Life is full of aha moments. Ian O'Malley's most profound aha happened just recently, after popping in a pair of hearing aids at the behest of his audiologist. For the first time I detected the slight rasp in my wife's voice, he says. During their 14 years of marriage the couple had shared so much, yet Ian was still missing out on one very important facet of their relationship the warm and fuzzy feelings evoked by the sound of a loved one's voice. It took a simple change of habit wearing hearing aids to deepen that emotional connection and for Ian to accept the reality of his hearing loss.
Signs of Decline
There were telltale signs of Ian's hearing decline. Even at the age of 30 I found myself asking people to repeat themselves way too often, he recalls. A prominent radio host in NYC at the time, instant replay at work had become a godsend. Ian considered these hearing challenges nothing more than minor inconveniences he could easily deal with. And he did. Quite well, in fact. His career flourished and life was good. The thought of wearing hearing aids never crossed his mind even well into his 40s until he met his soon-to-be-wife.
Concert Tip Off
Ironically, it was a rock concert that tipped her off to Ian's condition. For most of his career Ian had attended three to five concerts a week. It was part of the job, a fun part, but one that in hindsight had taken a toll on his hearing. My ears would ring for days afterward, says Ian, describing what he now knows was tinnitus a persistent ringing in the ears caused by noise exposure. He had always chalked it up to a harmless side effect that would fade after a day or two. He never really considered the long-term consequences. After attending a concert with his wife, his outlook changed.
She was shocked that I didn't wear earplugs, he says. Ian obliged and earplugs became a requisite from then on. Also part of the deal was an appointment with an audiologist. Conversations with Ian were tough at times. She thought that I either wasn't listening to her or that I was forgetting, Ian says. I certainly didn't want her to feel that either was happening, so I made an appointment. A hearing test confirmed hearing loss, mostly audio in the high-frequency range: Bingo! Precisely the range of most female voices. In the back of my mind I knew my hearing had declined, but I guess until I witnessed the impact it was having on loved ones, I wasn't willing to do something about it.
Overcoming the Stigma
Plus, Ian had to come to terms with the stigma associated with hearing aids. When I think of hearing aids, I immediately visualize a huge earpiece connected to a long cord of fishing line.' Why would I want to resign myself to wearing something so conspicuous when I can get by without them? Again, Ian's reluctance quickly turned into acceptance the second he was fitted with a pair. The slim, modern design of the hearing aids offered by his audiologist wasn't at all what he expected.
He also didn't expect his hearing to so vastly improve. The first thing I did was stand outside and just listen. The wind blowing through the trees, the birds chirping, the sounds were distinct and clear. Ian compares the experience to a plate of assorted food versus a stew where all sounds mix together and ingredients are hard to discern. The experience was fascinating, and one that Ian didn't want to lose. Pink Floyd, one of my favorite bands, definitely crossed my mind. I knew that with hearing aids I'd really be able to enjoy all the musical nuances and unique sound effects of their concert performances. I wish I would have gotten hearing aids 10 years ago!
Widex Gets it Just Right
Like many new experiences, the novelty can wear off over time. The longer he wore his first pair of hearing aids, the more he discovered elements of the design and functionality that weren't quite right. It's hard to express exactly what the issue was, I just felt that I needed something different, he reflects. Ian shared his reservations about his inaugural pair of hearing aids with his audiologist during a follow-up exam. She suggested he try a pair of Widex SmartRIC hearing aids. They turned out to be the perfect solution. Admittedly, when this journey began, I didn't know enough about hearing aid brands or technologies to ask the right questions, Ian says. The right choice for Ian came down to trial and error.
The Widex SmartRIC's superior directionality, reduced wind and touch noise, and improved battery life made a huge difference in the quality of Ian's hearing aid experience. My colleague and morning show host at the radio station had spoken highly of the Widex hearing aids she wears. I can understand why! Remember seeing HDTV for the first time? You could see the improvement over analog TV immediately. It's the same with the Widex SmartRIC hearing aids. The comparison to my original hearing aids and improvement of my hearing in general is remarkable. Ian isn't just hearing better; he's hearing sounds the way they were meant to be heard, with greater realism and dimension a tribute to the Widex SmartRIC's TruAcoustics technology.
The technology does such a good job, I usually just leave the hearing aids in Universal mode, Ian says. The hearing aid adjusts automatically to the environment, so everything sounds very natural. A setting that Ian does occasionally adjust via the Widex smartphone app is the equalizer, raising or lowering the bass and treble to his liking. During road trips he might also access the directional settings to focus on and emphasize audio coming from the left or right, depending on if he's a passenger or driver. Ian also finds the Widex hearing aids invaluable as he pursues a career in real estate. This is
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
Life is full of aha moments. Ian O'Malley's most profound aha happened just recently, after popping in a pair of hearing aids at the behest of his audiologist. For the first time I detected the slight rasp in my wife's voice, he says. During their 14 years of marriage the couple had shared so much, yet Ian was still missing out on one very important facet of their relationship the warm and fuzzy feelings evoked by the sound of a loved one's voice. It took a simple change of habit wearing hearing aids to deepen that emotional connection and for Ian to accept the reality of his hearing loss.
