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

Hosted by Starkey

Technology Health Fitness Education

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Being a successful hearing care professional requires balancing a passion for helping people hear with the day-to-day needs of running a small business.In every episode of Starkey Sound Bites, Dr. Dave Fabry — Starkey’s Chief Health Officer and an audiologist with 40-years of experience in the hearing industry — talks to industry insiders, business experts and hearing aid wearers to dig into the latest trends, technology and insights hearing care professionals need to keep their clinics thriving and patients hearing their best. If better hearing is your passion and profession, you won’t want to miss Starkey Sound Bites.

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August 13, 202626 min

A Veteran Audiologist On Tinnitus And The Human Side Of Care

Send us Fan Mail 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 him beyond “matching target” into tinnitus management and aural rehabilitation. We get honest about why tinnitus is so emotionally loaded, why cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus became a turning point, and why many “miracle” sound solutions never delivered a cure. We also talk about what still frustrates clinicians and patients alike: uneven adoption of speech-in-noise testing and real ear measures, counseling that sounds scripted, and the lack of consistent follow-up that could prevent many problems before they snowball. From bimodal stimulation to brain-wave driven algorithms, we explore what might be next and what should never be outsourced. AI can streamline fitting and tracking, but it cannot replace empathy, clinical judgment, and the skill of engaging patients so they actually practice, participate, and improve at home. If you care about patient-centered audiology, tinnitus counseling, and better long-term hearing aid outcomes, this conversation will leave you with practical ideas and a clearer view of what “fitting the brain” really means. If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with someone who cares about better hearing, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

July 11, 20267 min

What Is Auracast? The Future of Bluetooth Audio for Hearing Aids

Send us Fan Mail 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 public announcement systems, while receivers can include hearing aids , earbuds, headphones, speakers, and other hearing instruments. Then the locations: deployments are already showing up across countries, and we talk about the momentum that turns a cool feature into something you can actually rely on when you step into a venue. From sports bars and gyms with multiple TVs to any place with a sound system, broadcast audio opens up choice and clarity for everyone, not just a small subset of users. We also share where to look for Auracast location profiles, plus how locations can register so the map gets easier for professionals and everyday listeners to use. Along the way, we connect the dots to hearing accessibility, the limits of older approaches like telecoils, and how making assistive listening mainstream can help reduce stigma for people who need support but avoid “medical” feeling gear. If you care about Bluetooth LE Audio, assistive listening technology, hearing aids, and the future of accessible public audio, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who struggles in noisy venues, and leave a review with the first place you want Auracast to show up next.

July 6, 202622 min

Auracast Explained: How Bluetooth LE Audio Is Transforming Hearing Aids and Accessibility

Send us Fan Mail 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 hearing aids • The benefits of Bluetooth LE Audio • Why Auracast is often described as "Wi-Fi for audio" • Real-world applications in airports, gyms, stadiums, places of worship, and public venues • How Auracast can improve access to clear audio in noisy environments • The future of hearing accessibility and assistive listening technology • Resources for hearing care professionals looking to champion Auracast in their communities Whether you're a hearing healthcare provider, hearing aid user, technology enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of audio accessibility, this episode offers a practical look at a technology poised to reshape how people connect with sound.

June 11, 202632 min

Men’s Hearing Health: Athlete Tyson Gillies on Hearing Loss, Confidence & Omega AI

Send us Fan Mail 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 communication, performance, and overall well-being. You’ll also hear how today’s technology, including Starkey’s Omega AI hearing aids, is helping people stay connected, perform at their best, and protect long-term brain health. What you’ll learn: - Why men often ignore hearing loss symptoms - The link between hearing health and brain health - How hearing loss affects confidence and performance - The role of technology like Omega AI in daily life - Why hearing protection matters in loud environments like sports and concerts If you’re experiencing hearing challenges or know someone who is, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more insights on hearing health, innovation, and real stories that inspire better living.

May 28, 202637 min

Running A 31-Location Hearing Clinic Without Losing The Human Touch

Send us Fan Mail 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 cannot be commoditized in audiology and hearing healthcare, even with over-the-counter hearing aids and price pressure in the market: patient service, time, and relationships. We also get practical about what happens when someone tests and walks out, how follow-up works without a high-pressure sales feel, and why inviting a spouse or family member into the appointment often changes everything. On the technology side, we dig into modern hearing aids and fitting strategy, including Omega AI, Edge Mode+, DNN 360, and why many patients succeed with a simpler approach that starts with hearing better before getting lost in app features. We also address AI fatigue and privacy concerns, then explain how data logging helps clinicians personalize care by checking wear time and real-world listening environments. If you care about better hearing outcomes, better counseling, and building a practice that lasts, you will get a lot from this one. Subscribe, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more people can find better hearing care.

April 9, 202635 min

How Clinical Research Validates Hearing Aid Tech Before Launch

Send us Fan Mail 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 conversation is for you. We talk about what “validation” actually means: user requirements, regulatory expectations, safety and effectiveness, and proving meaningful benefit compared with what’s already on the market. Dr. Olson explains how Starkey recruits from a large participant database to find the right listeners for the right tests, and why trust and honest feedback are as critical as any instrument. We also explore how modern hearing aids have become full systems, including Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone app performance, and the growing need to consider the provider workflow, not just the signal processing. The conversation expands into hearing health and whole health, including balance, falls, and wellness research, plus how questionnaires can help connect hearing loss with outcomes like social isolation and depression. For clinicians, we dig into practical measures you can use now: APHAB, DOSO, Hearing Handicap Inventory, and QuickSIN for speech in noise. Dr. Olson also breaks down ecological momentary assessment and hearing aid data logging as tools to reduce recall bias and fine-tune fittings based on what patients actually experience, moment by moment. If this helped you think differently about audiology, clinical research, or hearing aid outcomes, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more hearing care pros can find it.

March 30, 202633 min

Auracast for Hearing Aids: What It Means for the Future

Send us Fan Mail 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: – How Auracast™ assistant works — Learn how this next‑generation broadcast audio technology allows a single sound source, like a TV, classroom, or place of worship, to stream high‑quality audio directly to multiple listeners at once. No accessories, no pairing hassles. – The end of pairing frustration — Heike explains how Google Fast Pair dramatically simplifies setup for Android users, creating seamless, automatic connectivity across phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and more. If you’re curious about where hearing technology is heading, especially around connectivity, accessibility, and audio personalization, this episode is packed with insights.

January 15, 2025Episode 8131 min

The Reality of Hearing Loss with a Reality TV Star

Send us Fan Mail 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

November 26, 2024Episode 8035 min

Why Customer Service Matters

Send us Fan Mail 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

November 12, 2024Episode 7928 min

Alice Cooper is Back on Tour and Rocking his Starkey Hearing Aids

Send us Fan Mail 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 Starkey hearing aids, visit Starkey.com Link to full transcript