“There are many people who do not know that they have a hearing loss,” said Venkatraman, 54.
Toan Phan, manager of production, works on final hearing aid assembly after the shell was computer modeled and 3D printed that same day at Starkey Headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn. on Thursday. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Dr. Catherine Palmer, a former president of the American Academy of Audiology, said the Apple technology is useful for people who don’t have access to an audiologist. “Anything that calls attention to the negative result of untreated hearing loss … and provides accurate information is a win,” Palmer said in an email to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Sawalich, the Starkey CEO, agrees. Sitting at a conference table at the company’s Eden Prairie headquarters on Thursday, he clapped when asked for his thoughts on the technology. It prompted people to address their hearing problems and ask for help, he said.
European companies dominate the hearing aid market, with four of the “Big Five” industry leaders based there. Starkey, which has 5,000 employees and 29 facilities around the world, is the only one based in the United States — it was founded in Hopkins, and is headquartered in Eden Prairie today.
“Prices for traditional hearing aids are out of reach for a lot of people, and they don’t understand why it costs several thousands of dollars to buy a traditional hearing aid,” said Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical, a Minnesota-based company that makes fully implantable hearing systems. “Now, you’ll be able to buy [AirPods Pro] for a couple of hundred dollars, program it on your phone, and really get a benefit.”
Competitors sacrifice quality for price, Sawalich said. “Not Starkey,” he added.
