Eden Prairie, Minnesota (31 July 2023) – In continuation of the global partnership made between Starkey and Special Olympics International, Starkey Cares was proud to serve as the exclusive global supplier of hearing instruments for the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing program at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. Taking place 17 – 25 June, Healthy Hearing and Starkey Cares served over 2,200 athletes with hearing screenings and fit more than 250 athletes with free hearing aids during the nine-day event.
“Witnessing some of these athletes hear for the first time in their lives was a remarkable experience,” said Michael Scholl, Executive VP of Corporate Relations at Starkey. “Starkey’s purpose is to build caring products that connect people through better hearing, and this partnership is part of fulfilling that purpose. When you reconnect someone with the world around them, the possibilities are limitless.”
At the World Games, Starkey provided personalized hearing aids with the help of partners like Dreve, who fit more than 50 Special Olympics athletes with custom ear molds. As athletes returned home following the Games, they have the opportunity for follow-up care from a hearing professional in their community thanks to Starkey’s hearing health partners across the globe.
The partnership between Starkey Cares and Special Olympics International has already helped thousands of athletes with hearing loss around the world through access to hearing health care and technology. Starkey will continue to be an exclusive partner at Special Olympics signature events, in addition to providing hearing care and hearing aids to athletes at many regional events across the United States.