The Neuroscience of Hearing: What You Don't Hear Can Hurt Your Brain

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 Starkey.com Listencarefully.com