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“Auracast is Here!” Now What?
Auracast, a new Bluetooth LE Audio technology, offers exciting potential for improving accessibility for individuals with hearing loss by enabling direct audio streaming from sources like TVs, PA systems, and smartphones to hearing aids or compatible devices. While it is considered a promising advancement in assistive listening systems (ALS), its widespread adoption faces several challenges, including the need for push-button simplicity for direct access, device compatibility, and consumer educat...
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Be On Offense: Self-Advocacy and Hearing Loss
At 11 years old, Dustin Giannelli experienced a deeply impactful moment at Michael Jordan’s basketball camp when he realized he couldn’t fully hear or understand MJ’s keynote due to his profound hearing loss. This experience ignited his lifelong commitment to accessibility, self-advocacy, and what he calls the “Be On Offense” mindset—a philosophy of proactive communication and inclusion. Dustin shares how technology, such as closed captions and assistive devices, transformed his life ...
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Beethoven Would Have Loved a Pair of Today’s Hearing Aids
Ludwig van Beethoven, despite being a celebrated composer, faced immense challenges due to his progressive hearing loss in an era without modern hearing aids. His struggles with social stigma, isolation, and even contemplating suicide highlight the profound impact of hearing loss. Yet, he continued to create some of his most iconic works, proving that his disability did not define him. If Beethoven had access to today’s advanced hearing aids, he would undoubtedly have embraced them, as they cou...
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Bill Austin on the Evolution of Starkey
Bill Austin recounts his journey in the hearing health industry, beginning with a pivotal moment at a small earmold repair shop in the 1960s that ignited his passion for helping people with hearing loss. After purchasing Starkey in 1967, he dedicated himself to providing exceptional customer service and advancing hearing aid technology, leading innovations like custom products, risk-free return policies, and groundbreaking devices such as the Livio AI, which combines sensors, artificial intellige...
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Racing Toward the Victory Lane: Starkey President & CEO Brandon Sawalich Steers Company with Eye
Brandon Sawalich, CEO of Starkey Hearing Technologies, reflects on his journey from a summer job at the company to leading one of the world’s most innovative hearing aid manufacturers. Driven by a family legacy in hearing care and inspired by his mentor Bill Austin, Sawalich emphasizes compassion, innovation, and breaking down communication barriers. Balancing the stress of running a global company with watching his teenage son William compete in NASCAR, Sawalich finds solace in history, baseba...
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Breaking Barriers and Increasing Accessibility for People with Hearing Loss
When I was six years old, starting first grade in the 1970s, I faced immense challenges with my hearing loss and bulky, outdated hearing aids that often drew unwanted attention from peers. The world felt isolating and disconnected for me, as the technology of the time couldn’t meet my needs effectively. Over the decades, advancements in hearing aid technology have transformed my life, from loud amplifiers to sleek, digital devices that reconnect me to the world with improved sound quality and f...
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