GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR EARS AT THE HEARING SOURCE

It’s an accepted fact of getting older, but hearing loss isn’t something you should have to live with. While many people see glasses and contact lenses as a part of daily life, hearing care is often neglected. After the age of 50, a hearing test should be considered a necessary part of your annual physical - as important as getting your eyesight checked.

Modern hearing aids can be very discreet, and are comfortable and easy to use when fitted with the right amount of care. The Hearing Source can fit new hearing aids, make repairs to your current model, and provide custom-made hearing protection.

“With mild hearing loss, you generally don’t have a problem in a quiet environment,” says Edmond Ayvazyan, who owns the clinic along with colleague Donna Ross, both certified Hearing Instrument Specialists. “When you become aware of it, is when there is background noise, or more than one person speaking. You might miss a few words and then become frustrated, because your brain is working overtime to fill in the blanks.”

If the idea of being seen wearing a hearing aid puts you off, there are some new styles are very discrete even when looking into the ear itself, such as the open-fit hearing aids that are specifically designed for high-frequency hearing loss. This is the most common type of hearing loss typically found in those over 50, who may experience some difficulty hearing over background noise. Worn behind the ear, these are practically invisible. “If you wear glasses, most people assume it’s part of your glasses, while the tube inside the ear is so small that you practically don’t see anything,” says Ayvazyan.

The clinic also specializes in custom-made hearing protection for those who are regularly exposed to excessive noise, such as musicians, who can be fitted for custom-made ear plugs and in-ear monitors which allows them to hear all essential sounds at a comfortable level. This prevents progressive hearing loss by minimizing the overall volume of noise as well as the length of time ears are subjected to loud sound.

Adult hearing tests are completely free at The Hearing Source, and usually take between 45 minutes and one hour. Checked in full during the hearing test, are the ear’s sensitivity to various tones of sound, speech recognition testing and the middle ear response. While appointments are recommended for hearing tests and fittings, many minor repairs and adjustments can often be made on the spot. House calls and appointments at nursing homes can also be arranged, and in some cases a next day appointment can be scheduled.

If you decide to be fitted with a hearing aid, The Hearing Source will create an impression of the ear and then custom-craft the aid for a perfect fit, which takes around a week and a half. Once made, staff will give customers as much help as they need to become adept at using it. “It takes a little training but once you are used to the hearing aids and the general maintenance, it’s like putting on a pair of glasses; you hardly notice you’re wearing it,” says Ayvazyan, who adds that the follow up service typically includes two or three appointments, but depends on the individual needs of each customer, with all appointments free of charge.

“We will always have a check-up after one to two weeks to make sure everything fits and sounds right, that you can use it properly, change the batteries, and generally feel comfortable wearing it,” he says. “We make sure you are entirely happy with your hearing aid, and take time to make the necessary adjustments.”

Ayvazyan and Ross are proud of their dedication to their customers, and guarantee a no-pressure atmosphere: “We don’t concentrate on the product, we concentrate on the person. We always take the time to listen to what you have to say. If you’re not quite ready to try hearing aids, we will never pressure you into buying a hearing aid. We will wait until you are ready for the commitment.”

If you are not 100% satisfied with the performance of your hearing aids, you can bring them back for a full refund within the trial period of 60 days.

Some people who own hearing aids rarely wear them. This is because of something that causes discomfort. One of the particular talents of Edmond and Donna is finding out exactly why people don’t wear their hearing aids. “Generally, it is due to a fit issue, a sound issue or a combination of both. Most of the time we just make a small adjustment in our office and people go away happy. Ideally, we’d like to help everybody who can’t wear their hearing aids.”

And Ayvazyan’s favorite part of the job? “The satisfaction of seeing the look on a person’s face when you adjust their hearing aid, or when they’ve gone years without hearing properly and suddenly you put a device in their ear and they can hear clearly. It lights up their world, it really does.”

Edmond and Donna