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Business w OaKwe SOUTH OAKVILLE HEARING AND AUDIOLOGY CLINIC Book a free hearing test at open house B y C a ta r in a M u ia Come to South Oakville Hearing and Audiology Clinic's (SOHA) Grand Open­ ing on Tuesday and Wednesday April 10 and 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to book a free hearing test, get a complimentary hearing aid cleaning and check, and re­ ceive a free package of hearing aid bat­ teries. Friends and family members are wel­ come, and have the chance to enter in raffles, win prizes and enjoy some food. In addition to all of this, a represen­ tative from a leading hearing aid manu­ facturer will be on site on Tuesday to answer any questions that clients may have about hearing aid technologies. "We want people to come in, see the space, meet with the audiologist and gather information about hearing aids, hearing loss and how we can help," said Gaby Lesniak, founder and chief audi­ ologist of SOHAC. "Hearing, like our other senses, is a very personal experience. No two indi­ viduals, even if they have the exact same hearing loss, will experience sound the same way. This is what makes us unique as humans. The experiences that we have acquired over our lifetime shape our senses. Personalization of hearing health care is at the forefront of what we do at South Oakville Hear­ ing and Audiology Clinic," said Lesniak. "Satisfaction from hearing aids comes from a combination of reliability and ac­ curacy of hearing testing, as well as con­ sidering clients' listening preferences." Lesniak has been a registered au­ diologist in Ontario for six years, and has helped hundreds of clients across Canada, to hear better. Most recently, she was a national sales and support manager for one of the world's largest hearing aid companies. She was able to visit the company's headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she gained insight about how hearing aids are made, the future of hearing aid tech­ nology, and the capabilities of Bluetooth communication with hearing aids. This unique knowledge, in combination with her patient, positive, and outgoing per­ sonality, makes her the ideal audiologist to team up with. SOHAC offers hearing aids from the top hearing aid manufacturers. "Our goal is to be able to find the best hear­ ing aid that fits each client's budget. Once that is selected, our personaliza­ tion process will ensure that the hear­ ing aid is well fit, and that the patient is happy." The high-end technology will not only provide a superb sound qual­ ity, but for those who are interested, it will also allow clients to connect their hear- SOUTH OAKVILLE HEARING & a u d io lo g y c lin ic Many who experience hearing loss don't want to hear that they have a problem but learning about the condition is important. The following is information and advice from audi­ ologist Gaby Lesniak of South Oakville Hear­ ing and Audiology Clinic. 1 . E arly s ign s: •Increasing the volume on the television or radio. •Hearing but not understanding speech. •Saying that people are mumbling. •Removingthemselves from social situations •Constantly asking speakers to repeat themselves. 2 . W h e n to b o o k a h e a rin g te s t : •Start regular screening at age 60. Studies link hearing loss to brain fatigue, depression and dementia. 3 . H e lp in g your loved one cope: •Be considerate of the individual's listening needs. •Shouting at a person with hearing loss will only make them withdraw. •Slow down the rate of speech. •Take away potential environmental barriers, like choosing a quiet area at a restaurant. •Make eye contact when speaking. 4 . B e p ro a c tiv e a t a y o u n g e r ag e : •Wear ear protection at loud concerts. •If other people can hear the music from your device when you are wearing headphones then it's likely too loud. •The higher the volume, the shorter the safe listening time. •Take breaks of at least five to 10 minutes every hour. •Use a volume-limiting device. 5 . C h ild ren c o p in g w ith a h e a rin g loss: •Use a frequency modulation system or remote microphone technology in the classroom. •Remove any environmental barriers to listening at home. •Teach children to advocate for themselves, as in requesting speakers slow down. •Inform teachers and caregivers of a child's hearing loss. Hearing loss signs and tips ing aid to devices like their iPhones and Androids. "We always prescribe the newest and best technology when possible, and because hearing aid tech changes so quickly, we want to make sure that our products are always up-to-date, as well as the information that is available to our customers through our website," Le­ sniak explained. On the website, those in need of hearing aid assistance will have access to a page for personaliza­ tion. The personalization page will have a questionnaire with specific questions regarding listening preferences. Once the questionnaire is filled out, the audiologist will have a better idea of how to program the hearing aid so that the client is satisfied. Whether the cli­ ent is currently wearing a hearing aid or it is their first time researching hearing devices, they will be able to access the information that they need, simply by navigating the website. "At South Oakville Hearing and Audi­ ology Clinic, our goal is to make every client feel welcome, educated, and confi­ dent about their hearing healthcare deci­ sions," said Lesniak. South Oakville Hearing and Audiology Clinic is located at 1060 Speers Rd. Formoreinformation,contact 905-842­ 1702, or info@southoakvillehearing. com, or visit www. southoakvillehearing.com. 37| O akville Beaver | Thursday, April 5,2018 insidehalton.com