Jonathan Regev

I work primarily within personalized audiology. My previous research focused on investigating the effects of age and hearing loss on auditory perception using psychoacoustics, that is focusing on basic measures of auditory behavior to understand the inner workings of the auditory system and where things may change as we get older. In my position at Eriksholm, I will use this background to investigate how we can help people with self-perceived hearing difficulties who do not have access to hearing healthcare because they do not have sufficient hearing loss according to current clinical tests. The goal is to refine clinical practice and to identify how to provide hearing care for people that currently fall through the cracks of the hearing healthcare system.

I came to this field by chance and by following my interests. While taking an education in nanotechnology in Switzerland, I came to Denmark on exchange and discovered that an engineering education in acoustics was possible. This was very well aligned with my interest in music, so I decided to stay, imagining I would build loudspeakers and instruments. The education included courses on auditory perception, which I discovered was the perfect mix of engineering, technology, and psychology. I quickly made that my lane, and 9 years later I’m still loving it. I feel very lucky to work in a field that allows me to use my engineering skills while having a direct impact on people’s health and the way they progress through their everyday environment.

During my PhD at the Technical University of Denmark, I had the great luck of being co-supervised by two scientists from Eriksholm, Helia Relaño-Iborra and Johannes Zaar. The fantastic supervision they provided, as well as the very high level of research being done at Eriksholm, made the centre the ideal place to transition to. I had the chance to apply for an industrial PostDoc position with Johannes, in collaboration with Prof. Jesper Hvass Schmidt at the University of Southern Denmark, and I jumped at the opportunity.

I think my motivation is based both on genuine curiosity about the auditory system and on the fact that I can put my engineering skills to use towards helping people. Working on discovering how people can go from hearing series of sounds to transforming them into meaning, communication, music, or useful information is really fascinating. The fact that I get to study all of this while having the opportunity to help people in a tangible way makes the work even more motivating.

I would love for us to crack the code to individualizing compensation strategies in a meaningful way. My work is very focused on identifying the individual deficits that contribute to an individual’s hearing difficulties. We’ve known for a long time now that the population of people that can benefit from hearing aids is very diverse. If I can contribute to our ability to provide them with compensation strategies that are tailored to their specific profile, that would be a huge step.

Having a 3-year old, I spend most of my free time with my family. I also contribute to running the Danish Technical Audiological Society, where we organize a yearly conference aiming to gather researchers, clinicians, and representatives from the hearing care industry to discuss topics relevant to hearing care in Denmark. Whatever time is left I spend listening to music, reading history books, or catching up with friends.

I think the most exciting breakthrough was the invention of the smartphone and the way that it democratized access to the internet and simplified communication. I was still young when smartphones became popular, but I clearly remember having to run to a phone booth to call people if I was out of the house (and carrying a notepad with phone numbers). The ease with which people can communicate and access information now is a huge advancement I think, especially because it’s not limited to people with substantial financial means. Of course, I hope that we, as a society, can work through the many problems smartphones have brought with them – such as shorter attention spans and the flood of fake news.

Regarding hearing science, besides hoping to crack the code to individualizing hearing care, I hope we will be able understand the causes of tinnitus and find an effective treatment to compensate for it. I often get asked what people can do about their tinnitus when I mention I work with hearing sciences.
Regarding science at large, I hope that we will find a solution to stop the progression of climate change, and maybe even compensate for it somehow. I hope society in general can make the cultural and mindset changes required to get there.