Q. Do manufacturers of hearing aids own hearing aid clinics?
A. There is a recent trend in hearing care for some manufacturers of hearing aids to own hearing aid clinics. These clinics typically sell only hearing aids manufactured by the manufacturer.
Q. Is your hearing aid clinic owned by hearing healthcare professionals?
A. Yes and the first in the Durham Region since 1987. An audiologist is a member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). A hearing instrument practitioner is a member of the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario (AHIP). A hearing aid clinic owned by Hearing Healthcare Professionals typically offer hearing aids manufactured by more than one manufacturer. Our four hearing aid clinics are owned by Hearing Healthcare Professionals.
Q. How will I know if a hearing aid clinic is owned by a health professional?
A. You can ask two questions:
- Are you owned by a health care professional or a private business owner or a manufacturer of hearing aids?
- Do you carry hearing aids manufactured by more than one manufacturer?
Choice is critical when treating hearing loss. Hearing loss is unique; there is no “cookie cutter” solution. Our approach is motivated by evidence-based practice and we fit our patients with hearing aids that are just right for them. The Choice is YOURS! Don’t let this happen to you. Independent clinics offer the most options. Our clinics are proudly independently owned and operated.
Next Steps to Better Hearing for Adults
We hope that by now you feel more informed and prepared to address your hearing concerns. Take advantage of the motivation you feel and take your next steps, because the longer you wait, the more difficult it gets. Putting off being examined by an Audiologist could have consequences:
Auditory Deprivation refers to a person’s lack of adequate hearing stimulation. Untreated hearing loss is auditory deprivation.
Untreated hearing loss can result in physical problems (not hearing a fire alarm, car turn signals), and psychological problems (depression, social isolation), including cognitive decline (memory).
With auditory deprivation, the brain gradually loses some of its information processing ability. In other words, the ability to process speech declines due to a lack of stimulation. Early identification of Hearing Loss is KEY to success for hearing better with hearing aids.
Treating hearing loss prevents auditory deprivation. The first step is to schedule a hearing test.
Make an appointment for your hearing test
Our Audiologist will:
- Examine your ears for possible physical causes —excessive wax build-up, infection, growths.
- Test your hearing in a sound treaded booth to measure your ability to detect the loudness of sounds heard at various frequencies or pitches.
- Explain the test results in detail, and make appropriate recommendations.
- You will receive hearing solutions best suited to your hearing and lifestyle needs. Our Hearing Health Care Professionals will help guide you but the ultimate decision is yours.
Make an appointment for your hearing aid evaluation
- Various options will be discussed based on your hearing loss and lifestyle needs.
- Impressions of your ears are taken for custom or in-the-ear hearing aids and for some behind-the ear hearing aids.
- Your ear impressions are sent to the hearing instrument manufacturer and carefully replicated for the best fit possible.
Make an appointment for your fitting
- Your hearing instruments will be optimally adjusted with a computer, based on your hearing test results and your own comments.
- You will be shown how to care and operate your new devices.
- Various tips for better communication while wearing hearing instruments will be shared.
Follow up visit(s)
- A two to four week follow-up will be scheduled.
- You will need to share the past two to four week’s experiences while wearing the devices. You may want to keep a diary to record your impressions of the sounds you hear.
- Based upon what you tell us, as everyone is different, additional adjustments to your hearing instruments may be made if necessary.
Learn to enjoy sound again
Learning to listen with hearing instruments takes time and a degree of patience in the beginning. You may need to learn to filter out unwanted sounds, just as you did with normal hearing. It’s also important to be realistic and not to expect 100-percent hearing in every situation. Congratulations! You are on your way to Better Hearing. Good Health Requires Good Hearing.