How Hearing Loss Effects Your Health
Audiology and Hearing Aid Services
550 Fennell Ave.E.Unit 16B 905-574-4187 723 Rymal Rd.W.Unit 500 905-383-4971
So you want to get hearing aids but don’t know what to do? Alarmed at all the second hand information out there? The best thing to do is to visit an Audiologist. Audiologists are one of the primary providers of hearing healthcare. They hold a Master’s or Doctorate degree in audiology, complete internships, and are regulated by the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO), which ensures that clinicians meet stringent professional and ethical standards. Audiologists have a scope of practice defined in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act (1991), are included in the Regulated Health Professions Act and are entitled to perform the controlled act of prescribing a hearing aid to a hearing impaired person. Only an Audiologist or a Physician can legally prescribe hearing aids in Ontario.
If you suspect that you have a hearing loss, the first step is to obtain a proper diagnostic hearing evaluation. Once that has been completed, the Audiologist can discuss any options that are available. If hearing aids are necessary, they will be prescribed. At the first visit, this is usually the time to ask the Audiologist about styles, pricing and any funding options that exist.
If you have a hearing loss and think that your hearing is fine, you need to be aware that the first mistake that is usually made is that individuals with hearing loss think they only need hearing aids when they no longer hear anything. However, if you do not have normal hearing, then you need hearing aids. In addition, recent research has demonstrated that untreated hearing loss can have serious consequences. A decrease in hearing sensitivity is associated with diminished cognitive function, poorer mental health, and social withdrawal. Other research has demonstrated that individuals with mild hearing loss were twice as likely to develop dementia, those with moderate hearing loss were three times as likely, and those with severe hearing loss were five times as likely to develop dementia when compared to individuals with normal hearing.
There are several reasons why individuals do not purchase hearing aids. One reason may be related to cost. In Ontario, hearing aid pricing is actually regulated. There is a hearing aid priced in everyone’s budget. In addition, payment plans exist at our clinics. Another reason people do not buy hearing aids is due to vanity. However, hearing aids sold on the market today are not your Grandparent’s hearing aids. They are discreet, come packed with lots of technology including Bluetooth which allows one to hear the sounds of their cell phones or televisions wirelessly.
When individuals purchase hearing aids, they often expect that they simply put a device on their ears and their hearing becomes normal sounding again. This is not the case for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the actual organ that you hear with is damaged, the fact that the longer you wait the harder it becomes to adapt to hearing aids, and the fact that hearing aids are not like purchasing a commodity like a refrigerator. Hearing aids are medical devices and not only does the patient have to spend some time adapting to the hearing aids, they also have to maintain the devices. Many people give up because they do not want to invest in the time required for a successful fitting. This is why it is so important to choose a clinician that has the education and the experience in fittings to ensure patient satisfaction.
Visit our award winning clinics to see the difference our service makes. No referrals are required and hearing screenings are performed at no charge. Our Doctor of Audiology will ensure that you will leave with a smile on your face. We deal with all private third party insurers, WSIB, DVA, FCH, ODSP and Special Income. Why trust your hearing to anyone else.