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Dr. Courtney Voelker and Dr. Chester Griffiths
September 17, 2025

69. A Silent Revolution in Hearing Loss Treatment

by Anthony Effinger

The Think Neuro podcast from Pacific Neuroscience Institute takes you into the clinic, operating room and laboratory with doctors and surgeons who are tackling the most challenging brain diseases and disorders. Host: Anthony Effinger

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Cochlear implants are leading a revolution in the treatment of hearing loss. According to a 2022 study, only about 10% of those who qualify for cochlear implants have received them. Cost, accessibility, and lack of awareness are only some roadblocks for potential patients. At Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Courtney Voelker and Dr. Chester Griffiths are working to change that. Dr. Voelker is recognized as one of the nation’s top cochlear implant surgeons, with patients as young as five months old. Dr. Griffiths is the founder of Pacific Head & Neck, a premier clinic in Los Angeles. Because hearing loss is the leading modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline, addressing it is vital. Tune in to hear how these two doctors are raising awareness about cochlear implants and making a difference in people’s lives.

About Dr. Courtney Voelker and Dr. Chester F. Griffiths

Courtney Voelker MD PhD

Dr. Courtney Voelker, MD, PhD (DPhil Oxon) is a board-certified neurotologist and cochlear implant surgeon in Los Angeles, providing advanced implant surgery and hearing restoration for adults and children. She directs PNI’s Adult & Pediatric Cochlear Implant and the Otology/Neurotology-Lateral Skull Base Surgery Programs.

Chester F. Griffiths, MD

Chester F. Griffiths, MD, FACS, is board certified in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Griffiths is the CEO and President of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute Medical Group.

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About the Author

Anthony Effinger

Anthony Effinger

Think Neuro's host is Anthony Effinger, an award-winning journalist who is fascinated with neuroscience and the workings of the brain. Anthony spent 24 years at Bloomberg News, where he covered all aspects of finance, with forays into science and health. In 2006, the Association of Health Care Journalists awarded him first prize for Playing the Odds, an in-depth piece on the changing strategies used to treat prostate cancer. These days, he is a staff writer at Willamette Week, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Last updated: October 28th, 2025