HH/Beck: Hi Megan, it is a pleasure to meet you. Ive heard a lot about you.
MH: Thanks Dr. Beck, nice to meet you too.
HH/Beck: I understand that you have an interesting story about your hearing loss and your hearing aids?
MH: Yes, I think so.
HH/Beck: OK. If you dont mind, why dont you go ahead, and Ill sit here quietly and let you tell your story.
MH: Well, I have a friend named Nevada, and she used to live in Illinois, which is where I live. We were best friends our whole lives. Anyway, Nevada moved to Texas, and when she phoned me, I couldnt understand her on the phone. It was really bad.
I had to have my mom speak to her and tell me what she was saying. Anyway, it was really hard for me to hear her, and it was really hard for me to hear most people unless I was right there, face-to-face with them. So, Nevada somehow learned that Starkey was the biggest hearing aid company and she wrote a note to them asking if they could help me.
I didnt know a thing about the letter - it was a total surprise to me. Nevada was 7 years old when she wrote it and her mom let her do it, but her mom also told her not to expect a response! Nevada mailed the letter and she told her mom she knew something good was going to happen. And it did!
HH/Beck: Did you ever find out what the letter said?
MH: Yes, I found out later. The letter said Nevada had a friend in Illinois that needed new hearing aids because she couldnt hear on the phone and her mom couldnt afford them. Of course the friend she was talking about was me!
HH/Beck: So what happened after she wrote the letter to Starkey?
MH: Well its funny. It was Christmas Eve, 1996, and Bill Austin, the man that owns Starkey, got the letter on his desk. He called Nevada and spoke with her and her mom, and he also called our house and spoke with my mom. My mom had no idea what was going on. She had never heard of Starkey or Bill Austin and it was totally weird. But she listened to him and then she told me what he said. Mr. Austin said he would fly us up to Minneapolis and he was going to give me a set of hearing aids. My mom was crying and laughing and crying -- it was really neat! After Mr. Austin hung up, Nevadas mom called our house too, we couldnt believe what was going on.
HH/Beck: Wow. That is amazing. So Mr. Austin flew you to Minneapolis?
MH: Yes. And he flew Nevada to Minneapolis too. We got to see each other there and it was fantastic. I got new hearing aids that same day and then we also got to meet Miss America, which was Heather Whitestone at that time. It was really an amazing situation. She is so nice! We also got to meet her husband and he was very nice too.
HH/Beck: And now you just received another new pair of hearing aids from Mr. Austin?
MH: Yes, I did. I got a new pair of digital CICs (completely-in-the-canals) and they are wonderful! These have a much better sound than the old BTEs (behind-the-ears) because I can talk on the phone and the new hearing aids dont whistle. Also, I dont need to read the captions on TV any more because I can actually hear all the words.
HH/Beck: Megan, what about noisy situations? Any changes with the new hearing aids?
MH: Yes. I noticed on the plane, I could hear my mom and the flight attendant much better, even with the noise from the jet engines. In noisy places with lots of people, I really like the digitals better because the sound is clearer. Another cool thing is that when the battery starts to die on the new ones, they beep at you and so you get a battery warning before the battery totally poops out.
HH/Beck: Megan, what grade are you in?
MH: Im in 8th grade now. Im an honor roll student and a cheer leader.
HH/Beck: Megan, I hate to ask this next question, and I know you must hate to answer it, but because Im an adult -- its a rule that I have to ask! Can you tell me what you want to be when you grow up?
MH: I want to be a psychiatrist.
HH/Beck: Well thats an interesting career choice. Good for you. I wish you all the best in your academic and personal pursuits and it really has been a pleasure meeting you.
MH: Thanks Dr. Beck.
Click here to visit the Starkey website.
