Hearing Aids – Make an Informed Decision

Dear readers,

If you find conversations hard to follow and frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves, you may have hearing loss that can be treated with a hearing aid. However, before any decisions can be made about whether you are a candidate for a hearing aid, it is crucial to undergo a comprehensive audiologic evaluation. Hearing aids, especially those developed in recent years, are very sophisticated electronic devices that amplify sound to compensate for an individual’s hearing loss. While hearing aids are not a cure, they often can minimize the consequences of hearing loss, and can lead to an enhanced quality of life. However, just as is the case with eyeglasses or medicine, if hearing aids are not properly prescribed, serious harm can result. This is why hearing aid prescription is controlled under the Regulated Health Professions Act.

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May is Better Hearing Month – Protect your ears!

Dear Readers,

An estimated 3 million Canadians have hearing loss. One in three developed their hearing loss as a result of exposure to noise.What’s worse: Noise-induced hearing loss is the only preventable cause of permanent hearing loss! Remember how your mom always told you to “take a sweater” to prevent catching a cold? Well, your audiologist will always tell you “wear your hearing protection” to prevent permanent hearing loss. We all know mom knows best, but why don’t we listen?

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World Hearing Day 2016

 

Dear Readers,

For the past few years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been raising awareness for hearing care through their annual advocacy event: World Hearing Day. Last year, their theme was “Make Listening Safe”. Last March, we shared with you some of the posters, infographics and learning tools the WHO published on their website aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of excessive noise and preventing noise-induced hearing loss.

A startling statistic shared by the WHO suggests over 1.1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss. As a result, they are promoting the following as ways to make listening safe:

1- Keep the volume down

2- Limit time spent engaged in noisy activities

3- Heed the warning sings of hearing loss

4- Monitor safe listening levels through the use of smartphone apps

5- Get regular hearing check-ups Read More

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABRs)

Dear Readers,

Have you ever wondered how audiologists can diagnose or rule out hearing loss in patients who are difficult to test? How does an audiologist know how loud they need to set hearing aids for someone who can’t provide feedback? Take for example, infants, very young children, people with significant developmental disorders or other imparements – they can’t always acknowledge when they hear tones during a routine hearing test, nor can they always provide accurate feedback to the audiologist when programming their hearing aids. In these cases, audiologists need to employ alternative testing methods, and this is where auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing comes in.

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Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)

Dear Readers,

I mention in my website that I can provide otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing in my clinic. In fact, I am one of very few private audiology clinics in the GTA with this capability. This is an area of practice that I am very excited about because it is so unique.

An otoacoustic emission (OAE) is a very soft sound that is generated by the inner ear. It can happen on its own or in response to a sound that we present to the ear through testing. If you have a healthy inner ear, then chances are your are producing OAEs.

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The Basics of your Hearing Health

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Dear Readers,

As an Audiologist I feel it is my responsibility to help the public better understand their hearing health. I started this blog to educate people about hearing health and what an Audiologist can do for them. I will focus my first post on the basics: 1) protect the hearing you have, and 2) deal with a hearing loss when one is identified.

 

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Toronto Family Hearing at Roncesvalles Village Polish Festival 2014

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Dear Readers,

If you were anywhere in the Roncesvalles area on September 13th or 14th you would have noticed one of Toronto’s largest street festivals in action — the 2014 Roncesvalles Polish Festival. Toronto Family Hearing was there with a booth in the centre of the action. We had lots of give aways (including hearing protection!) and a prize draw. Having recently opened our clinic this was our first time attending the festival. In between all the great food and rides many people found time to stop by the booth and ask questions about what we can do for them and their​ friends, family and children.

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