Summary: Mason Branstrator, a social media influencer and advocate for those with hearing loss and spinal cord injuries, uses Signia Silk Charge&Go IX hearing aids to stay active and connected while empowering his growing online community.
Takeaways:
- Mason Branstrator transformed his life after a paralyzing accident by sharing resources and education about hearing loss and physical disabilities with a global audience.
- The Signia Silk Charge&Go IX hearing aids provide Mason with discreet, high-performance hearing support, enhancing his communication, safety, and enjoyment of music.
- Branstrator’s advocacy continues to inspire others with disabilities, showing how technology and perseverance can lead to a fulfilling and independent life.
After a life-changing skiing accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, along with having hearing loss for most of his life, social media influencer Mason Branstrator has turned his personal challenges into a platform for inspiration and advocacy.
Relying on Signia’s Silk Charge&Go IX completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids, Branstrator is able to maintain his active lifestyle and connect with family, friends, and followers, proving that no obstacle is too great to overcome with determination and the right tools. He now empowers a growing online community by sharing resources and stories about overcoming adversity.
“I decided to do everything possible to turn my trauma into a triumph, and part of that was sharing my story and experiences on social media so I could connect with as many people as possible,” says Branstrator. “That evolved into my current passion of providing education and resources to others with physical disabilities. It’s all about building a community – answering people’s most personal questions and connecting them with products and services that will improve their quality of life.”
An Active Social Media Presence
As his social media outreach has become more pervasive and sophisticated, Branstrator said one thing hasn’t changed: the incredible joy of knowing he’s made a difference in the lives of so many people.
In addition to developing his thriving multi-channel social media presence, Branstrator is involved in a multitude of adaptive sports and outdoor activities. His assistive solutions, including his hearing aids and wheelchair, empower him to live his best, most fulfilling life and he’s determined to help others with similar challenges.
Remaining Active & Amplifying Social Connections
In addition to relationships formed through social media, sports, recreation, and outdoor activities have provided a conduit for personal connections with others. Moreover, he sees himself as a “gatherer of friends,” trying to ensure that everyone feels included.
Branstrator’s hearing loss stems from eardrum surgery he underwent as a child. While mostly successful, the surgery left him with a greatly diminished hearing ability. For years, this made it difficult to converse with the family and friends who were so important to him. The hearing loss also compromised his ability to determine the direction and distance of incoming sound.
His first hearing aid restored some hearing ability. However, he didn’t wear the device consistently due to concerns about it falling out while playing soccer, his favorite sport. In addition, he was constantly having to change out dead hearing aid batteries. These and other shortcomings prompted Branstrator to find a better solution to his hearing loss, a quest that continued even after he experienced his life-altering injury.
“Being paralyzed could have made me totally ignore my hearing loss – I easily could have chosen to not improve my hearing situation given some of the other major challenges I was facing,” added Branstrator. “But, I decided to go in the opposite direction, to take the best care of myself physically and mentally, and that meant caring for my hearing health to optimize my life.”
Further reading: New Signia Earbuds Double As Prescription Hearing Aids
A New Level of Hearing
Branstrator’s search ultimately led him to an appointment with Sara Downs, AuD, an audiologist at Hearing Wellness Center and Tinnitus Treatment Center in Duluth, Minnesota.
Downs fit Branstrator with Signia’s Silk Charge&Go IX CIC hearing aid, which offered him precisely the performance and design he was looking for. It features a snug, ultra-small form factor that can be worn immediately after a fitting with a hearing care professional, improving Branstrator’s hearing experience from the moment he put them on, according to the company.
Silk Charge&Go IX features a compact design with a focus on comfort, elevating the solution from mere functionality to a discreet wearable that users like Branstrator are proud to wear.
“Its ultra-compact, nearly invisible design blends effortlessly into my life,” Branstrator said. “I can hear better in group conversations, all while wearing a hearing aid I can wear confidently and comfortably throughout the day. I’m hearing with much better directionality, too, which gives me a big safety advantage, especially as I’m crossing busy streets.”
In addition to enhancing his conversations and personal safety, Branstrator’s Silk Charge&Go IX maximizes Branstrator’s enjoyment of the music that plays a huge role in his quality of life.
“I remember the first time I heard music using Signia, I got so emotional,” Branstrator said. “I thought, finally I’m hearing what everybody else is hearing! I hear both audio channels of the music and all of the lyrics.”
A Hearing Aid for An Active Lifestyle
Lastly, Branstrator found a hearing aid that keeps up with his ultra-active lifestyle. For starters, he never worries about it falling out of his ear, thanks to a special tip that ensures a secure fit completely inside his ear canal.
He also appreciates the portable charger that, besides eliminating the need for batteries, keeps his hearing aid powered up all day long. The pocket-sized case even has an integrated power bank that provides up to four days of additional charges.
