Starkey Sound Bites: Hearing Aids, Tinnitus, and Hearing Healthcare

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What would you do if you knew your hearing was going to disappear?

In this episode, Dave Fabry sits down with author, speaker, and hearing health advocate Dr. Matt Hay to discuss his remarkable journey from a life-changing diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) to hearing recovery through an auditory brainstem implant. 

Matt shares how he created a personal "soundtrack of silence" before losing his hearing, intentionally preserving the music and moments that meant the most to him. He opens up about the fear, isolation, grief, and resilience that shaped h...

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What makes Omega AI+ different from hearing technology that came before it? 

In this episode of Starkey Sound Bites, Dr. Sara Burdak and Dr. Achin Bhowmik join host Dave Fabry to take us inside the technology, science, and vision behind Omega AI+, Starkey's most advanced hearing technology yet. 

From breakthrough AI features and deep neural networks to health and wellness capabilities like sleep tracking, fall detection, and alerting you when you’ve forgotten your hearing aids, their conversation explores how...

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In this episode of Starkey Sound Bites, host Dr. Dave Fabry, Starkey's Chief Hearing Health Officer, sits down with songwriter, hearing aid wearer, and hearing health advocate Emily Haber Davila for an inspiring conversation about self-advocacy, overcoming stigma, and the life-changing impact of hearing technology.

Emily shares her personal journey with hearing loss, from being diagnosed at age four to performing in a touring family band, building a successful songwriting career in Nashville, and ultimately becoming a passionate advocate for people with hearing loss. Together, they explore how hearing technology has...

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The best hearing technology in the world still fails when we ignore the person wearing it. Host, Dr. Dave Fabry, kicks off a Legacy Series conversation with Robert Sweetow, former chief of audiology at UCSF, to look back on how hearing care evolved from screwdrivers and body aids to digital, apps, and AI hearing aids, and to ask a sharper question: did the profession grow more human along the way, or more device-driven?

Dr. Sweetow shares his origin story, training at Northwestern under Ray Carhart, and the real-world moments that pushed...

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Dr. Dave Fabry and Henry Wong unpack Auracast and why it’s fundamentally different from the old Bluetooth routine: no fiddly pairing, just a simple search and select flow that feels more like joining a Wi‑Fi network than connecting a gadget. The headline is bold but practical a single transmitter can broadcast high quality audio to unlimited nearby listeners at the same time, straight to compatible hearing devices.

We walk through what “integration” really means on two fronts. First, the devices: Auracast transmitters can be smartphones, TVs, tablets, laptops, and even pub...

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Connectivity plays a critical role in helping people hear their best, and few innovations are generating more excitement in hearing healthcare than Auracast™.

In this episode of Starkey Sound Bites, Dr. Dave Fabry welcomes Henry Wong, Director of Market Development for the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG), for a discussion about Auracast Broadcast Audio, Bluetooth LE Audio, and what these technologies mean for hearing aid users, audiologists, and consumers alike.

Together, they explore:

• What Auracast is and how it works
 • The evolution of Bluetooth connectivity for hea...

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Men’s Hearing Health is often overlooked, but it should not be.

In this episode of Starkey Sound Bites, host Dr. Dave Fabry sits down with athlete, coach, and hearing health advocate Tyson Gillies to talk about living with hearing loss, overcoming stigma, and why so many men delay getting help.

Tyson shares his personal journey from childhood hearing loss and adversity to competing at elite levels, coaching Team USA Deaf Baseball, and preparing for international competition. This conversation dives into confidence, identity, and how hearing health directly impacts co...

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A hearing clinic can buy the same equipment as everyone else, but it cannot copy trust. That is the thread running through our conversation with Dr. Zack Miller, a private practice owner who now leads Midwest Hearing Aids across 31 locations in Kansas, many of them in small towns where your reputation travels faster than your advertising. 

We talk about the real work behind practice ownership: building a team you can count on, staying “coachable,” and keeping a culture where you still learn from patients and staff. Zack shares what he believes canno...

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The biggest risk in hearing aid innovation is not dreaming too small, it’s shipping a promise that doesn’t survive real life. Starkey Sound Bites host, Dave Fabry, PhD, sits down with Dr. Maddie Olson, Starkey’s Manager of Clinical Product Research, to unpack how clinical research, verification, and product validation protect patients and providers when new hearing aid technology moves from the lab to the field. If you’ve ever wondered who makes sure a feature works on Tuesday afternoon in a noisy café, not just in a polished demo, this conversat...

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Auracast for Hearing Aids: What It Means for the Future

Chief Hearing Health Officer Dr. Dave Fabry sits down with Dr. Heike Heuermann, Starkey’s Vice President of Product Integration, to explore the transformational impact of Auracast™ assistant and Google Fast Pair™ on hearing technology. 

