A Sound Advice from Dr. Stacey Lim — On Deafness, Hearing Aids, and Cochlear Implants

The sense of hearing is a finely tuned collaboration between physics and biology, transforming invisible sound waves into meaning, memory, and emotion. From the delicate mechanics of the middle ear to the neural pathways that help us localize danger, recognize voices, and enjoy music, hearing quietly shapes how we connect with the world. Yet it’s also one of our most vulnerable senses—affected by aging, noise exposure, infection, and even cardiovascular health. How benign are ear pain and ringing? Is there a limit to how loud we should listen to music? And what can we do to protect this sense before silence becomes noticeable?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Stacey Lim, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)-certified audiologist and Professor of Audiology.

Dr. Lim received her BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders and German Language and Literature from Wooster College, her AuD (Doctor of Audiology) from the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium at the University of Akron, and her PhD in Audiology from Kent State University. Currently, Dr. Lim is a Professor of Audiology at Central Michigan University, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from ASHA, and is a researcher focused on cochlear implants and aural rehabilitation, informed by her personal experience of bilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss since birth. Previously, Dr. Lim was a Fulbright Scholar at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, studying hearing loss in Germany, a co-Principal Investigator in March of Dimes research on cognitive and linguistic skills related to hearing loss, and the Chapter President at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Dr. Lim is also a co-curator of (dis)ABLED BEAUTY, a museum exhibition featuring creatively designed adaptive devices, assistive devices, and apparel for people with disabilities.

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