Todd Ricketts

As some of you know, I live on an island in south-central North Dakota, surrounded by the waters of the Missouri River—not just any island, but the largest island in the state. For the most part, island life is pretty serene and laid back, but a couple hundred years ago, a significant historical event happened just a few miles up the river.

Ever wonder if you’re seeing the whole truth online? You are not alone. Google, and other Big Tech companies, have a monopoly on information. In fact, 90% of online searches are completed on Google. And they can show us anything they want, with zero accountability. Indeed, they have a long track record of choosing sides on controversial issues.

Hearing, listening, communication and participation in the context of hearing loss are complex constructs to measure. This is because those constructs are intertwined with other complex constructs including language, cognition, social engagement, and fatigue. Hearing loss (passive) impacts listening (active) which, for many adults who live with hearing loss, impacts communication (bi- or multi-directional exchange) and participation (everyday life).