FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

• Maintaining your auditory memory - when sounds are not heard by the ears the brain eventually forgets them. The great thing is your brain can re-learn sounds with a little perseverance.
• As hearing declines communication becomes more difficult and studies have shown that social contact becomes less frequent due to frustration and embarrassment which results in a withdrawal from life. As it is always uncomfortable when you are trying to communicate with someone and are not clear about their statement, so you are not sure how to respond.
• Hearing loss causes frustration not only for you but for those closest to you; alleviate that frustration by wearing hearing aids so that speech does not have to be repeated frequently.

• Hearing aids help to keep your brain active and aware of your surroundings - remember your ears are one of the five senses that keep you in touch with the world around you.
• Your family members will notice that you hear better when you wear your aids.
• Wearing hearing aids helps you to be more aware of the activities of life that occur around you, they make you a participant in your environment.
• Hearing conversation will take less energy, giving you more energy for other important activities in life.
• Hearing aids assist the brain by reducing the cognitive load on the brain. Your brain can be less focused on trying to understand conversation and can focus on other important activities. A recent study has shown that hearing aid wearers have reduced incidence of tripping.
• Hearing aid wearers have more confidence when they are communicating with others because they are better able to understand the conversations around them.
• Many people think all hearing aids are expensive. There are a wide range of technologies which allows for affordable options for most people, a screening will identify a hearing aid that is appropriate for your loss and budget

• As Hearing Health professionals we will work with you so that you can wear your aids with comfort and success. Comfort and sound issues can be resolved with adjustments, counselling and a little perseverance. Service is our specialty and we will take the time to listen.
• Doctor referrals are not required; call to book an appointment today.
• We offer a free demonstration and it may help you to make the decision that could change your life.

Your free screening consists of 6 easy steps:

1. You will be greeted by one of us or our staff who will ask you some basic questions about your contact information and your hearing history.
2. Next Dwayne or Yvonne will invite you into the testing area. Together you will review the history.
3. Otoscopy will be completed which is simply viewing each ear canal.
4. A Tympanometer test will be done to check the function of the middle ear. This is not an intrusive test, you will feel a little pressure then you will hear some sounds. The tympanometer will take some measurements which are recorded and compared to the rest of your hearing results.
5. An audiogram will be completed; an audiogram is a graph on which we record the results of the hearing test. This is a test during which we ask you to respond to beep sounds at different frequencies and volumes.
6. After the audiogram is completed you will be given an explanation of the results. If hearing aids would be of benefit a discussion will take place about your regular activities and outings, your level of dexterity, preferences, and costs will all be considered for the recommendation.

• Bluetooth technology can be added to enhance your hearing aid experience; it is easy to use and will improve communication with cell phones, the television, and your home telephone.
• Today hearing aids are very discrete, many people are wearing aids and others around them do not even notice.
• The new technology available today is hands free and very easy to use. Insert your aids in the morning and no adjustments are needed, just take them out at night.

According to Dr. Francis Kuk and Dr. Sergi Kochkin:

1. Better understanding of speech
2. Better understanding in group and even noisy situations
3. Better ability to tell the direction of sound
4. Better sound quality
5. Smoother tone quality
6. Wider hearing range
7. Better sound identification
8. Both ears active = less hearing deterioration
9. Hearing is less tiring and listening is more pleasant
10. Feeling of balanced hearing
11. Greater comfort when loud noises occur
12. Reduced feedback and whistling
13. Tinnitus Masking
14. Consumer preference
15. Consumer satisfaction

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There are two choices that need to be considered when purchasing hearing aids:

1. The style, or what the hearing aid will look like. It should be noted that not every style matches every loss. The power available in the very small hearing aids are limited therefore a person with a greater hearing loss is better suited to a larger hearing aid. The style does not have a big impact on the price.
2. The technology level is what impacts the price of the hearing aid. Manufacturers offer entry level hearing aids at lower costs, as the technology level increases and offers more automatics to the user the cost increases.

Very few people notice their own hearing loss. Most hearing loss happens very slowly and it is not noticeable to the person who is losing their hearing. It is family members who love you enough to let you know that you are missing out when communicating.

• 30% of those over 65 years of age have noticeable hearing loss
• 50% of those over 75 years of age have noticeable hearing loss
• Half of all hearing loss is caused by aging
• Very few people notice hearing loss themselves
• According to the World Health Organization Hearing loss results in inability to understand everyday speech, isolation and disconnection from others, depression and withdrawal, quality of life issues; severe social handicap

The Ontario Government provides financial assistance to any individual who requires hearing aids if they meet a few simple requirements.

• Workmen’s Safety Insurance Board
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Department of Veterans Affairs

Yes, once a comprehensive hearing assessment is completed the results are given to your Doctor along with an application for assistance from the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) a branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health. Your Doctor will review the assessment and sign the application which serves as a prescription to fit your hearing aids as well gives you access to the grant of up to $500 per ear for hearing aids.

As practicing Hearing Instrument Specialists in Ontario we are members of the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario (AHIP). Yearly we must meet requirements including continuing education to keep in good standing with our association. AHIP provides us with standards for testing hearing, equipment requirements as well as a code of ethics among other things so that you are provided with reliable and safe service.