Whether you spend your week working in a noisy industrial environment or use heavy machinery over the weekend, when you’re dealing with loud noises of any type, it pays to make sure that you protect your hearing.

In 2002, a US National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2002 revealed that loud noises are the number one cause of impaired hearing loss in adults.

And while noise-induced hearing loss is sometimes the result of a single event – like an explosion, for example – it is far more common for people to lose their hearing after years and years of over exposure to moderate or loud sounds, such as music or industrial machinery.

That’s why it’s important to make sure you protect your hearing at all times.

But, according to Statistics Canada, 41% of adults never use any kind of hearing protection at all when they’re around loud noises and only 24% of people always use hearing protection in loud environments. (The remaining 35% use protection on occasion, but not frequently or consistently.)

As audiologists, this is concerning, because it means that 76% of Canadians that work in noisy environments are risking noise-induced hearing loss every day.

To make matters worse, NIHL is irreversible and permanent.

But it is preventable.

If you’re not around loud noises every day, then single-use earplugs are a good, affordable protection against hearing damage.

To wear these disposable earplugs, simply roll the them into thin, crease-free tubes and gently place them into your ear canal. Once they’re there, they are designed to expand to hug the walls of your ear canal and provide your ears with protection from exposure to loud noises.

However, if you come into regular contact with noisy environments in your profession or day-to-day life, then it pays to invest in custom hearing protection.

Custom earplugs are designed to be used over and over again, which is ideal for people who work in loud environments on daily basis. They’re also designed to fit ear canals of all sizes, so that you almost don’t notice they’re there. (Although, you might need to work with an Audiologist to make sure you’ve got the right fit – it’s important that the plugs seal the ear canal without being uncomfortable.)

They’re highly effective too, protecting your ears from the harmful damage that noises above 85db can do.

And, best of all, custom earplugs are relatively inexpensive. Because they are designed to be re-used time and time again, they’re washable and easy to carry around in your pocket. (If you work in dirty or dusty environments and need them in a jiffy, you also don’t need to get them dirty rolling the tips like you would with non-customized, disposable ear plugs.)

However, custom ear molds do need to be replaced, depending on how much you use them. On average, you’ll need to replace them every two years or so, although you might want to do it every year or so if you use them a lot
If you’re prepared, noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable.

The key is making sure that you are thinking about your hearing protection whenever you’re in noisy environments and – if necessary – taking the appropriate precautions against hearing damage.

But, when it comes to protecting your hearing, there is no one size fits all solution.

It pays to talk to your Audiologist about your options. They’ll be able to advise you on a protection that suits you, keeping you working comfortably and safely in high noise environments, without any risk to your hearing whatsoever.

If you work in loud environments or have a loud hobby, why not talk to your Audiologist today to see how hearing protection could help save your hearing.

If you have never had an audiology assessment before, it’s normal to feel a little unsure about what to expect. The vast majority of people who visit an Audiologist have been referred by either a doctor or a specialist for suspected hearing aid problems. There are a range of key points to remember when visiting an Audiologist that may put you at ease.

Talk with your Family or Friends about it

Before scheduling your appointment, check in with family or friends that are happy, satisfied wearers of hearing aids. Find out where they experienced the most success with their appointments and their experiences. This may assist in choosing the right hearing aid clinic for you.

Search the internet for local hearing aid clinics

Finding a hearing aid clinic that are miles away offers no benefit to you. Visit websites for local hearing aid clinics, reading some of the content, and judge whether it resonates with you. Does it seem real or “canned”? Is it current information? If you get a feel that the clinic you are researching is genuine in their willingness to help, they likely are. If the content is more self-promoting and sales-oriented, they may just be looking to make a buck or trying to tie you into some sort of sales plan that isn’t relevant to your needs.

Make a surprise walk-in visit to your hearing aid clinic

Why you want to make an unscheduled appearance at your chosen hearing aid clinic is to judge the feel of the clinic. Making that initial contact, whether it is positive or negative, will give you a better indication on if a hearing aid clinic is right for you. A brief surprise walk-in visit will tell you if it’s welcoming, accessible, professional, and a business you want to invest your trust, time, and finances in.

Book an appointment to see an ‘Audiologist’

When you’re booking your initial appointment, ask whether the Audiologist or owner will be conducting the assessment. Any hesitation with this question would lead me to believe an assistant, or a student may be performing the testing. An Audiologist will give you the best care possible from an expert mind in the hearing healthcare profession. It also promises a level of certification. If the office manager you speak with books an appointment within a reasonable amount of time – let’s say, within one month (or sooner if there is an urgent request) – and does so with an Audiologist, that would solidify your next step to booking the appointment.

