FAQs
- What is an audiologist?
- What are the different styles of hearing aids?
- Are two hearing aids better than one?
- Can I get a price quote?
- Does HearCare offer any specials and promotions?
- What is to tinnitus?
- What causes to tinnitus ?
- Tinnitus and hearing aids
- How damaging is noise and what can be done about it?
- How to communicate effectively with someone with a hearing loss
- How to contact HearCare
An audiologist is a University-trained professional with a graduate degree in Audiology, and is a member of the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario. Audiologists specialize in the prevention, identification, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of hearing difficulties in both adults and children. They provide hearing assessments, and hearing aid prescriptions, fittings and adjustments as needed. An Audiologist will also work with assistive listening devices to try and meet those needs, as well as provide counselling to make sure you obtain all the benefits hearing devices can provide.
2. What are the different styles of hearing aids?
All hearing aids today are digital. Digital hearing aids provide the most advanced technology, offering more flexibility, more options, and better sound quality as compared with older types of hearing aids.
There are five different styles of hearing aids.
Receiver-in-Canal (RIC): These hearing aids consist of a miniature Behind-the-Ear hearing aid and a thin tube with a soft rubber tip that fits in the ear. With its miniature case and thin tubing, these hearing aids are cosmetically appealing and one of the most popular styles. This style can use a hollow tube or a receiver in the ear to direct sound to the eardrum.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE): These hearing aids fit comfortably behind the ear and are attached to a custom ear mold by a tube connected to the hearing aid.
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC): These hearing aids are custom-made to fit completely in the ear canal and can be almost invisible.
In-the-Canal (ITC): These hearing aids fit into the ear canal and are slightly larger than the CIC style.
In-the-Ear (ITE): These hearing aids are custom-made to fill the outer ear area and are larger than the ITC style.
There are a variety of factors that influence a person’s choice of hearing aid including the shape of the ear, and degree of hearing loss.
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3. Are two hearing aids better than one?
Most people with a correctible hearing loss will benefit greatly from wearing two hearing aids. Just as with our eyes, our brains are wired to receive sounds from both ears. This allows for balanced hearing and comfortable communication in a variety of everyday situations. For example, you may achieve better hearing in noisy situations, improved localization to determine where a sound is coming from, avoid possible deterioration of the unaided ear, and enjoy a fuller, more comfortable sound.
The total cost will vary based on your level of hearing loss, the brand/model prescribed by your audiologist, your lifestyle, and your eligibility for government funding. Hearing tests are complimentary, so please feel free to book an appointment with one of our audiologists. At this appointment, she will explain to you all your price options.
5. Why do you not offer any specials and promotions?
As an independent, privately owned company, we strive to provide fair prices and exceptional service all the time. At HearCare, you will discover that our everyday price is always competitive. When manufacturers offer special pricing or promotions, we pass along these savings to you. Check our website for any current promotions or events happening in-clinic. Furthermore, you will always receive a discount on the second hearing aid when you buy a pair.
There are several programs in Ontario that offer financial assistance toward the purchase of hearing aids, such as the Assistive Devices Program (ADP), Veterans Affairs of Canada (VAC), and Workers Safety Insurance Bureau (WSIB) for eligible recipients.
At HearCare, our prices are always competitive, and our service and care are always exceptional.
Commonly described as a "ringing in the ears", tinnitus refers to a constant sensation of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. Other descriptions of the sensation of tinnitus include a roaring, whistling, chirping or hissing. How loud the tinnitus is perceived varies from person to person, ranging from subtle to very intense.
It is estimated that 17% of the population suffers from tinnitus. This equates to 44 million Americans and over 5 million Canadians. In addition, 5% of the general population is severely debilitated by their tinnitus.
Tinnitus can occur in individuals with hearing loss as well as individuals with normal hearing. Tinnitus affects males and females equally.
It is unknown what the exact physiological causes of tinnitus are. However, research has identified a number of sources associated with tinnitus. Exposure to loud noise is the most common contributor to the development of tinnitus. With short term noise exposure the tinnitus may be temporary, but long-term exposure to noise most often leads to the permanent sensation of tinnitus. In fact, over 90% of tinnitus sufferers also have some level of noise-induced hearing loss.
A significant amount of wax build-up in the ear canal can also lead to the sensation of tinnitus or increase the perceived intensity of the tinnitus. There are many other possible causes of tinnitus.
Schedule an appointment at HearCare to have your hearing tested and to evaluate what needs to be done to help manage your tinnitus.
Many hearing aid wearers who have hearing loss and suffer from tinnitus report that not only do they hear better when wearing hearing aids, but their tinnitus becomes much less noticeable. If you have hearing loss and experience tinnitus, hearing aids can help to increase the amount of sound you want to hear while reducing the effects of tinnitus.
9. How damaging is noise and what can be done about it?
All noises greater than 85 dB can cause either temporary or permanent tinnitus and/or hearing loss. The length of exposure to the noise, its intensity, and each person’s predisposition to be affected by noise will determine the hearing loss and tinnitus that might result.
Most people recognize that sudden loud noises, like an explosion or gun shot, can be damaging, but there are many noises that can be damaging to the auditory system. These noises can be both recreational and industrial, including power tools, machines, motorcycles, listening to loud music, rock concerts, iPods, playing in an orchestra or band, and jackhammers, to name but a few examples.
What can be done about it? Wear ear protection as well as limiting the duration of the exposure or change listening habits. There are many types of noise protection available, with various designs for different levels and types of noise exposure.
A hearing test and consultation with a HearCare audiologist is the first step towards protecting your hearing and reducing the risk of tinnitus.
10. How to communicate effectively with someone with a hearing loss
- Talk while facing the person.
- Don’t speak too fast.
- Don’t mumble.
- Don’t hide your mouth, chew gum, or eat while speaking.
- Be expressive--hand gestures and facial expressions can help give clues about what you're saying.
- If asked to repeat yourself, try using different words than the first time.
- Reduce or eliminate background noises, like a radio or television.
- Don’t speak for or answer for a hearing impaired person when talking with others. Give him or her time to respond.
- Don’t shout – it distorts your words.
- Relax, be patient, and have a good sense of humour.
- Ask how else you can help.
- Don’t speak from the next room.
- Let the person know what the subject is before engaging in a lengthy dialogue.
