Talking Ears

Every year, the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) hosts two conferences, the most recent of which was the 2026 NHCA Fall Virtual Educational Summit held in early September. Talking Ears co-host, Frank Wartinger, was invited to present on the topic of Music Audiology in a live podcast format. With both eminent guest panelists, Jos Mulder, PhD, music technology educator and researcher at the National Australian University School of Music, and Laura Sinnott, AuD, Music Audiologist and owner of Sound Culture. having worked on the international HELA (Healthy Ears Limited Annoyance) program, we quickly settled on the topic: Setting the Global Stage: Updates in Hearing Loss Prevention for Live Music Settings.

This presentation was edited for length for the conference, but is presented here in the unabridged form. If you would like to view the video presentation with accompanying slides and visuals, please visit: https://youtu.be/apeRnMbxez8

How many ways can we say that Music Audiology is a small, niche, subspeciality comprised of a handful of dedicated and passionate independent providers? We are a small but tight bunch, and we would like to take a moment to introduce you to one of our ranks: Jason Baker. Dr. Baker hails from none other than Music City itself, Nashville! Naturally, his practice is called Music City Audiology - a name so apropos it makes Talking Ears co-host Frank quite audibly jealous.

Lets say you were a musician traveling around the US in need of hearing services, or an audiologist looking to consult with or refer to a music specialist, or an artist management firm aiming to care for your performer's greatest irreplaceable asset (their hearing, naturally)... how would you find a provider? Glad you asked! Simply consult D'MAP - the Directory of Music Audiology Providers at www.musicaud.org

We are continuing our deep dive into a deeply technical topic. This episode has a companion article available through this link.

Stage monitoring is complicated and difficult even in the best circumstances, but when the performer has hearing loss the barriers can compound and confound the situation. We pick up where we left off with Part 1 to practical guidance for performers with hearing loss, as well as supporting knowledgeable audio engineers who are mixing monitors for an artist with hearing loss. In this second installment, we discuss:

How spatial processing can be used to add separation and clarity

Steps to audiogram-informed processing

Purpose-built systems designed to streamline this process and support the performer

Please continue to send in your questions, comments, and suggestions for guests and topics. You're the reason we make this show, so thanks for listening!

To kick off Season 5 of Talking Ears, we are taking a deep dive into a technical topic. This episode has a companion article available through this link.

Stage monitoring is complicated and difficult even in the best circumstances, but when the performer has hearing loss the barriers can compound and confound the situation. Herein, Juan and Frank will provide practical guidance for performers with hearing loss, as well as supporting knowledgeable audio engineers who are mixing monitors for an artist with hearing loss. In this first installment, we discuss:

Sensorineural hearing loss

How the audiogram can be interpreted and used to inform monitor mixing

Using traditional mix management techniques to focus and simplify the mix for the musician with hearing loss

Please continue to send in your questions, comments, and suggestions for guests and topics. You're the reason we make this show, so thanks for listening!

Talking Ears Season 5 is just around the corner, and we are excited! Please continue to send in your questions and suggestions for topics, and as always, thanks for listening!