With more than two decades of experience across hearing science, engineering, systems design, and product management, Dr. Heuermann brings a unique holistic perspective on how cutting‑edge tech can reconnect people to the world around them. 

Together, Dave and Heike dive into: 

–...

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Reality TV star Gerry Turner gets real about hearing loss. After he proudly wore hearing aids while looking for love on national television, Turner says no one should be embarrassed to wear them. In this episode, he talks about how hearing aids have positively impacted his life and urges others with hearing loss to stop letting stigma get in the way of being connected to the ones they love.

Link to transcript

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At Starkey, our mission is to serve our customers better than anyone else. Our team answers 2,000 calls a day within five seconds. Those calls are answered by a live voice, and our operators know most of our customers by name. In this episode, Starkey’s Chief Customer Officer Chris Van Guilder explains why these statistics are so important for the success of our business, and why it’s important for hearing care providers to make customer service a priority for their patients.

Link to full transcript

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Rockstar legend Alice Cooper is back on tour and not letting hearing loss get in his way. He talks with Dave about how hearing loss is an unfortunate reality for many professional musicians — particularly rockers from his generation — and shares stories from his long and storied career, including working with Johnny Depp and Paul McCartney. A proud wearer of “clearing aids,” Alice encourages young musicians to put their hearing first and not let the stigma of hearing aids and hearing protection be a barrier to better hearing health.  

To learn more about Sta...

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As up-and-coming NASCAR driver William Sawalich prepares for his first Xfinity race, he sits down with Dave and his dad, Brandon, to talk about his racing career and why he’s passionate about hearing protection, especially at his young age. It’s a loud sport, and as we observe Protect Your Hearing Month this October, we hope this episode offers motivation to make hearing protection a priority. 

To learn more about Starkey’s industry-leading hearing protection product, SoundGear, visit SoundGear.com.

Link to full transcript.

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Starkey’s latest hearing technology has arrived! Chief Technology Officer and EVP of Engineering Achin Bhowmik, Ph.D., sits down with Dave to share what excites him most about Edge AI. The highlights include: 30% more accuracy at identifying speech, 6 dB additional reduction in low-level noise, and 100 times the processing power, all while maintaining Starkey’s industry-leading 51 hours of battery life. Tune in for a deep dive that explains why this technology gives patients and professionals the edge they've been looking for.

To learn more about Edge AI, visit StarkeyPro.com

Li...

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Research shows people with mild hearing loss are three times more likely to have a history of falling than peers with normal hearing. In this episode, during National Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Dave chats with Dr. Patricia Gaffney, an audiologist with a specialty in vestibular diagnostics and treatment. They talk about emerging research, as well as the important role hearing professionals can play in helping their patients prevent falls.

As the only hearing aid manufacturer with fall detection and alerts built into our hearing aids, this is a topic we are...

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Loud noises are part of the job for first responders, but protecting their hearing is tricky because they must always maintain situational awareness. In this episode, a 40-year law enforcement veteran talks about the importance of hearing protection, and how SoundGear has been a game changer for the Arizona State University police department.  

To learn more about SoundGear, visit www.SoundGear.com.

Link to full transcript

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As Starkey’s R&D team celebrates nearly 300 years of collective work experience in the field of artificial intelligence, Dave sits down with Starkey’s Vice President of Advanced Development, Amit Shahar. They talk about Starkey’s journey to becoming the industry-leader in AI and DNN, including the strategic decision to establish a global R&D presence, with key operations in Tel Aviv, Israel. They also chat about their visions and predictions for the future of hearing aids. If you love a conversation that goes deep into the weeds on technology and how it’s d...

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In this episode, we turn the tables on our host, Dave Fabry. For the first time, Dr. Fabry finds himself on the other side of the Sound Bites microphone, to take our listeners on a deep dive into Starkey’s industry-leading hearing technology. From artificial intelligence (AI) to deep neural networks (DNN), learn how this technology is making life better for patients and how hearing professionals can take small steps toward implementing it into their practices. Hearing Matters host Doug Beck guest hosts this special episode of Sound Bites.

To learn mo...

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Three up-and-coming hearing healthcare professionals share their thoughts on the future of the industry and what excites them the most about it. Recorded during Starkey University week on the Starkey campus, Dave talks with Andrew Setrum, Janna Hines Orr, Hailey Kingsbury and Starkey’s own Cassie Billiet. We encourage hearing healthcare professionals of any age to take a listen and be reminded about what inspired you to get involved in this industry. You can also learn about more Starkey learning opportunities at StarkeyPro.com.

Link to full transcript.

