339 - Hearing Loss and Media: Bridging the Gap Between Perception and Reality

Hearing loss affects millions of people across all ages—but you wouldn’t know it from mainstream media. New data from a multi-country survey reveals just how rarely hearing aids and cochlear implants are seen in everyday media—and how often those portrayals miss the mark.Andrew Bellavia speaks with Ceri Whittaker, Senior External Relations Manager at GN, who leads communications around initiatives like GN’s “New Norm,” and John Lucchese, founder of NS Audiology, an independent hearing clinic in Sydney, Australia, with nearly two decades of clinical experience serving a diverse patient population.Together, they explore how media representation shapes perceptions of hearing loss—from outdated stereotypes to underrepresentation—and why improving visibility may be key to helping more people recognize hearing loss and seek support earlier.The New Norm image library is available here: https://unsplash.com/@gnhearingglobalBe sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.- https://x.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinhearing/- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearingVisit us at: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/