This Week in Hearing

• 323 - How Hearing Aid Innovation Happens: Jason Galster on Turning Research Into Real-World Technology

  Where do the best ideas in hearing aid innovation come from, and how do they reach patients? In this conversation, Dr. Jason Galster, Vice President of Clinical Research at Sonova, explains how hearing aid research moves from early feasibility to clinical readiness and post-market studies. He discusses how research ideas originate—from clinicians, academic partners, and internal technology roadmaps—and how Sonova evaluates which projects to pursue. Dr. Galster also highlights the role of Sonova’s global Audiology Research Centers, cross-cultural data collection, and emerging tools such as ecological momentary assessment that allow for real-world outcome tracking at scale.The discussion provides insight into how new technologies are evaluated, how research findings are translated for clinicians, and how innovations ultimately reach patients worldwide.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

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• 322 - Widex Allure Expands With BTE, Rechargeable ITE, Portable Charging & Software Updates

  Widex has expanded its Allure™ hearing aid platform with new form factors and charging options, giving hearing care professionals more flexibility across a wider range of patient needs. In this discussion, Dana Helmink, Au.D., Senior Director of Clinical Development at WSA, walks through the addition of a rechargeable Allure BTE, Widex’s first rechargeable ITE, and a new portable charger for the Allure RIC — designed to support travel, active lifestyles, and extended daily use.The conversation also explores updates to Widex Compass Cloud™, the company’s cloud-based fitting software. Dana explains how frequent rolling updates, precision fitting tools, and in-ear measurement capabilities like the Allure Sensogram are designed to improve first-fit accuracy, reduce follow-up visits, and support more personalized fittings. The shift to cloud-based software allows Widex to release new features on an accelerated schedule without requiring manual software installs.Together, the platform updates reflect Widex’s continued focus on natural sound, speech clarity, and environmental awareness. The discussion also touches on the role of the W1 chip, backwards-compatible firmware upgrades, AI-supported personalization through the Widex app, and how these advances translate into real-world patient outcomes in complex listening environments.For more information on the Allure portfolio expansion: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-technologies/2025/widex-expands-allure-portfolio-with-new-hearing-aid-models-and-charger/Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

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• 321 - Life With a Fully Implanted Cochlear Implant: Michael Seufer Shares His Experience

  A fully implantable cochlear implant isn’t just a technical milestone—it's a fundamentally different way of living with hearing loss. In a candid conversation, Gael Hannan speaks with Michael Seufer, one of the first recipients of the Envoy Medical Acclaim, an investigational fully implanted cochlear implant that eliminates external hardware. Michael shares how his hearing loss, first identified in childhood, shaped his life—from academic challenges to finding refuge in hockey—and how traditional hearing aids eventually stopped providing the benefit he needed.Michael describes the moment he decided to pursue the Acclaim after years of discouraging experiences with amplification. Motivated by wanting to fully hear his young son, he enrolled in the clinical trial at Mayo Clinic and embraced the risks of cutting-edge technology. He explains that the fully internal system allows him to hear 24/7 without putting anything on, removing daily barriers common to hearing aid and CI users. From waking up able to converse immediately to showering, exercising, and using headphones normally, he says the experience feels “transparent,” allowing him to simply go about his life without thinking about hearing loss.He also details the device’s internal rechargeable battery, its wireless charging system, and the notable sound quality he experiences—without feedback or the limitations of microphones and speakers. Michael emphasizes that he isn’t a spokesperson, just someone whose life has changed dramatically and wants others to know what may be possible. Above all, he says, the Acclaim represents something deeper for him: “It’s what hope sounds like.”Learn more about Michael's story: https://www.echoesofamiracle.com/For more information on the Acclaim and Envoy Medical's other products, visit: https://www.envoymedical.com/Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

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• 320 - Exploring the H1 Hearing Buds: LXE’s Entry Into Earbud-Style OTC Hearing Aids

  A growing number of people are exploring hearing help earlier, and LXE Hearing believes there is a place for devices that bridge the gap between everyday earbuds and traditional hearing aids. In a detailed discussion, LXE Chief Commercial Officer Brian Maguire explains how the newly formed company—created from the merger of Lexie, hearX, and Eargo—is blending strong hardware engineering with deep software expertise to develop more accessible hearing solutions. Maguire describes LXE’s portfolio, from diagnostics and screening tools to OTC devices, and emphasizes the group’s shared mission: helping people better understand their hearing and giving them approachable, affordable entry points into amplification.The conversation centers on the Lexie H1 hearing buds, LXE’s new earbud-style hearing device designed for situational use. Maguire explains that while traditional CIC and RIC hearing aids remain their core offerings, a growing group of consumers wants an option that boosts hearing only when needed—especially in noisy environments—without the commitment of full-time wear. He highlights the H1’s dual purpose: it functions as a high-quality, everyday wireless earbud with streaming and ANC, but also incorporates hearing amplification with preset programs, adjustable gain through the app, reduced occlusion, and features like directivity and noise reduction for speech-in-noise challenges.Maguire stresses that the H1 isn’t meant to replace all-day devices but to complement them, helping newcomers try amplification sooner and giving existing hearing aid users a tool for specific listening situations. With flexible support, a 45-day risk-free trial, and a $299 price point, he says LXE hopes the H1 will encourage more people to take their first steps toward hearing improvement—at a time when awareness and comfort with ear-worn tech are rapidly increasing.Lexie H1 Hearing Buds press release: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-technologies/2025/lexie-hearing-h1-hearing-buds/Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

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• 319 - Lineage and William Demant Invest Partner to Advance Cell Therapy for Hearing Loss

  Can lost hearing cells be replaced? Lineage Cell Therapeutics CEO Brian Culley returns to discuss the company’s new collaboration with William Demant Invest. Together, they’re advancing ReSonance™ (ANP1) — an experimental cell therapy designed to replace damaged auditory neurons and potentially restore communication between the ear and the brain.Culley explains how the partnership combines Lineage’s regenerative cell technology with the audiology expertise of Eriksholm Research Centre to move this therapy toward first-in-human testing. Backed by up to $12 million in research funding, the multi-year effort could represent a new frontier in treating hearing loss in the future.Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/

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