EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA – Starkey is aiming to redefine what hearing aids can do with the world’s first balance assessment feature embedded directly into the device. In recognition of National Falls Prevention Awareness, Starkey is highlighting the critical link between hearing loss and increased fall risk and how advanced hearing technology can play a life-saving role.
“By embedding motion sensors and AI into our hearing aids, we’ve developed tools that extend well beyond traditional amplification,” said Sara Burdak, Au.D., Chief Audiology Officer and Executive Vice President of Product Strategy at Starkey.
“These devices can assess balance, detect falls, and provide meaningful data that supports overall health. Because hearing loss is linked to both increased fall risk and accelerated cognitive decline, addressing these factors through advanced hearing technology allows clinicians to play a more proactive role in safeguarding patients’ long-term health and independence.”
The balance assessment feature is modeled on the CDC’s STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) initiative. It incorporates a 12-question screening and functional assessments of gait, strength, and balance, all administered through the hearing aid. This addition builds on Starkey’s fall detection technology, developed to address one of the leading health concerns for older adults.
“Our goal has always been to transform hearing aids into health and wellness devices,” Burdak added. “With these innovations, we can help identify fall risk early, long before an emergency room visit.”
To learn more about Starkey’s falls prevention features, check out the video below with Dr. Justin Burwinkel, Senior Research Audiologist at Starkey.
Source: Starkey
