Hearing Health FAQs

Treatment typically starts within 1-2 weeks of diagnosis. Hearing generally decreases over time, therefore retesting and adjustments are made to accommodate any changes that may occur.

Absolutely. At EarSense, we always welcome new patients and will work with you to ensure an easy transition.

At EarSense, we accept direct billing (ADP, Greenshield, WSIB, VAC, NIHB, ODSP), Interac (debit), cash, cheques, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

Each insurance company is different, so please be sure to contact your insurance company with any questions ahead of your appointment. If you have audiology insurance, please bring your insurance information with you and we can advise you maximizing your insurance benefits for you or your loved one.

During your first visit with us, we will discuss your concerns about your hearing, and the environments in which you have difficulty hearing. Then, we conduct a series of hearing tests to determine the nature and extent of your hearing loss.

Once the testing portion of you appointment is complete, your audiologist will discuss the results with you, as well as your options for treatment, hearing aids, or hearing protection, as required.

Once you have settled on a hearing aid, the audiologist will carefully program it to provide the best possible hearing experience for you, in terms of volume, clarity and comfort.

We understand that sometimes our patients need to wear their hearing aids for a while in their day to day lives to determine whether the fit and programming are ideal. You can come back to EarSense for as many fittings and adjustments as you need to achieve the right fit and hearing experience with your new hearing aid.

At EarSense we’re proud to offer a variety of hearing aids and styles.  We offer hearing aids from Signia, Widex, Oticon, Phonak, Starkey, ReSound and others.  We service all types and manufacturers of hearing aids. Learn More  

Audiologists are health professionals regulated by The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). An audiologist must have a Masters Degree in Audiology and/or a Doctorate degree in Audiology, and this designation allows the practitioner to prescribe hearing aids. A Hearing Instrument Specialist is a trained professional who is equipped to test hearing and dispense hearing aids prescribed by an audiologist or physician.

There are three primary types of hearing loss. 

• Conductive Hearing Loss
  Conductive hearing loss is mechanical, meaning that something, usually a physical condition or disease, is preventing sound from being conducted from the outer or middle ear to the inner ear, where nerves are stimulated to carry sound to the brain.
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss
  Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs when there is a problem with the sensory and/or neural structures in the cochlea (the inner ear).
• Mixed Hearing Loss
  Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

There are a wide variety of mental, physical and emotional signs and symptoms of hearing loss. If you find you feel stressed out, anxious, or annoyed when trying to communicate with other people, are turning your TV up louder than you normally do, or find yourself trying to read peoples lips when they are talking to you, you may be experiencing hearing loss.

However, only a hearing health specialist can positively diagnose you with hearing loss. To find out for sure if you have hearing loss, please contact our office today.

An audiogram is a hearing test that is performed in a soundproof room by a trained professional, most commonly a audiologist. Earphones are placed over/in your ears, and tones are presented to each ear, one at a time. The softest level at which the sounds can be heard is recorded.

Tinnitus is the perception of internal noises when there is no external acoustic stimuli. Tinnitus sufferers often describe the noise they hear as similar to a high pitch whistle, or steam escaping. Others describe what they are hearing as akin to the sound of high voltage wires, a humming sound, or even music.

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a hearing-related problem that affects about 5% of school-aged children. Children with this condition can't process what they hear in the same way other kids do because their ears and brain don't fully coordinate.

We guide you through the entire process, starting with the testing phase, through to selecting a hearing aid model, and tuning it to meet your needs. We'll help you select a hearing aid that suits your lifestyle, listening environments and budget.

There are several different style of hearing aids to choose from, including a few that are somewhat visible when worn, and others that are completely hidden.  

Hearing aids come in a variety of styles, each with a different price range. Hearing aids are regulated medical devices in Ontario and require a prescription to be fit to your needs.  The Ministry of Health - Assisstive Devices Program (ADP) will contribute $1,000 towards a pair of hearing aids at least every five years.  There is a range of pricing available for hearing aids, from as low as $1,400 up to $5,500 per pair.  The price is one consideration we use when recommending the best hearing devices for your hearing health. At EarSense, we make sure each patient gets a hearing aid the fits their hearing loss, lifestyle, and budgetary needs.

After you have been fitted for your hearing aid, we will periodically monitor your hearing and reprogram your hearing aids as needed. You are welcome to drop in any time during office hours if you have any concerns or questions.

We can see if your device falls under warranty for repairs. All warranties are honoured.