Great hearing has its own rewards, but now you too can be rewarded when you refer a friend or family member to Hearing Institute Atlantic.

How it works:

1. Click here to download the referral form.
2. Print the form and fill out the required information.
3. Give the completed form to a friend or family member who could benefit from our services.
4. Have them bring in the form when they come in for their FREE hearing evaluation.

We strive to provide the best quality care and products. If you were happy with the service you received, your referrals of friends and family is the highest compliment we can get. Thank you!

Great hearing has its own rewards, but our team at Hearing Institute Atlantic believes that you deserve even more! That’s why we’re proud to offer AIR MILES^® reward miles.

February Special Offer

• Receive 100 Bonus AIR MILES® reward miles with your purchase of hearing aids during the month of February, plus…

Ongoing Offer

• Receive 1 AIR MILES^® reward mile for every $30 you spend.

Trust the experts who listen. With great rewards like these, there’s never been a better time to manage your hearing health.  Call to make an appointment >

® TM Trademarks of AIR MILES® International Trading B.V. Used under license by Loyalty One, Inc. and Hearing Institute Atlantic.

We’ve opened our 5th Metro location just off Spring Garden Road, in Garden Park Terrace at 1464 Martello Street, just down from Smitty’s. This truly is our flagship facility, with both Nona Fuller and Sarah Williams practicing from the new location. Drop in and see us or, better yet, call 482-2222 to book a free hearing test with Nona or Sarah.

We all need to hear to stay competitive in the work force. Boomers are remaining in the workforce longer and in different capacities such as through phased retirement, part time work or consulting. Conventional wisdom is that retirement is a time to scale back and take life as it comes. Today, boomers are instead accepting new challenges later in life. It follows that, the more active and outgoing the person, the more demands are placed on their hearing.

It has been estimated that today’s boomers will experience more hearing loss, and at an earlier age, compared to their parents. Not only did a large number of boomers grow up enjoying the louder music of the 1950′s and 1960′s, today’s world has much more invasive noise such as music, industrial workplace noise, urban noise, etc. Our ears are constantly being assaulted by noise and noise can contribute to hearing loss.

The typical hearing loss of a boomer may be a difficulty hearing speech in the presence of background noise, such as in a restaurant or car. Another example is one’s ability to hear speech in a quiet room or setting, but at the same time experiencing some difficulty hearing a soft or high pitched voice, such as many children’s or women’s voices. Hearing loss will gradually worsen as the years progress, and may first be recognized as a hearing problem by someone else, such as a spouse or colleague. Research has shown that, when a hearing loss is present or suspected it takes the average person 7 years to seek hearing help. Sadly, only 25% of those with a diagnosed hearing loss will actually acquire the technology that will help them to hear better.

Today’s Open Ear hearing aid has quite a trendy look and it is available in many colors, from silver to champagne to a racy leopard print. For the more discrete person, the aid practically “disappears” into the ear canal and with all the color choices it can blend in with a person’s hair or skin tones. If desired, an Open Ear hearing aid can look more like “ear gear”, fitting in nicely with today’s popular trend of wearing something in, or connected to, the ear. Think of iPods, MP3 players, cell phones with blue tooth technology, or blackberries. All of these popular items are worn uncovered and unhidden and they are treated as stylish by a very youthful generation. No longer do hearing aids have a negative stigma, as many people wear their aids proudly and are delighted by the benefits of better hearing. Like wearing eye glasses to help with reading, a hearing aid is a mainstream way of dealing with an age-related hearing loss.

Not only does an Open Ear hearing aid look good but it works great too. Due to the open fit design which does not block the ear canal, there is no feeling of being “plugged up” and the sound of one’s own voice is natural and not hollow. Open fittings allow environmental sounds to pass naturally through your ear canal, as if hearing aids are not being worn. The advanced digital models of Open Ear hearing aids use DSP or Digital Sound Processing. This DSP feature continuously processes incoming sounds and provides clear, distortion-free hearing. Thanks also to sophisticated feedback cancellation technology the squealing hearing aid is also a thing of the past.

Hearing aid manufacturers are making the choice of hearing aids more convenient for today’s boomers by including a wide range of available features. Hearing aids may be equipped with multiple programs for different listening environments such as a program for hearing in the car, at a restaurant or on a cell phone. Directional microphones help to filter out unwanted background noise and to enhance speech. Many models come with a remote control that helps the hearing aid user have even more precise control over what they want to hear. Blue tooth technology makes possible, communication between a hearing aid and other devices, such as an iPod or cell phone.

