205 - The Sound of Victory: Three Time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines' Journey to Better Hearing

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Rowdy Gaines joins Gael Hannan for a candid conversation about his experience with hearing loss. He shares how he first noticed issues in his 50s, likely due to hereditary factors, ear infections from years of competitive swimming, and exposure to loud environments. Rowdy describes initially being in denial about needing hearing aids before getting properly fitted with a set of prescription devices from that have tremendously improved his hearing ability. He emphasizes the life-changing impact his new Signia hearing aids have had, especially for his work as a broadcaster covering major swimming events like the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Rowdy praises being able to differentiate voices more clearly and highlights the importance of strong communication with his broadcasting partner. He also reflects on overcoming the stigma he felt about wearing hearing aids by applying the same discipline he had as an elite athlete. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). - https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing - https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing - https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/