175 - Hearing Aid Innovations and Why Hearing Loss Is More Dangerous Than You Think with Bill Facteau

Let's Combinate · 12 Feb 2025 · 39m

What this episode covers

Bill Facteau, President and CEO of Earlens Corporation, explains how their light-based, direct-drive hearing device overcomes the frequency limitations of traditional air conduction hearing aids by vibrating the eardrum directly. He discusses the critical link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including dementia and mortality risks, while highlighting industry barriers such as the lack of Medicare reimbursement and the limited efficacy of over-the-counter (OTC) options. Facteau emphasizes that Earlens’ custom-fit, non-surgical technology addresses the specific needs of patients who find standard hearing aids insufficient, particularly in noisy environments.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Shop Talk Live · 52m

    STL: Getting Geeky with ISOtunes

    Host Ben and audiologist Dr. Kathleen Wallace discuss hearing health with ISOtunes sales director Eric and new product development lead Ethan, focusing on the dangers of woodworking noise and the importance of protection. They compare passive and active noise cancellation technologies, explaining how ISOtunes' 'Aware Technology' provides situational awareness while maintaining safety. The group details the history of ISOtunes, its roots in the woodworking community, and the technical differences between North American NRR and European SNR ratings. They conclude with practical advice on fitting, testing, and the necessity of regular hearing screenings to prevent irreversible noise-induced hearing loss.

  • How I Built This · 35m

    When your headphones listen to you with Ramses Alcaide of Neurable

    Ramses Alcaide, co-founder and CEO of Neurable, explains how his company developed Anten, a pair of headphones that use non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to track focus and prevent burnout. Alcaide details the transition from his PhD research on EEG for ALS patients to creating a consumer product that integrates AI to boost signal-to-noise ratios from ear-level sensors. He outlines Neurable's roadmap, which includes upcoming in-earbuds and partnerships with OEMs to embed BCI into various headworn devices for both consumer productivity and enterprise safety applications.

  • Hackaday Podcast · 54m

    Ep 271: Audio Delay in a Hose, Ribbon Cable Repair, and DIY Hacker Metrology

    Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams discuss a software bug in Tandem Diabetes Care's T:Link app that caused insulin pumps to drain batteries and trigger a recall, highlighting the critical need for robust error handling in medical devices. They explore creative audio hacks, including a garden hose delay line and historical mercury delay lines, alongside a Z80 computer built on perfboard and a ribbon cable repair using a vinyl cutter. The episode also covers adaptive technology, such as a 3D-printed assistive knife handle and a vibrating Braille display, while emphasizing the value of DIY metrology and open-source hardware access.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Let's Combinate. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.