Start Hearing and SoundGear—divisions of Starkey Laboratories—have partnered with the NRA to promote hearing health, safety and protection among members. The collaboration brings together Starkey’s innovative hearing technology and provides NRA members access to an exclusive discount on Start Hearing’s advanced hearing aids and special discounts on SoundGear’s hearing protection.
“Our goal is to support individuals at greater risk of hearing loss—whether they’re hunters, sport shooters, or workers in high-noise environments,” said Michael Scholl, chief business officer at Starkey. “By prioritizing prevention, education, and access to innovative technology, we can make a lasting impact on hearing health.”
Start Hearing’s hearing aids feature Bluetooth streaming, rechargeable 51-hour battery life, fall detection, GPS locator and language translation capabilities. SoundGear’s active and passive solutions are designed for clarity and safety. The company’s Phantom is a custom-molded, Bluetooth-enabled earpiece that blocks harmful noise while allowing speech and situational awareness—making it ideal for shooters, law enforcement and job site workers.
“Many veterans, law enforcement officers, and shooting enthusiasts hesitate to use traditional hearing protection because they need to stay aware of their surroundings,” Scholl added. “SoundGear’s active technology offers the best of both worlds—protecting hearing without compromising awareness.”
Starkey has been a key player in the hearing health industry since 1967, the year William Austin established Professional Hearing Aid Service in St. Louis Park, Minn. Four years later he purchased Starkey Laboratories, a fledgling firm that specialized in ear molds. Both companies operated under the Starkey name afterward.
By 1975, demand was so great the company moved operations to a bigger facility in Eden Prairie, Minn. The next year Starkey opened a subsidiary in England, followed by more in Canada, Germany and France.
President Ronald Regan was fitted with hearing aids from the company in 1983 and the Starkey Hearing Foundation was established in 1984. Today, the company is considered one of the foremost in the industry.
NRA members are encouraged to visit the NRA Hearing Benefits webpage to learn more about the partnership and money savings available—up to 60 percent in some cases.
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