A rather unusual gift is helping one Hennepin County mental health worker hear the world around him. Late last year, Charlie, who asked not to be identified by his last name, was on the receiving end of Starkey's hearing aid giveaway through the Eden Prairie-based company's corporate social responsibility program, Starkey Cares.
Charlie, works with the county's Crisis Response Team, says his hearing loss journey began about eight years ago.
"I noticed that when I would talk on the phone, I would favor one ear. I would switch the phone back and forth because I was having hearing loss," Charlie said. "At that time I understood it to be I could hear better in one ear, and I didn't think much of that."
His hearing loss progressed and reached a tipping point as the COVID-19 forced him to work remotely.
"We weren't able to see people in the community so it was very important that I be able to hear people and it was very frustrating," added Charlie. "Sometimes I couldn't hear them or understand."
Charlie's journey took a turn late last year after Brandon Sawalich, the President and CEO of Starkey, posted a hearing aid giveaway to help those in need of hearing help who can't afford it.
“It’s who we are. I put a call out on my social media channels around the holidays last year asking to be connected to people who needed hearing help," Sawalich said. "One of our contractors at Starkey saw my post and told us about his friend Charlie."
Recognizing how Charlie's hearing loss impacted his already difficult job, Sawalich knew hearing aids would improve his life immensely.
"Charlie’s job is to help people during very difficult times in their lives, and it’s vital that he is able to establish a connection with them. Hearing loss was a barrier to that connection. When I heard Charlie’s story, I knew we needed to help. Hearing isn’t just one of the five senses, it’s our connection to the world around us."
Charlie, who had tried other hearing aids in the past, ended up getting fitted with brand new Starkey hearing aids and was immediately impressed with how they fit inside his ear.
"It's fitted in the shape of my inner-ear canal, that's made all the difference," Charlie said.
Along with improved hearing, the hearing aids also lifted his spirits.
"It gave me back a sense of self confidence because I would be dealing with a client and feel stressed out because I couldn't hear what they were saying and miss part of the conversation," he said. "You learn tricks to cover that up and maneuver through that, but it's still there and you know you're going through that. I can now hear my clients very clearly. The type of hearing loss I have is you miss certain words, or the beginning or ends of phrases. Now I can hear everything."
Sawalich believes Charlie's story, and many stories similar to his, is just one reason why Starkey Cares has become a fixture within his company.
“This program has evolved tremendously over the past three years. From ensuring those who need access to hearing healthcare resources get it, to initiatives that focus on the well-being of our employees. Starkey Cares puts caring at the core. This program is more than simply a CSR box to check; it’s who we are as an organization. Starkey Cares is Starkey, and this program has already impacted thousands of lives and will continue to impact lives for many years to come.”