The more progressive boomers are viewing themselves and others who wear hearing aids as more able to embrace change and adapt to their changing bodies. It is not appropriate behaviour to look passively in response to something that was said but not heard, or even worse, to routinely misinterpret what was said. A good hearing aid allows for normal social interaction. We all live in a competitive world where a slight reduction in hearing acuity can diminish our chances for success, can affect how we are perceived by others, can affect our quality of life and can impact our emotions. If any group in history understands the many pressures of living in such a competitive world, it’s the boomers. They will provoke many changes, and in the hearing aid industry, they already have.

At the ripe young age of 63, I have begun hearing properly. For the first time in a decade, I can take part in conversations or go to the theatre and symphony without missing a large part of what is being said or played. For the last 12 years, I have had my hearing checked annually and it has been progressively deteriorating. The need for corrective action lost out to vanity and pride.

This all changed in June 2006 when I met with Nona Fuller at Hearing Institute Atlantic s Gladstone location for this years Hearing Test. As expected the results were not good, rather than leaving it at that, Nona convinced me to try a pair of behind the ear hearing aids and, get this, a remote control to make adjustments or change settings. The improvement was instant and to some extent, shocking. I was a convert from day one!!

The biggest improvement is at home. I was missing so much dialogue that I can only begin to understand how difficult it must have been for my family to communicate with me. They are saints!!

Louise’s Perspective:

After Jim s Audiological Exam, Nona said,  Jim, you have a hearing impairment. Louise, you have a hearing problem. She acknowledged how difficult it is to live with someone who cannot hear well. It is both a relief and a pleasure to now be able to converse with ease in a variety of settings. Now that Jim has his aids, I do not have to repeat, restate, clarify or explain what I or others say. Our family and friends are very impressed with Jim s communication improvements.

Some six to seven years after completing a 31-year career with the Canadian Forces, I discovered that what used to seem like a minor irritant was a major challenge in my everyday life as a hospital administrator. I was missing many words and phrases in important conversations. In my personal life, I no longer enjoyed films or televisions. I played music at high volumes. My friends on the golf course were irritated when I rattled coins in my pockets, which of course I could not hear.

Finally, after seeking a colleague s advice, I visited the Hearing Institute Atlantic where I discovered just how profoundly the exposure of my youth had affected my hearing. Demonstrating incredible patience, Nona and Beth, at the Gladstone location, worked with me to restore a gift that most of us take for granted.

The friendly faces at the Hearing Institute Atlantic provide services, which are professional and patient focused. I know a little about patient focus from my own work and this is a great organization starting from the personal front desk greeting. Rechecks and telephone advice are always available. By the way, I m now telling my golf partners to keep it quiet, thanks to having my hearing restored to a functional level.

My audiologist, Nona, told me that I could take my telephone calls and cellular calls directly into my hearing aids using a “Streamer”. As if that wasn’t enough to get me on board with this new technology, she also told me I could listen to the TV directly into these hearing aids, and listen to my iPod without head phones. Wow, I was sold!

A few months later and I am still beyond happy with my new Epog hearing aids from Oticon. I am hearing clearer than I ever have before in my life and hearing sounds I never enjoyed before (sounds of birds in my backyard, the ding of the coffee maker letting me know that my favorite drink is ready). I always used to turn my hearing aids off because I hated the noisy sounds – now I never turn them off as I hear the sounds naturally and comfortably. No mechanical sounds… I love it! The Bluetooth feature is beyond anything I have ever imagined. I can hear on the telephone with both ears (hearing individuals can’t even do that!) and this has been a huge advantage for me at work. Watching the TV and the listening to my iPod through my hearing aids is such a delight. Cell phone calls are hands free with these aids.

I have been a client of Nona Fuller since the late 80’s, early 90’s when she first started out as an audiologist. There is a reason why she’s still my audiologist. She is a professional who wants the best for her clients, she is knowledgeable (so you know you are getting the very best information) and she is personable (she’ll treat you the way she wants to be treated herself). When she told me about the Oticon Epoq aids, she got me all excited, because frankly she has never steered me wrong! I enjoy my hearing environment today because of Nona.

Now, I have to mention the rest of the staff I have had the pleasure of dealing with; Beth, Allison, Christina and Wendy. What a group of professionals and they are so easy to talk to, even when they are busy. Thank you all for your hard work, great advice and for my fantastic experiences at Hearing Institute Atlantic.

Hearing aid manufacturers have been aware of the dismal statistics that have remained constant over decades: only 20% of people who have a significant hearing loss wear a hearing aid. This means that 80% of the hard of hearing population are living, unaided, with their disability. Imagine if those with a visual impairment chose not to address this disability. Many years of research has documented that the typical person who finally gets fitted for a hearing aid has waited seven years since the first symptoms of hearing loss. This is a long time to put up with the yelling, frustration, and isolation that shrouds a hearing loss.

