#4: From Research to Real Life: Single-sided Deafness with Dr. Sharon Cushing, Hanne Bartel and Harrison Gao

In the fourth episode of season 5, we peek into the world of single-sided deafness or LUHU (limited usable hearing unilaterally). Host May Wang chats with Dr. Karen Gordon, Dr. Sharon Cushing, Harrison Gao, and Hanne Bartel. May is completing a BSc in Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of British Columbia and has lived experience with single-sided deafness. 

Dr. Sharon Cushing is an Otolaryngologist at the Hospital for Sick Children, Director of the Cochlear Implant Program and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. Hanne Bartels completed her MD at KU Leuven and is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto, whose research is focused on single-sided deafness. Last but not least, Harrison Gao is a medical student at the University of Toronto. This episode explores first-hand experiences of single-sided deafness, rehabilitation, and ongoing research in the field!   

Transcript of S5E4  

Previous episodes featuring Dr. Sharon Cushing:  

• S1E1: Binaural Hearing: The Where and Why with Dr. Ruth Litovsky 
• S1E2: Hearing Lessons from an Engineer with Dr. Deniz Başkent 
• S1E3: Electro-acoustic Hearing: An Odd Combination that Works with Dr. René Gifford 
• S1E4: Cochlear Implants: An Expert-insider’s View with Dr. Lina Reiss
• S1E5: Hearing in all Corners of the Globe with Dr. Viji Easwar  

Recorded on Aug 8, 2025 

Produced by Maria Khan 

Music composed and performed by Dr. Blake Papsin, Otolaryngologist-in-Chief, Department of Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery) at the Hospital for Sick Children