Listen Carefully Stands Up for Skateparks

The grass was still damp from the overnight dew as the Starkey Hearing Foundation team marched onto an expansive lawn ready to spread the Listen Carefully message at Tony Hawk Foundation’s 11th Annual Stand Up for Skateparks. We laid out hearing protection, brochures, stickers, and bags, and our booth was soon awash in pops of bright orange from Listen Carefully wristbands piled high in baskets and soft picnic blankets rolled out under the shade of umbrellas.

Longtime supporters, Christopher Massey and Kyle Massey, were on hand throughout the day. They helped keep our booth lively, passing out blankets and bags, sharing stories from their multiple hearing mission adventures, and encouraging everyone to Listen Carefully.

By noon, the crowds started wandering in and their curiosity piqued when they walked by. “What are those?” many asked, pointing to a basket full of black plastic canisters. When guests discovered we were giving away hearing protection, their eyes lit up as they exclaimed:

“That’s awesome!”

“What a great idea!”

“I can definitely use these!”

Throughout the day, bands played on the stage and Tony Hawk and other skaters took turns riding the half pipe. We spied our hearing protection in the ears of so many people, especially those closest to the stage!

Further driving home the Listen Carefully message, our audiologists took music lovers and skaters through a unique sound experience. With headphones on, our customized iPad app played a series of recognizable skateboarding sounds, but when the sound was adjusted to simulate various levels of hearing loss, their faces turned from excitement to concern. We utilized this opportunity to share the importance of hearing protection, especially among children and teenagers, who are experiencing hearing loss sooner than their parents and grandparents. Today, one in eight kids has noise-induced hearing loss from high-volume sounds. Despite the facts, we shared the good news that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable, and guests walked away not only with hearing protection, but also an increased awareness for what their lives might sound like with hearing loss.

Before leaving our booth, guests paused in front of a large, empty banner that asked a simple question: What would you miss? They were asked to write the sound they would miss most if they lost their hearing. By the end of the day, the empty banner was transformed into a beautiful tribute to the power of hearing, and included sounds like ocean waves, the voice of loved ones, wind and music.

Although the entire afternoon was fun and festive, it was also loud! Music played, skaters sped down the half pipe, and announcements blared from loudspeakers. It was an ideal opportunity to spread the message of hearing loss prevention at an amazing event benefiting a wonderful cause.