– by Barry Mathias –
This is the fifth in a six-part series of profiles on some great local businesses that are working to keep us all in good health.
If you are aware of a gradual or sudden loss of hearing, you need to consult an audiologist. If you live near Brentwood Bay, you are lucky to have one close at hand: Donna Stewart is the well qualified audiologist and owner of Hear – Central Saanich. As she says: “Because we are privately owned, we work for you, not a hearing aid manufacturer.”
Donna has 20 years in the hearing industry, and has been interested in audiology since she was young. “My mother wears hearing aids, and I often accompanied her to her appointments.” She set up her own clinic in Brentwood Bay four years ago, and recently began Friday clinics on Pender and Mayne Islands.
To get established, Donna took a “grass roots” approach and went into the community, giving talks to organizations such as the Senior Centre and Rotary, and introducing herself to the local doctors. “I like small communities, where everyone knows and supports each other.” Her thriving practice at 7159 West Saanich Road offers “the highest level of customer care and professionalism.”
Clients do not need a doctor’s referral, but can attend for a simple baseline hearing test, or a full evaluation and explanation of the range of devices that are available to improve their hearing. “Sometimes, an individual presents with a condition that may be medically or surgically treatable,” Donna says. “In that case the person will always be advised to consult their family physician for treatment prior to purchasing hearing aids.”
“People are often tentative, and have a certain anxiety when they first arrive,” she smiles. “My aim is to alleviate any fear, showing them this can be a positive and even enjoyable experience.” She likes it when couples attend together: “Often it’s clear that one spouse has agreed to have their hearing tested simply as a way of getting the other to come in!”
Hearing aids can cost from under $1,000 to more than $3,000. Donna explains these are small computers and, like the cost difference between laptops, they vary considerably in price: it is a question of processing speed and “brain” power. “Lower-priced hearing aids basically amplify sound,” she says. “The more refined products can differentiate between speech and noise to determine how best to manage these sounds to maximize comfort and speech clarity.”
There is also a range of hearing aid accessories available, including wireless links to Bluetooth for phones, iPad and mp3 players, and adapters that specifically improve television enjoyment.
The size of the modern device is unimportant regarding its capability. Whether a client decides on a tiny aid fitting inside the ear, or a larger item positioned behind the ear, is determined by the person’s aesthetic preferences and dexterity: the tiny device might be suitable for those able to change small batteries. Donna’s expertise helps them make the right choice.
With the help of Caroline Marchessault, the office manager and audiometric technician, Donna is able to help her clients apply for funding from Veterans Affairs Canada, Workers Compensation, and a range of other benefit providers. “Almost half of the people we see have full coverage for hearing aids.” Those without funding can apply for short-term loans in partnership with Island Savings.
When you deal with Hear – Central Saanich, the cost includes more than just the hearing aid: you get a 90-day trial period. “Research shows that it takes about eight weeks for the brain to relearn sounds that haven’t been heard for several years; it is often in the last four weeks of the trial that the hearing aid user begins to realize the full benefit,” Donna says. Also, you get a three-year repair warranty, a one-year loss warranty, a three-year supply of batteries, and annual hearing tests and hearing aid reprogramming.
A visit to a qualified audiologist could improve your quality of life.