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Dr. Sheryl Figliano shares easy, yet powerful, ways for hearing health providers to improve patient experiences and drive better business outcomes. One of her tips was a lightbulb moment for many private practitioners attending Starkey’s CEO Circle earlier this year. In this episode, Dave gets the inside scoop, as well as her thoughts on helping patients get on board with new technology, including artificial intelligence in hearing aids.

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In this summer rerun of one of our more popular episodes, Dave interviews Dr. Seth Dobrin, an expert in artificial intelligence (AI) and a hearing aid user. They discuss Dr. Dobrin's journey to getting hearing aids, the stigma associated with hearing loss, and the positive impact that hearing aids have had on his life. They also delve into the topic of AI, including the potential benefits and challenges it presents.

Dr. Dobrin emphasizes the importance of responsible AI and human-centric design, particularly in the context of healthcare and the workforce. He...

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In this special episode, we're celebrating a big milestone. Starkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich is marking 30 years in the hearing industry this month. To commemorate the anniversary, Dave asked Brandon 30 questions—one for each year he's dedicated to this field. Brandon shares insights from his experience across various roles within Starkey, all of which have given him a comprehensive understanding of the industry.

They also chat about some groundbreaking Starkey moments. Under Brandon’s leadership, Starkey pioneered the incorporation of integrated sensors and was the first to utilize artificial intelligence and...

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World-renowned tinnitus research scientist Dr. James Henry shares key insights from decades of testing and validating methods for evaluation and management. His work at the Veterans Health Administration has played a pivotal role in identifying tinnitus relief for veterans, which is the number one service-related disability. Listen in as Dr. Henry offers practical tips for anyone suffering from tinnitus and his thoughts on what the future of treatment may hold.  

To learn more about Starkey’s tinnitus treatment options, go to www.StarkeyPro.com

Link to full episode transcript here...

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Let’s dive into the world of fitting formulas! In this episode, Dave chats with Dr. Andrea Hannan Dawkes, a Starkey expert who frequently trains professionals on best practices. They discuss how fitting formulas have changed over the years, why they’re important for patient satisfaction, proprietary fitting formulas, and the benefits of Starkey’s own Pro Fit fitting software. Hope you enjoy!  

Link to the full episode transcript here.

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In this episode of the SoundBites podcast, host Dave Fabry compiles answers from various guests to three personal questions about hearing. The first question asks what sound the guests would miss the most if they couldn't hear their best. Answers range from the sound of heels clicking on tile to children's laughter and the music of family. The second question asks for memorable moments or events where sound played a key role, with responses including performing on stage, hearing the bugling of an elk, and the sound of birds in the morning. The...

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Join us for the continuation of our insightful conversation with Dr. Gyl Kasewurm, a seasoned audiologist and business owner with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Kasewurm shares her wealth of knowledge on all things audiology and business, discussing the evolution of technology, patient care, and key performance indicators (KPIs) essential for building a successful practice.

In the latest Sound Bites podcast, Dr. Kasewurm and Dr. Dave Fabry delve into the significance of KPIs beyond just help rate, exploring how small changes in business strategies can yield significant results. They emphasize the...

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In this episode of Starkey SoundBites, Dr. Dave Fabry interviews Dr. Gyl Kasewurm, a renowned audiologist and small business owner. They discuss the challenges of running a small business in the hearing care industry and the importance of providing excellent patient care. Dr. Kasewurm shares her experiences and insights on building a successful practice, including the need to focus on patient satisfaction and the importance of measuring outcomes.

Dr. Gyl emphasizes the value of technology in improving patient outcomes and the need for practitioners to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements...

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In a special episode of Starkey Soundbites, we welcome two hearing aid industry legends: Starkey's founder and chairman, Bill Austin, and Karl Strom, Editor-in-Chief of Hearing Tracker, for an enlightening discussion hosted by Dr. Dave Fabry. The episode outlines the journey of innovation that led hearing aids to have all of the remarkable capabilities they have today and recounts the transition from custom-made hearing aids to digital hearing aids, and to today’s devices that offer a range of beneficial features for overall health monitoring and connectivity.  

After more than six decades i...

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Dr. Dave Fabry and Dr. Sara Burdak discuss the recent updates and features released by Starkey. They talk about the advancements in AI and DNN, particularly the evolution of Edge Mode into Edge Mode+, which is now automatic and dynamically adjusts to different listening environments. They also discuss improvements in connectivity, including asynchronous remote programming and direct linking for easier and more convenient adjustments.

Additionally, they highlight the new Signature Series, which includes the world's smallest rechargeable CIC and the implementation of Edge Mode in non-wireless CIC models. They emphasize the...

