The world was quite different many years ago, and some would say it was a better time. It seemed as if people cared for one another a bit more, and there wasn’t so much bad news everywhere you looked. You could keep your front door unlocked without the need to worry, and you knew that when you walked into a store they had your best interests at heart: that’s just the kind of people they were.

My oh my, how times have changed.

Schneiker Audiology Services hasn’t forgotten what it means to provide old world service, as each day we strive to provide you with a truly memorable and caring experience. We don’t just work with the best companies in the industry to provide you with quality devices, we believe in a quality experience as well. We believe in treating our customers how we’d like to be treated, and we put in extra effort to make sure you always feel welcome and never rushed; when you’re at SAS, you’re family.

We aren’t like manufacturer owned clinics because we aren’t trying to sell you any product we can. We stand by the devices we provide, which is why we offer extended warranties on our products; your hearing is important, and you should be able to count on your devices working when you need them most of all.

We’re a local business and we’re proud of that fact. Our community has supported us throughout the years, and it brings us joy to be able to give back, not only through our participation with local charitable organizations, but also through outstanding customer service and care; a community that looks out for one another creates a better place to live, and that’s what old world service is all about. We at Schneiker Audiology Services would like to welcome you to come on in! We provide service like it used to be, and we know you’re going to feel the difference immediately.

In today’s world, people shop online all the time. It’s so convenient, it should be illegal. You can buy anything from designer shoes to the most lavish holiday in Hawaii. All you need is a credit card and an “Add to Cart” button. Not all things should be bought online though. As convenient as online shopping is, some things you need to buy from the source and in person, or pay the price of “buyer beware”.

Take hearing aids for example. Such delicate equipment should never be bought from an online store, no matter how attractive a deal may sound. Your ear may not be a life sustaining part of you, but you don’t need both of your kidneys either, and we would all agree that buying one of those online would be a grave lapse in judgement.

Hearing aids are complex, sensitive devices. They require experienced professionals to calibrate and program specifically to a patient’s unique needs. Many hearing aids purchased online are from the United States. These products would need to travel great distances to your door and that fact alone would make repairing a damaged device difficult and in some cases, impossible. Not only are there online scams out there waiting to take your money, there are other less obvious ways of getting a raw deal online. Some large retailers, often get last year’s model and sell it at a discount. What’s more, they configure the hearing aids so that no one else can adjust the settings. If that isn’t a reason not to buy your hearing aids online then what is?

Your ability to hear the world around you is both deeply personal and a vital part of life. There is a big difference between online retail vendors and dedicated health professionals who have made a career of helping people. Independent, full-time, private practices are the best way to finding a hearing aid that is the right fit for you.

To find out more about choosing the right hearing aid, call Schneiker Audiology today.

There have been multiple reports recently of workers’ claims being denied by WSIB due to the inappropriate use of bone conduction thresholds. What this has meant for workers seeking assistance with their hearing is either an outright refusal or having to choose from a smaller collection of hearing aids than what was available prior. Current changes in WSIB policies have significantly reduced performance in the types of hearing aids available and has seen many workers be denied fair coverage.

#fair4workers is a campaign that we would like to pledge our support to and we encourage our readers to do so as well. #fair4workers highlights where current provincial policies have fallen short. Calculating a worker’s eligibility for noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) as well as non-economic loss benefit (NEL) claims, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB) has been allowed to use bone conduction results. As a hearing health care organization, we cannot support this practice as bone conduction test results do not indicate how a patient hears nor does it give any indication of how strong a patient’s hearing may be. These tests are typically used to determine whether a patient’s hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. It is unclear currently as to whether the WSIB has chosen to change their policy surrounding hearing health care due to an attempt to save money or because of a lack of expertise on the subject matter.

The results of this change however has seen injured workers be denied NIHL coverage; be awarded hearing aids but denied the NEL benefit; or have seen changes made to their NEL benefit. The WSIB has used this practice since 2003 under the false belief that bone conduction thresholds and air conduction match – something that has been long disproven in the hearing health care industry.

In addition to this practice, beginning on January, 9, 2017, workers who are given their benefits are now only able to select between three manufacturers – Bernafon, Phonak, and Sivantos. This is an ethically controversial decision as it demonstrates WSIB influencing the prescription process, pre-selecting hearing aids for patients with whom they do not have the authority or expertise to guide, and shows an undermining of the education, training, and experience of hearing healthcare professionals. This is also a clear violation of the Regulated Health Professions Act, showing further interference from the WSIB into the hearing health care industry in Ontario.

As hearing health care professionals, we stand with #fair4workers in calling for an end to the unfair handling of patients’ care by WSIB and to address the economic-influenced decisions being made by WSIB officials that disadvantages patients from receiving the most appropriate care for them.

Ontario workers suffering from noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) have been unfairly targeted by the WSIB throughout the past eight years, seeing their benefits reduced little by little. As these changes have affected not only patients but the hearing health care industry in Ontario, it is our duty to stand up for the rights of our patients. The new WSIB changes have put professionals at our hearing health care practice in a tough spot as the economic-influenced decisions related to NIHL in Ontario goes against ethical standards and regulatory guidelines maintained in the industry.

Through our part in the efforts from the Ontario hearing health care industry, we hope to encourage a major change in how patients are handled. Please take a few minutes to view the #fair4workers website and join us in our campaign to seek fairness for all workers in Ontario.

We pledge our support behind the #fair4workers campaign in seeking a review of the current NIHL program.

As you know, the decision by the WSIB to limit choice to three manufacturers impedes our professional ability to effectively serve Ontario’s Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) injured workers. By restricting choice, the WSIB has undermined the injured worker’s right to receive the best hearing device for his or her individual needs.

It is for these reasons that your Board decided, in addition to our other ongoing efforts, to engage in cooperative efforts and with a reputable consulting firm, to help develop a website in which the voices of thousands of Ontario citizens can be heard. http://hearontario.ca/

“YOU NEED TO ACT NOW” http://hearontario.ca/ (It only takes a minute to do)