What to expect with your Audiology appointment…

Should you choose to invest your time in an appointment with Schneiker Audiology, on the day of, you will fill out a little bit of paperwork and case history info. Then, you will spend up to an hour and a half with our Doctor of Audiology, Kathleen. Throughout this sixty to ninety minutes, all diagnostic hearing assessments will be conducted followed by extensive explanations of the test results and recommendations moving forward. This series of tests will be used to determine whether there is hearing loss, the cause of that hearing loss, the degree and configuration of hearing loss in one or both ears, and the best treatment options possible.

It is important to keep in mind that your hearing healthcare and your hearing aids’ performance should only be attended to by a hearing healthcare professional, such as a Doctor of Audiology or a Hearing Instrument Specialist. All of the specialist at Schneiker Audiology are highly trained professionals who specialize in evaluating, diagnosing, treating, and managing issues related to hearing. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment or don’t hesitate to stop in for a surprise visit!

As our snowbirds begin to venture down south this winter, there are a number of things to keep in mind as it pertains to your hearing aids.

Schedule a hearing aid tune-up before leaving.

To ensure that there are not any unexpected events down south and you’re caught in a region where getting your hearing aids fixed can be difficult, getting a hearing aid tune-up before leaving is a must. Schneiker Audiology Services offers a walk-in service equipped to provide immediate extensive cleaning and a computerized verification of the hearing aid’s performance. You don’t need to schedule an appointment, just simply visit us at our location. Typically we will be able to help you within the day, if not on the spot.

If there are serious repair issues that need to be addressed by sending the aid(s) to the hearing aid manufacturer, expect approximately one week for the repair. At all times, we ensure that either a Doctor of Audiology or a Hearing Instrument Specialist is present during working hours to assist you with all of your hearing aids’ needs.

What do I do if my hearing aid breaks down in the south?

If your hearing aids break down while you are vacationing/living down south, contact your hearing health care provider by email, or telephone. Though this can complicate things, if there is a problem while you are already living down south, this is the only thing left to do. This is why we recommend always getting a quick check-up or cleaning prior to going down, to ensure that you are best equipped for your time there.

Should I do anything else before leaving down south?

Schneiker Audiology serves to counsel and educate its customers as it relates to troubleshooting any hearing aid issues and upholding hearing aid maintenance requirements. We also provide video reminders as well. If your hearing aids need to be serviced, simply contact us with your demographic information and we would be happy to locate a reputable hearing aid clinic in your area. We can also provide you with all the warranty information just in case you don’t travel with your warranty card. If you’re travelling for an extended period of time down south, a hearing aid wearer should be advised to make contact with us for any additional information you may wish to know.

Is there anything else I should know or that I can do in preparation of travelling south?

If you’re travelling for an extended period of time down south, there are a few things you may want to do yourself to prepare your hearing aids. For example, ensure that you have enough supplies for the entire duration of your trip. Ensure that you have purchased enough batteries from your local hearing aid clinic. If you wish, pick up some extra complementary filters, domes, cleaning cloths, carrying cases or pouches, and battery caddies!

Hearing aids have significantly improved the travel experience for numerous hearing impaired tourists. We know you don’t want to be running into any issues when you’re out and about down south. Contact Schneiker Audiology to get yourself a tune-up and to prepare yourself for your trip. We will ensure that your hearing aids continue to provide you with a top level performance while away from home.

Don’t be straining to hear tour guides, struggling to hear boarding announcements, or having difficulty trying to negotiate unfamiliar public transportation. When you’re down south, have a hassle-free experience with your hearing aids. Consult with Schneiker Audiology today for more information.

When searching for a clinic to assist you with your hearing loss, it can be a challenge knowing what to look for in a company. There are strong marketing pushes out there, promoting everything from free hearing tests, free batteries, to $300 hearing aids. Here’s a couple of things to consider in making your clinic selection to ensure you and your loved ones aren’t being taken advantage of.

#1 Judge your First Interaction with the Clinic

When you first make contact, was the office representative courteous; do they seem genuinely concerned in helping you; was there any pressure to book an appointment?

#2 Was the Clinician an Audiologist or an established self-employed Hearing Instrument Specialist?

It is important that you are going to see a local registered Audiologist. If this isn’t mentioned anywhere on their website or in that initial conversation, have your doubts. You also want to question whether there is walk-in service to repair your hearing aids in the office. Is the professional local or working for a big box store? A big box chain will have more of a retail, sales oriented philosophy, will have less specialized diagnostic testing and a smaller selection of hearing aid manufacturers available to them (and you!).

