Press room

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (September 19, 2025) – Starkey has released a powerful new episode of Sound Bites, featuring Emmy Award–winning journalist and Alzheimer’s advocate Karla Hult, founder of So Many Goodbyes. In a deeply personal conversation with Starkey’s Chief Hearing Health Officer, Dr. Dave Fabry, Hult opens up about her family’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease and her own experience with hearing loss.

The episode underscores the growing body of evidence connecting untreated hearing loss to an increased risk of dementia—a topic gaining particular attention during World Alzheimer’s Month. Hult, who lost her father to Alzheimer’s after a long and difficult battle, reflects on the emotional toll dementia takes on families and shares practical steps for reducing risk factors, including hearing health.

“Hearing aids don’t cure dementia, but they can help preserve connection, quality of life, and even slow the progression of cognitive decline,” said Dr. Fabry. “This conversation with Karla is powerful because it blends science with real-life experience.”

By bringing together expert insight and a compelling personal story, this episode of Sound Bites reinforces Starkey’s commitment to raising awareness about hearing health as a critical component of overall wellness and cognitive care.

The episode is now available on Starkey’s YouTube page. Click here to watch.

About Starkey
Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development, and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.