Health for Union Members
SPRING HILL, Tenn.—Start Hearing and SoundGear, divisions of Starkey, and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), announce a new partnership aimed at addressing hearing health issues among union members, particularly those who spend much of their time outside and in loud work environments.
This collaboration brings together Starkey’s innovative hearing technology with the USA’s mission to unite the union community through conservation and the great outdoors. The partnership offers USA members discounts of up to 48 percent on Start Hearing (hearing aids) as well as substantial discounts on SoundGear (hearing protection) products.
“Our goal is to help as many people as possible by partnering with organizations whose members face a higher risk of hearing loss—such as those in the trades and outdoor enthusiasts,” said Starkey’s Chief Business Officer Michael Scholl. “By prioritizing prevention and early intervention, we can make a lasting impact on hearing health.”
Start Hearing products feature numerous hearing aid models, many of which are virtually invisible. Features include Bluetooth compatibility with streaming capabilities, fall detection and GPS locator, rechargeable 51-hour battery, and language translation features. Start Hearing has a national network of more than 3,000 providers to serve USA members throughout their hearing journey from hearing protection to hearing aids and services. SoundGear is Starkey’s line of advanced hearing protection products, offering both active and passive options tailored for various work and recreational environments.
“The most exciting innovation—and what people are most interested in—is active hearing protection,” said Scholl. For example, the SoundGear Phantom is a custom-molded, Bluetooth-enabled earpiece that blocks harmful noise from gunshots, power tools, and heavy equipment while still allowing clear speech and maintaining situational awareness.
“We work with many veterans and law enforcement officers who are hesitant to wear hearing aids or traditional protection because they need to stay aware of their surroundings. The same goes for workers on job sites. With older technology like foam earplugs, wearers lose situational awareness. Active hearing protection offers the best of both worlds—protecting hearing without compromising awareness.”
Through the new partnership, participants at USA shooting events will have the opportunity to win SoundGear Shield active hearing protection.
“Safety is always a top priority when we run our USA shoots,” said USA Events Manager Chris Piltz. “Using proper hearing protection is essential, and SoundGear products are the best in the business.”
“I wear them [SoundGear products] when I’m hunting and shooting, and they are excellent,” says Kenneth W. Cooper, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “At first, I never wore hearing protection on the job. Nobody did. But these products save your hearing and allow you to hear what’s going on around you. I think it could be a real game changer to the craftsman on the job site.”
“Hearing protection is very important and sometimes overlooked, especially when mentoring youth,” said USA CEO & Executive Director Walt Ingram. “As a turkey hunter, I know the ability to hear well is essential. I just wish I had taken better care of my hearing. We are very excited to partner with Start Hearing to provide our members with discounts on hearing aids and hearing protection to protect and improve their hearing and quality of life.”
Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA): The USA is a union-dedicated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members hunt, fish, shoot and volunteer their skills for conservation. The USA is uniting the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage. For more information, visit unionsportsmen.org or connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Starkey: Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development, and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Starkey is committed to transforming lives through the gift of hearing.
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