#3 Ask About the Turn Around Time for Repairs

If there ever is an issue with your hearing aid and you need it repaired, it’s always nice to know that you can get it done in a timely fashion. In addition to knowing how long one can expect before a repair is completed, it is equally important to know that a hearing aid can be loaned to you, programmed according to your hearing loss, and provided during this downtime. If it’s a more common repair, many of the more reputable clinics may even be able to repair it at their location, requesting no more than a half-hour to forty-five minutes to do so. Most hearing aids that have to leave our clinic for a manufacturer repair will be turned around within five business days from when you brought your hearing aid to us to when you get it back. Very occasionally, it MIGHT take eight or nine days.



#4 Know the Trial Period for Hearing Aids and Ask About the Warranty

It is the industry standard to grant a minimum trial period of two months to anyone purchasing hearing aids. There are some more reputable clinics who might offer three. This gives you the opportunity to get a feel for what could become a near-permanent accessory. This trial period should be used to make sure you are comfortable with them, know how to use them properly, etc. In addition, a warranty should cover somewhere in the range of three years on a given pair of hearing aids, covering you for all clinic fees (except batteries) for the entire warranty period.

#5 Ask about Other Charges to Purchasing Hearing Aids

There are some clinics that will charge additional after purchase fees, even during the warranty period of the hearing aids. These are typically related to re-programming or repairs. Many clinics will include these costs in their purchasing price, some will not; so ultimately, you need to know what the warranty includes. The clinics that are upfront about these costs are the ones you want to trust. In Ontario, hearing aid invoices provided are unbundled to show you all extra fees in addition to the purchase price of the hearing aid. Hearing aids are not “marked up”; dispensing fees and office warranties cover the clinic’s services. There are no taxes currently on hearing aids.

#6 Will a Clinic be Willing to Complete a Home Visit

Most reputable clinics will assist you or your loved one with respect to home visits for follow-up care. If this is a service you require or would like, it is important to ask about it and ensure that this is something the clinic is willing to consider. The first visit to the Audiologist should be conducted in the office, with a sound booth, calibrated diagnostic equipment, and educational literature.

#7 Pay Attention to the Business Side of the Clinic

Details are important. Get to know whether the clinic is fully staffed Monday to Friday, if they are only open part-time, and what the availability is. If it’s a big box store, ask if there is always a hearing professional on duty during open hours or is there just a rep there to book appointments for the “specialist” to visit once a month. In order to cut down costs, some companies offering audiology hearing aid services will cut down on service.

At Schneiker Audiology Services, we work to ensure that we have the needed resources in place to give the best possible service, the most availability, and accommodating any repairs we can. We always have a hearing professional on staff during open hours and would advise anyone curious about our service to have a visit during business hours for more information.

#8. Talk to your friends, family and neighbours.

When in doubt, ask a neighbour who has hearing aids what their experience with their chosen clinic was like. Our best marketing tool is the cheapest – word of mouth from satisfied/happy Schneiker Audiology patients!

There are a number of challenging environments where effective communication can become a bit of a problem. For example, a restaurant might seem like an excellent idea for a fun meal but when it comes to trying to keep the conversation moving, restaurants can be very challenging to both hear others and be heard in.

As a matter of fact, there are several barriers preventing effective communication in these types of high volume environments (i.e. a situation where there is additional background/extraneous noise such as loud music, groups of others talking, the sounds of vehicles, or something similar). If you are at a distance from the sound source, this presents another barrier. In fact, for every three feet of distance there is a halving or doubling of the listener’s perceived loudness. Additionally, when there is a lack of visual cues, this presents a third challenge. Ideally, one would want to be in an environment where they don’t have to contend with these but that is not always going to be possible or even close to reality. This is when we need to consider a few communication strategies for challenging environments.

Move closer to the sound source.

An easy way to fix hearing issues in a challenging environment is to move closer to the sound source (i.e. the person you want to hear).

Sit with your back to the wall.

Another method is to eliminate noise coming from at least one direction by sitting with your back against the wall. This way, noise/sounds coming from behind is not as big of an issue.

Watch the speaker’s face.

A third option is to watch the person’s face not only to read their lips, but also to take advantage of any cues that the speaker’s facial expressions will give you. Generally if you’re not able to move physically closer to the person or to reduce sound from at least one direction, speech/lip reading is the easiest way to increase communication.

Other preventative strategies for communication in a challenging environment.

