In his newest blog written exclusively for Starkey, Justin Osmond (who was born with a severe-to-profound hearing loss and has been wearing hearing aids since he was two years old) shares how wearing hearing aids has helped him stay connected to life’s best moments with family and friends—his “valentines.”
Valentine’s Day usually gets wrapped up in hearts, flowers, and romantic dinners. And don’t get me wrong—I love a good excuse for chocolate. But as I’ve gotten older, Valentine’s has come to mean something a little bigger to me. It’s about all the people who hold my heart: my beautiful wife, my kids, my parents, my friends…my whole crew of “valentines.”
And surprisingly, one of the biggest things that’s helped me stay connected to all of them? My hearing aids.
Wearing hearing aids hasn’t just helped me hear better…it’s helped me to love better.
Love lives in the little sounds
So much of connection lives in sound. The way my wife laughs at her own jokes. My kids talking a mile a minute about their day. My parents’ voices on the phone that still feel comforting no matter how old I get. Friends calling my name across a room. These are small moments, but they’re the moments that make life feel full.
Before, I caught parts of conversations. Now, I get to be part of them.
Hearing aids didn’t just turn up the volume on sound—they turned up the volume on belonging.
Less “what?” and more real talk
Let’s be honest: Constantly asking people to repeat themselves gets exhausting—for everyone. Wearing hearing aids has taken a lot of that pressure off. I’m not guessing what was said or smiling politely at the wrong moment anymore. I’m actually present. I can jump into conversations, catch the jokes, and follow the stories from beginning to end. That alone has deepened my relationships in ways I didn’t fully expect.
Showing up feels easier
When you can hear better, you show up differently. You’re more relaxed. More confident. More engaged. I don’t feel as drained after social gatherings because I’m not working overtime trying to piece together conversations. I can just be there—with my people. And that makes every relationship—romantic, family, or friendship—feel lighter and more connected.
A different kind of Valentine’s gift
This Valentine’s Day, I’m feeling grateful for the technology that helps me hear the people I love more clearly. It’s not flashy like roses or romantic like candlelight, but it’s something that shows up for me every single day. It helps me hear “I love you,” “I missed you,” “Tell me about your day,” and all the ordinary moments in between.
And honestly? Those are the moments that matter most.
Because love isn’t just seen.
It’s heard.
And being able to hear it clearly? That’s something worth celebrating.
So, here’s to all our “valentines”—the ones we’re born into, the ones we choose, and the ones who make life louder, warmer, and fuller in the best way.
You can follow Justin Osmond on Facebook at JAOsmond; on Instagram at justin_osmond; on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinosmond/ or at his website www.justinosmond.com
This blog reflects the opinions and experiences of a Starkey hearing aid wearer. They were aware that this blog would be used by Starkey and have been compensated as a partner of Starkey.