Welcome to The Hearing Edit, the podcast that opens up new conversations about hearing loss. In our first episode, we look at how deafness and hearing loss are shown on TV and in fashion, and why representation matters so much.
Yovina brings the clinical side as an audiologist. Georgia has worn hearing aids since she was 18 months old, so she brings lived experience. Together they talk about:
- Peppa Pig. George's new hearing aid storyline gets lots of things right: a moderate hearing loss in one ear, an accurate hearing test, and nursery friends who shout at him to help (please don't!). We also discuss why it matters that a main character, not a one-episode token, has hearing loss.
- Love Island. Was Sam really "too quiet", or was the villa just one of the hardest listening environments imaginable? We talk about echoey open-plan rooms, group chats, whispering and darkness, and why hearing aids work best within about 1.5 metres. Georgia also reveals she was approached to go on the show three years running.
- Strictly. Rose Ayling-Ellis's historic win, and the BAFTA-winning silent dance that showed audiences want to see something different.
- Fashion and modelling. Georgia talks about hiding her hearing aids as a 16-year-old model. She also talks about her PETA campaign, where her hearing aids were on full view for the first time, and why that no longer made her uncomfortable.
- "Deaf model" or "model who wears hearing aids"? An honest conversation about labels, pride, and not wanting hearing loss to become your whole story.
- Lip reading. It's a puzzle, not a superpower. We also cover how tiring it is to fill in the gaps all day, and give a shout-out to lip-reading queen Jackie.
- The Truth Edit. Our new myth-or-fact segment. This week: which celebrities have hearing loss? Some of the answers might surprise you.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to The Hearing Edit
03:07 Peppa Pig and George's hearing aid
14:50 Love Island: what went wrong for Sam?
25:19 Strictly and Rose's silent dance
28:46 Modelling with hearing aids
32:43 The truth about lip reading
37:49 "Deaf model" or "model who wears hearing aids"?
44:32 The Truth Edit
48:28 Our takeaways
Mentioned in this episode
- Georgia's PETA campaign, which you can watch on PETA's Instagram
- Jackie, the lip-reading creator: @tismejackieg
- The National Deaf Children's Society
- Zebedee Management
- Ménière's disease
Sponsored by Nuance Audio
Nuance Audio is the invisible hearing solution built into glasses. It's designed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, and makes speech clearer while leaving your ears free and comfortable. Find out more at nuanceaudio.com.
Meet your hosts
- Dr Yovina is an audiologist and the founder of Dr Yovina Audiology. Find her at @dryovina and www.dryovina.co.uk.
- Georgia Meacham is an actor, model and deaf advocate. Find her at @georgiameacham.
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