There are a number of ways that you can use to combat the possibility of being in an environment where hearing might be an issue. Plan ahead and select a quieter restaurant where there aren’t as many people and not as much noise, if possible. Choose “off-peak” times to dine out. Don’t be afraid to ask for seating in a well-lit area or away from a large rowdy group. Call ahead and mention to the host/hostess that you have hearing loss, and to see if there is any way the staff can offer alternative seating selection.

Beyond all of these strategies, it is important to remember that in a noisy environment it’s likely that you are not the only person struggling to hear. The healthiest thing to do is simply to relax, breathe, and simply enjoy yourself even if you don’t necessarily catch every word.

If you’re in a challenging environment, straining to hear is fatiguing. If you are wearing new hearing aids, it is likely that you no longer need to strain necessarily but the background noise is creating a difficult to hear environment. If this noise is interfering with your ability to hear, understand, or pay attention, it can be quite challenging and stressful. This is rather normal. There is no reason to think that you won’t be able to dine out with friends, attend work parties, participate in public events, and converse with others at dinner. If you can’t decrease the noise in a challenging environment and you can’t move away from the noise, these strategies can help in mitigating the effects.

Sarnia is a community of hardworking people who know the value of a good day’s work and some well-earned R&R. With that in mind, we wanted to take a few moments for a word of caution: our minds and muscles are not the only parts of us that need a break now and then. Your ears get stressed out too, and just like the rest of you, they need a chance to rest and recover.

Noise induced hearing loss is the only truly preventable form. Especially in our area of heavy industry, we might be tempted to think that noise induced hearing loss is strictly a workplace problem, and of course, we should all be concerned with safety on the job. Following safety guidelines and always wearing our PPE will mitigate much of the potential for traumatic hearing loss.

However, the workplace is not the only area where potentially damaging noise levels exist. Any noises above 85 decibels will cause damage if the exposure is long enough. Some examples of common noises that exceed 85 decibels are heavy traffic, loud music (either with headphones or in the confined space of a car), movies, passing motorcycles, and power tools. Since many of our hobbies may include some of these sources of noise, we need to be careful about our ears during leisure time as well.

The key here is remembering that it is not simply the volume of the noise that counts, but also the frequency and duration of the noise. For example, let’s say you come home from an eight hour work day in which proper care limited your noise exposure to the legal limit of 8 hours at 85 decibels. Then, you turn up some music or blow off steam in the workshop. It’s a great way to relax, but adding extra time to your noise exposure can start damaging your hearing. What’s the takeaway? Give your ears a rest.

We all need to take breaks from the busy, often chaotic, lives we lead. Your ears are no different. So even in your personal activities, pay attention to the noise you are exposing yourself to and consider giving your ears the break they need.

Everyone does it and there is nothing we can do to stop it. It is simply a natural part of life. So how can we say that something as inevitable as aging can be done more or less successfully? Growing older while enjoying a high quality of life and maintaining our health and cognition seems successful. That’s fair, maybe even obvious. What’s less obvious is the connection successful aging has with good hearing.

We have commented before on the link between hearing loss and conditions like depression, social isolation and even dementia. Since some 30% of people over the age of 65 and up to 90% of people over the age of 85 suffer from some form of hearing loss, it stands to reason that your hearing has a direct bearing on your ability to age successfully.

In late 2015, good news came from a study by the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research that found a similar relationship between hearing aids and quality of life. The study examined three groups of people in the same age group: those without hearing loss, those with hearing loss employing hearing aids, and those with unaided hearing loss. In line with previous studies, the group with unaided hearing loss had significantly greater instances of cognitive decline. The good news, however, is that the group employing hearing aids experienced instances of cognitive decline at the same level as the group without any hearing loss at all.

What’s the meaning behind these findings? Evidence is mounting that hearing aids reduce the severity of cognitive decline in elderly individuals with hearing loss. In other words, hearing aids have a real and positive effect on cognitive function over time by restoring the ability to communicate effectively, promoting social and leisure activities, and maintaining quality of life. It can be said with confidence that proactive and quality treatment of hearing loss is a key ingredient to successful aging.

Schneiker Audiology is dedicated providing exactly the kind of care that is proving more and more important to the overall health and wellness of our patients. If you or a loved one could be experiencing the early signs of hearing loss, don’t wait! Call us today for a consultation.

For so many of us, this time of year means turning the cold, dark months of winter into the warmest and brightest of the year by congregating with those we love the most. For your loved ones suffering from hearing loss, however, the holiday season can be a minefield of missed conversations, awkward moments and frustrating background noise. Often, it is the very merriment and lively group conversations we’re all enjoying, that causes the largest problem.