Over the past two decades of practicing audiology, we have heard a multitude of reasons why a hearing aid is not obtained when needed. These include the following:

Vanity

Most of us want to be attractive, stylish, healthy and young. Somehow, a hearing aid instantly destroys this image of ourselves.

Youth, vitality and perfection are all desired in our culture. A hearing aid makes us look old (or so we think) and draws attention to the fact that we are not perfect but have a defect. What some people don’t know is that the “completely-in-the-canal” hearing aid is so small and is deeply positioned in the ear canal that it is practically invisible. The big, cumbersome hearing aid of old is long gone.

Money

Hearing aids are expensive. An intermediate quality digital hearing aid may cost up to $1,500. This cost doubles if two hearing aids are necessary. High-end and technologically advanced hearing aids costs even more. Moreover, a hearing aid needs to be replaced approximately every 5 years, as this is its average lifespan.

Priorities determine how a person chooses to spend their money. A boat cruise, or a hearing aid? Money left in an estate, or a new hearing aid? Make the right choice. A hearing aid will improve quality of life for years.

For people that cannot afford to buy a hearing aid there are a variety of charitable organizations that will donate or help financially challenged people get a necessary hearing aid. If you need a hearing aid but can’t afford it, please discuss this with your audiologist who can try to assist with finding help. Many companies also extend financing to their patients.

Bad Mouthing

It has been said that one bad remark will overshadow a thousand good ones. This is especially true if looking for an excuse not to do something. Hearing aids are tiny electronic devices that need proper care and respect. We have all heard of the hearing aid that is kept in the dresser drawer. “It doesn’t work”, “It hurts my ear”, and “I can’t get the battery in”. All these negative assaults on hearing aids can be corrected if only they were taken out of the dresser drawer and brought back to the clinic where it was purchased. We can’t fix the problem if we don’t know about it. Additional counselling on how to properly use a hearing aid may help.

It is true that hearing aids of yesterday were uncomfortable to wear in noisy places, difficult to adjust and squealed some of the time. Thanks to digital hearing aid technology, these problems are a thing of the past. Noise suppression circuits that also enhance speech allow for easier hearing in a crowded and noisy room. Many digital hearing aids automatically adjust to the sound environment and require no fiddling by the user. Feedback cancellation takes care of that annoying squealing in most situations. Many of these types of complaints about hearing aids are no longer valid with today’s digital technology.

Denial

It appears to be human nature to ignore a hearing loss. It is an “invisible” disability that others do not see. If hearing loss is a result of aging it occurs gradually over time and is sometimes difficult to detect. Be aware of the signs of hearing loss and have your hearing tested.

Denial of the consequences of hearing loss are often heard in comments like these: “I get by with the hearing I have”, or “I have learned to cope with my hearing loss”, or even “I don’t want to hear anyway… the world is too noisy”. What may happen is these situations when a hearing loss is ignored, is other people must make the sacrifices for the hard of hearing person. The television needs to be turned up too loud for others to enjoy, others may need to repeat themselves, talk loudly, or answer the phone for the hard of hearing person. The list goes on.

We must be honest with ourselves to get the most out of life. A hearing loss is a loss of communication with other people and is an isolating way to live.

Time Consuming

It takes time and patience and sometimes many visits to your Hearing Health Care Centre to be properly fitted with a hearing aid. You can double the time required to successfully fit a hearing aid if you run into problems such as an ill-fitting hearing aid that must be remolded to your ear, feedback issues, or re-programming sessions to maximize speech intelligibility in noise. Problems do arise and you need the time, patience and good humour to deal with them.

Low Self-Respect

As surprising as it may seem, we have heard the excuse before that “I’m too old to spend that kind of money on a hearing aid. I’ll be dead in a few years!” This way of thinking about oneself is the most difficult for us to understand. Isn’t it important to hear, especially in the senior years when perhaps we are less active and rely more on television and friends for entertainment? Every person is worthy of help and improved quality of life at any age. Hearing helps us to keep in touch with friends and loved ones, and isn’t that what life is all about.

More than 3 million, or 10% of all Canadians, experience some degree of hearing loss. There is help. There is no excuse.

I dealt with Audiologist, Nona Fuller. She listened carefully as I explained my needs and my concerns. She understood my anxieties and carefully discussed the different types of hearing aids for my problem. And she was both realistic and frankly honest! “You’ll hate them at first, I guarantee you,” she said, and then assured me that she would schedule regular appointments for adjustments (free of charge), until I was satisfied. She even arranged for me to try two different models.

With my new hearing aids, I’m hearing better than I have for some time. What impresses me about Hearing Institute Atlantic is that one is never rushed. Nona Fuller’s quiet demeanor and friendly smile put you at ease, and, no matter how finicky the adjustments, she always seems to have plenty of time.

“We listen,” they say. They do, and with their help you will hear much better than you have for some time!