Confronting the truths and myths about hearing loss! You are invited on a journey to better understand hearing loss, hearing healthcare, and its impact on your life. Primarily you will hear from people from all walks of life, as they share their stories, their own personal journeys with hearing loss. These will be from the individuals themselves, as well as some impactful narratives from family and friends who have navigated the, oftentimes, tumultuous waters of support for that person and their communication needs. Also, you will hear from experts, there will be interviews that will cover topics across the lifespan, from infants to seniors, with engaging discussions to include information on basic hearing anatomy and evaluations, importance to language acquisition, the manifestation of psychological challenges in adults, treatment options such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, and the critical need for aural rehabilitation. Discover how hearing loss happens, why it happens, what it looks like, what to do about it, and where to find answers. Your companion on this mission is Jason Wigand. He began losing his hearing in his late teens and after a decade of rapid, progressive loss and continual hearing aid use, he received a cochlear implant. Five years later, in his mid-thirties, he completed graduate work and obtained a doctorate in audiology. As a clinical audiologist and educator, he has operated and provided care in academic, private practice, and nonprofit settings. He believes these discussions are critical to improving hearing healthcare and its importance in the public health landscape. If you would like to tell your story or have suggestions for topics or guest, email us at experiencelifealoud@gmail.com