Background noise, multiple speakers or people speaking over one another, and indirect conversation can weaken a hearing impaired person’s ability to make sense of all the noise. On the other hand, no one with hearing loss wants to be the cause of subduing the party. So what can you do to make family gatherings more inclusive events? Here are a few tips to make the fun more accessible:

1. Face the hearing impaired person directly. Allow for good line of sight between you and the listener and speak clearly, slowly, and naturally.
2. Use your loved one’s name before speaking. Using their name gives them time to focus their attention on what you are about to say.
3. Limit background noise where possible. Ambient noise makes deciphering sounds infinitely more difficult. Wherever possible, turn off radios or TVs that are not being used.
4. Try not to repeat the same words. Sometimes, you’ll have to repeat yourself. Instead of using the same words over and over, which can be embarrassing for the one with hearing loss, try to find a different way to say the same thing.

With a little extra effort there is so much you can do to contribute to your family’s enjoyment of the holidays. The greatest gifts you can give to someone with a hearing disability, however, are the tools to enjoy the sounds of their everyday lives. Modern technology coupled with a caring professional can do wonders for many. If you know someone with hearing loss in the Sarnia area, Schneiker Audiology is ready to help. Why not book an appointment today?

Bobby Baun is a legendary Toronto Maple Leaf’s defenseman, famous for scoring a Stanley Cup winning goal from a broken ankle. He’s now a spokesman for the importance of getting your hearing checked early, and admits to once being in denial about his own hearing loss.

“You don’t realize how much you become uncommunicative and how you think people are putting the blame on you for different things, so you lose your self-esteem.”

Like Bobby, we know the dangers of waiting to assess or correct your hearing loss may go even deeper than communication problems. Consider five potential risks for waiting:

1. Personal Relationships. Much like Bobby mentioned above, your loved ones may find it difficult to communicate effectively with you and vice versa. This can lead to social withdrawal and tensions within existing relationships.
2. Performance at Work. Like in your personal relationships, communication may become more difficult at work, resulting in social alienation and decreased opportunities for advancement.
3. Auditory Deprivation. Just as with anything in the body, if your hearing is not used or exercised, it begins to atrophy. Auditory deprivation may cause hearing conditions to steadily worsen if left untreated.
4. Depression. Along with the social issues mentioned above, both at home and in the workplace, comes depression. As we pull away from our support systems a correlation exists between hearing loss and depression among all age groups.
5. Links to Dementia. We have previously mentioned the John Hopkins study that links hearing loss to dementia. Whether caused by added strain on cognitive function or by the ensuing social isolation, restoring lost hearing is the best kind of prevention.

Communication is so important, not just in our own lives but to our loves ones, our coworkers, and indeed, our own bodies. Without a doubt, at Schneiker Audiology, we understand your hesitation to confirm suspected hearing loss. We even understand that you may not want to think about treatment options that you feel will invade your life and privacy. The thing is – we also understand what an incredible difference we can make in your life.

Bobby Baun would agree: don’t delay. Contact us now to get started.

Skill is something easy to admire. We appreciate a virtuoso performance simply because it is great to see talent in action. At the same time, we often can’t help but root for the underdog because there’s just something about the spirit that drives someone to perform against the odds. Combine the two though – skill and heart – and you end up with something amazing. Of course, we may not be virtuosos or underdogs, but it is that heart and passion for what we do that sets us apart from more typical audiology services.

We are driven by a belief that what we do can and does bring real and lasting benefits to the lives of our patients. For example, our Doctor of Audiology Kathleen Schneiker, has this to say about her chosen career:

“I became interested in the industry mainly because of my grandmother. She suffered from Meniere’s disease and wore hearing aids, unsuccessfully, for decades until I attained my Master’s Degree in Audiology and fit her with appropriate technology that worked for her. Everyone in my family wears hearing aids and I am so excited to improve their quality of life.”

At the same time we struggle with the reality that these devices, which can have such a positive impact, still carry a stigma that prevents many from getting the help they need. It is important to us that we educate people about what kind of services and technology now exist that can make all the difference in the world to their well-being. Quality hearing healthcare exists and we want everyone to know it and experience it.

That’s the difference for us and our staff: the passion that drives our efforts to offer the best care possible. It’s the world of difference we make in the lives of our loved ones – our family and our patients, that connects us to our work in the most meaningful way. We have every confidence that we can make that same difference for you. Check out our services to find out how.