy, including research that has led to modern expanded indications. She discusses current candidacy guidelines, the challenges of insurance coverage, and how families can be counseled through the cochlear implantation process.

Guest: Kelly Murphy, AuD - Dr. Murphy shares her experience working with interpreters as a pediatric audiologist. She describes best practices for working with interpreters, provides critical insights and advice from her personal experience, and includes specific cases that proposed a complex challenge for interpretation.

Guest: Erin Piker, AuD, PhD, CCC-A - Dr. Piker describes her current lab structure, where CSD undergraduates, AuD students, and PhD students work collaboratively to conduct vestibular research. She explains the importance of undergraduate involvement in research, both for future SLPs and Audiologists. Additionally, she provides helpful insights into her research on the connection between diabetes and the vestibular system.

Guest: Krystal Werfel, PhD, CCC-SLP - Dr. Werfel discusses her current research regarding the acquisition of literacy for children with hearing loss who use spoken language. Her studies examine what early literacy skills look like for children with hearing loss, how minimal hearing loss (often undetected) can impact reading skills, and considerations for these children in a post-COVID-19 world.

Guest: Melanie Morris, AuD, CCC-A - Dr. Morris and Dr. Sharp discuss Georgia’s new Mobile Audiology Program, which seeks to identify, diagnose, and treat the most underserved children across the state. She and her interdisciplinary team work to aid the populations most at risk of late identification: low income areas, rural areas, and ESL families.

This is a preview of what to expect from the all new On the Ear podcast coming August 20, 2020. Subscribe now!