There’s nothing quite like tradition to solidify the holidays in our hearts. Whether our annual big day involves a kitchen-island happy hour before the big feast or boardgames and takeout with our closest friends, holiday traditions lay the foundation for the moments we want to be present for, remember, and enjoy.
Think about what a significant role our hearing plays in our customs, both in how we experience them and how we remember them—everything from the sizzle of roast turkey to the cheerful tone of music to the merry buzz of conversation and laughter…and beyond. We can’t help but notice that all the “little” things we hear actually bring our traditions to life in a big way.
So, whether you’re thinking about treating your hearing loss or about how thankful you are that you have, let’s all take this Thanksgiving holiday to reflect on our cherished traditions and how hearing our best brings out the best in them.
Carefree communication
Connecting with loved ones is one of the essentials for bringing our beloved traditions to life. Whether we’re taking turns around the table sharing what we’re thankful for or comparing casserole recipes in the kitchen—the ability to participate in conversations not only helps us maintain our relationships with others but also feel recognition and joy within ourselves.
This is where Starkey’s latest hearing aids, Omega AI, should have a seat at the table. Ideal for gatherings, Omega AI are designed to intuitively detect speech and automatically adjust with outstanding sound, even when there’s background noise. Moreover, we can mingle from room to room, moment to moment, and Omega AI technology will ensure our hearing adapts as we go.
And with respect to faraway loved ones who can’t make it for the big day, don’t worry—it’s easier than ever to stay connected. We simply pair Omega AI with the My Starkey app, and we can stream calls or video chats straight through our devices.
Travel without the trouble
Venturing out to visit family or friends is a common holiday custom for many—and having hearing aids in tow (preferably in our ears) is a one-way ticket to safe and dare-we-say happy travels. During this busy time of year, they can take the work out of everything from hearing a ticket agent’s instructions to communicating needs to flight attendants.
Even better if we’re wearing Omega AI hearing technology—which can help us stay aware of important travel information at noisy airports through Auracast™ connectivity. Accessible by pairing our Omega AI hearing aids with the My Starkey app, Auracast allows us to seamlessly stream public broadcast announcements to our hearing aids with stellar clarity.
Holiday prep without a hitch
Half the fun of holidays like Thanksgiving is the tradition of preparation. While some may love putting their hearts into making signature dishes, others may find fulfillment in decorating their homes with autumnal décor. Better hearing helps us maintain the autonomy (and enjoyment) of doing either, beginning with safety:
Wearing hearing aids like Omega AI can help make sure we don’t miss important auditory cues, be it an approaching vehicle in the supermarket parking lot or an oven timer in the kitchen.
In fact, Omega AI are all about increasing awareness of our environment. As the first hearing aid with a built-in directionality system, it can intuitively detect speech (as mentioned), background noise, and motion—and then apply the best directionality patterns.
So, we not only can hear the sounds but also pinpoint where they are coming from—everything from the caterer ringing the doorbell to our spouse calling us from the next room to check out their centerpiece.
Big game, bigger enjoyment
For many, the custom of watching a “big game” on a big holiday only adds to the joy (well, provided the preferred team wins, right?) and togetherness of the celebration. With this tradition, wearing hearing Omega AI aids can be a gamechanger—particularly when we need the volume louder than everyone else and tire of asking to “turn it up.”
By pairing Omega AI hearing aids with a StarLink Edge TV Streamer, we can stream the game straight to our hearing aids plus customize the volume for our listening needs.
Furthermore, both devices use the Bluetooth® LE Audio streaming protocol which gives us seamless streaming and exceptional sound. So, we needn’t miss a second of big plays, broadcaster commentary, ball thuds, or team cheers.
But what if our “big game” tradition instead involves a deck of cards or a boardgame? Game on—with better hearing through Omega AI, there is no need for a “wing person” to repeat instructions or to skip conversations with teammates due to background enthusiasm among players and armchair spectators alike.
Even if we do suddenly find ourselves neck and neck with another player and the rest of the table goes wild, we’ve still got game with Edge Mode+ in our corner.
A proprietary feature of Omega AI that’s accessible through the My Starkey app, Edge Mode+ lets us zero in on speech in any challenging listening environment on demand. (So, we won’t even miss a moment of customary trash-talking with our opponent—just kidding!)
Giving back has never felt better
Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to not only express our gratitude but also to give back. And when we are able to hear and communicate, we feel more empowered to participate in social volunteer activities on the big day—for example, serving meals to community members in need or delivering food to the homebound.
We avoid the loneliness and isolation that hearing loss can bring and instead experience the rewards of building connections and making a difference.
In fact, Omega AI hearing aids can give us the confidence to partake in whichever holiday tradition we’d like, knowing they will be “with” us every step of the way: We can count on up to 51 hours of battery life, all-day comfort, and durability against drops and dunks.
Even if we have sound questions or concerns, Omega AI is still there for us, thanks to built-in Gen AI technology. Available through the My Starkey app, Gen AI allows us to request sound adjustments for our hearing aids using our voice—and receive them on the spot. We can also receive detailed answers to any questions we have, from “Can you set a reminder to call Jim to preheat the oven?”* to “How many feathers does an adult turkey have?”**
Better hearing brings gratitude
As we can see, better hearing helps us feel more gratitude for all of the moments that fill our Thanksgiving traditions with meaning and joy. And the best news? It doesn’t stop with the holidays.
Once you rediscover the gift of connection through hearing aids, you’ll find a reason to feel thankful you treated your hearing loss every day.
So, here’s to starting a new tradition of taking care of our hearing health today.