345 - U.S. Ski Jumper Estella Hassrick on Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Competing at the Highest Level

What does it take to compete at the highest level of sport while growing up with hearing loss?In this conversation, U.S. ski jumper Estella Hassrick shares her journey—from being diagnosed with hereditary cochlear dysplasia at age three to competing on the U.S. national team. She discusses the realities of hearing loss in high-performance sports, including the challenges of wearing hearing aids under a helmet, navigating school and training environments, and adapting along the way.Estella also reflects on how hearing technology has evolved over her lifetime, her experience working with audiologists, and the role of support systems—including her partnership with Widex. Throughout the discussion, she offers perspective on resilience, identity, and what it means to pursue ambitious goals while managing hearing loss.Her message is clear: hearing loss may change the path—but it doesn’t define the outcome.Be 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/Audio podcast can be found on all major platforms, including Apple & Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisweekinhearing