In this must-listen episode, Dr. Amen and Tana Amen sit down with Brandon Salawich, President and CEO of Starkey, the largest U.S.-based hearing aid manufacturer, to explore the critical link between hearing and brain health. They uncover how hearing loss isn’t just about missing sounds—it’s a major risk factor for dementia, depression, and relationship struggles. You’ll also discover surprising causes of hearing issues, including why 1 in 6 teenagers are already experiencing hearing loss. If you want to protect your brain, start by protecting your hearing—tune in to learn how.
00:00 Intro
01:01 Hearing & The Brain
01:45 Sponsor
03:03 Hearing is One of the Major Functions of the Brain
06:26 Hearing & Stigma
08:23 Can Your Brain Forget Sounds?
09:16 Overstimulation
10:08 Brandon’s Story
13:31 The Impact of Hearing Loss on the Brain
14:56 Overcoming Vulnerability
17:43 The Causes of Memory Loss
19:41 Damage Elimination
21:56 The Future of Hearing Augmentation/Automatic Translation
25:30 Brands
27:05 Hearing & AI Technology
28:45 Comfort
29:57 Hearing Sound for the First Time
40:16 Superpowered Hearing
46:31 Sponsor
46:54 Wrap Up