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 Am ...