Dr. Jacob Hunter - Answering the Cochlear Implant Epidemic

Dr. Jacob Hunter is currently the Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care and an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern. He has worked as an Assistant Professor for the UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Hunter started his medical career as an Otolaryngology Resident at Montefiore Medical Center. He completed his Neurotology Surgery Fellowship at Vanderbilt, where he specialized in acoustic neuroma surgery, cochlear implants, skull base surgery and chronic ear disease.


Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• How Dr. Jacob Hunter utilized a cochlear implant database
• Evaluating cognitive decline and hearing loss
• The lack of infrastructure for cognitive testing
• Education on cochlear implants and raising awareness
• Why counseling is the secret to true hearing treatment
• Keeping an open mind with audiology patients


In this episode…

Epidemics are associated with infectious, quick-spreading diseases. However, the same principle applies to any medical issue that expands quicker than treatment can cover. The need for cochlear implants falls into this perfectly — the patients who could benefit from the technology greatly outnumber those receiving treatment. As a result, thousands upon thousands of people are living with deteriorating hearing loss and have made little effort to change their situation. So what can be done to provide more hearing care?

On this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Dr. Jacob Hunter, an Associate Professor at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, about the state of cochlear implants. They discuss raising awareness, utilizing data to make informed decisions, and building infrastructure. Lastly, they touch on the personal element of hearing counseling and how it plays into education.


Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by the Arizona Hearing Center.

The Arizona Hearing Center is a cutting-edge hearing care facility providing comprehensive, family-focused care. Approximately 36 million Americans suffer from some sort of hearing loss, more than half of whom are younger than the age of 65. That’s why the team at the Arizona Hearing Center is focused on providing the highest-quality care using innovative technologies and inclusive treatment plans.

As the Founder of the Arizona Hearing Center, Dr. Mark Syms is passionate about helping patients effectively treat their hearing loss so that they can stay connected with their family and friends and remain independent. He knows first-hand how hearing loss can impact social connection and effective communication. By relying on three core values—empathy, education, and excellence—Dr. Syms and his team of hearing loss experts are transforming the lives of patients.

So what are you waiting for? Stop missing out on the conversation and start improving your quality of life today!

To learn more about the Arizona Hearing Center, visit https://www.azhear.com/ or call us at 602-307-9919. We don’t sell hearing aids—we treat your hearing loss.