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During Tinnitus Awareness Week, Dave dives into the topic with a Starkey subject matter expert: Dr. Jamie Hand. While you may be aware that veterans experience higher rates of tinnitus than the general public, you may be surprised to learn another group is at high risk -- dentists and dental hygienists. Dr. Hand talks about the findings of a study she conducted that show the need for hearing protection and hearing screenings within this profession. She and Dave also talk about treatment for ringing in the ears, red flags for both patients and...

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In this episode of Starkey SoundBites, Dr. Dave Fabry, Starkey's Chief Hearing Health Officer, interviews Dr. Kristy Lowery, Audibel's Director of Clinical Operations, about the importance of hearing aid accessories. They discuss how accessories can enhance the benefits of hearing aids and provide specific examples of how accessories like the TV Streamer, Table Mic, Remote Control, and Remote Mic can improve the listening experience in various situations. They emphasize the need for clinicians to recommend accessories to their patients, as they can significantly improve their hearing journey!  

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Dr. K. Renee Horton, a NASA scientist, author, and hearing aid wearer, discusses her experience with hearing loss and the impact of wearing her new Starkey Genesis hearing aids. She shares that she initially resisted wearing hearing aids when she was diagnosed with hearing loss at a younger age due to stigma and concerns about how others would view her and her capabilities. However, after being fitted with the hearing aids, she was amazed at all the sounds she was missing. 

She also noticed improvements in her ability to hear and c...

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In this episode of Starkey SoundBites, host Dave Fabry interviews Brandon Sawalich, the president and CEO of Starkey, about the future of the hearing industry. Sawalich reflects on the advancements in technology in 2023 and discusses the importance of patient-driven care in 2024. He emphasizes the role of hearing professionals in providing personalized service and highlights the need for continued investment in oneself and the adoption of new products and technologies. Sawalich also addresses the impact of over-the-counter hearing aids and the future of private practice. He concludes by discussing the potential of Bluetooth low...

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Have you questioned your understanding of the hearing care professional's journey with their patients? Join us as we delve into this intricate journey with Michael Tease, Chief Retail Officer for Audibel. We explore how each professional's commitment to their patients leads to life-altering improvements in hearing loss treatments. Michael shares how his diverse background, spanning from law to the hearing aid industry, as well as his family history of hearing impairment, shaped his understanding of hearing loss and the dedicated professionals treating it.The conversation also dives into how retail strategies are revolutionizing...

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In this episode of Starkey Sound Bites, host Dr. Dave Fabry interviews Dr. Seth Dobrin, an expert in artificial intelligence (AI) and a hearing aid user. They discuss Dr. Dobrin's journey to getting hearing aids, the stigma associated with hearing loss, and the positive impact that hearing aids have had on his life. They also delve into the topic of AI, including the potential benefits and challenges it presents.

Dr. Dobrin emphasizes the importance of responsible AI and human-centric design, particularly in the context of healthcare and the workforce. He predicts...

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Ever wondered how hearing aid software products are developed and improved based on user feedback? Dr. Dave Fabry talks to Laura Woodworth, Principal Product Manager at Starkey, about her journey in working to create Starkey’s Pro Fit fitting software. Laura's story starts from her time in speech pathology, transitions into a clinical fellowship year at Starkey, and lands into her current role focused on creating the best fitting software in the industry.    We dig deep into the fascinating process of developing Pro Fit, a software that marries feedback from customers and stakeholders. Laura...

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This episode promises a deep understanding of the intricacies behind Starkey's operations, straight from the voice of our Chief Sales Officer, Jeff Geigel. We navigate the European landscape discussing Starkey's growing presence in markets like France and Germany. Listen as we share our experiences from the significant annual European Congress (EUHA), an event that allows us to connect with partners, employees, and customers to showcase how we prioritize patients in our daily operations.Here's a fascinating fact about the current hearing aid landscape - customer expectations show intriguing variations across different regions. Jeff...

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Join us on a unique journey as we chat with Derek Johnson, the man behind the Insta-famous duck, Ben Afquack. Derek's not your typical IT professional - he's leveraged his creative flair and duck-loving passion to make serious waves on social media. If you've ever wondered how to cut through the noise and stand out in the crowded digital landscape, Derek's story is sure to inspire. The secret sauce? Authenticity, a consistent theme, and quality content. We discuss how these elements can help you build a strong following on social media, whether you're p...

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Strap in for an adrenaline-charged dialogue with up-and-coming race car driver, 16-year-old William Sawalich. He's not just about speed and precision on the track, but also an animal lover, drum enthusiast, and an advocate for hearing health and hearing protection. William shares his journey from racing quarter midgets and Legend Cars to stepping into the fast-paced ARCA Series, all while delving into the significance of hearing health in his journey.The conversation takes an exciting turn as we discuss the art of balancing communication with noise exposure with his crew, which is a...