Did you know veterans are 30 percent more likely to have hearing loss than non-veterans? That statistic, and the people impacted by it, are what drive Starkey’s commitment as a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company to support those who served our country, active-duty military and their families.
It’s also personal for me. My grandfather, Mick Sawalich, enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Hearing his stories is a constant reminder to me of the sacrifice of all our nation’s veterans, current servicemen and servicewomen.
Today, as President and CEO of Starkey, I carry his memory with me and thank the service members who have given so much for our country. As the only American-owned hearing aid technology company, Starkey is proud to raise awareness of veterans’ hearing health and provide support to them and their families.
The Importance of Veterans’ Hearing Health
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2.7 million veterans are affected by hearing loss or tinnitus. Men and women serving our country are often exposed to loud noise, which is the number one cause of tinnitus.
Lt. Col. Dustin Snare, Director of Sales Operations for Government Services at Starkey, knows firsthand what veterans and the VA need through his experience. It begins with hearing health education.
“A lot of these folks don’t realize how bad they have it or the continuous repercussions of being exposed to that,” Snare said on our Starkey Sound Bites podcast. “Now, we understand these acute, little damage points throughout your military career build up over time.”
If they’re experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, veterans deserve an easy and reliable hearing experience, but there’s still stigma associated with hearing aids. It’s an invisible challenge, and veterans often struggle to ask for help.
“Nobody wants to admit there’s something they have an issue with,” Snare said. “Take care of yourself so you can be an active member in your life.”
Veterans know freedom isn’t free, and they deserve the best hearing care in the world for their sacrifices. They did their part; now we’re here to help.
Starkey Cares for Veterans
The support doesn’t end with hearing technology.
Starkey Cares is our corporate social responsibility program and one of the ways we put our values into action. Through it, we support military-connected families and veterans, recognizing those who have served our country and the sacrifices they and their families have made.
Our employees regularly give back through efforts like Flags for Fort Snelling, writing cards for hospitalized veterans and other service projects. Each year, we treat a group of veterans to a VIP Vikings game day experience at U.S. Bank Stadium to thank them for their service.
It’s also important that we honor and celebrate our own team members who served or have a loved one who is serving or has served, recognizing the unique sacrifices they make.
We’re proud to be recognized as a organization, reflecting our commitment to supporting service members, veterans and their families both in the workplace and our communities.
From access to care to moments of appreciation, our commitment to the military community is woven into who we are at Starkey, and I’m proud of the support we provide so veterans can hear better and live better.
