Peterborough Hearing Tag

Hearing Health Practitioners

Hearing Health Practitioners: Who they are and what they do Dr. Cliff on HIS vs Aud When people think of a hearing practitioner, most think of an Audiologist. Yet, for many clinics, like The Ear Depot, we have Hearing Instrument Specialists (HIS) on staff. So what's the difference between these hearing health practitioners? What can a HIS do? Does it matter which I see to get my hearing tested or get hearing aids? In this blog, we hope to answer those questions.  Hearing Instrument Specialists, Practitioners, or Dispensers Hearing Instrument Specialists (HIS), or Practitioners (HIP), are hearing healthcare professionals certified in testing hearing and fitting hearing aids for adults (anyone over the age of 18). Areas in which they work include: To provide consultation on hearing, communication, tinnitus, etc. Performing hearing testsCounsellingProviding a hearing aid selectionTo customize hearing aid fittingsMaking of hearing aid or noise protection ear moldsInstruct in the maintenance and use of hearing aidsAdjust and repair hearing aidsRemove wax from the ear (this is a specialized certificate) In Ontario, the main difference between an Audiologist and a HIS in practice is the ability to see children. All prescriptions (hearing aids and medication) are still done through your family doctor. Hearing Instrument Dispensers (HID) are individuals who have graduated from a hearing instrument specialist program yet are awaiting their licencing exam. HID can still dispense hearing aids under licenced HIS supervision. Education With a growing adult population who will need hearing aids, HIS provides another avenue to receive quality care....

Read more
middle ear bones

Middle Ear Bones… They’re small!

Bones of the Middle Ear Did you know, the smallest bones in the human body are in the Middle Ear! It's true! These 3 little bones, collectively know as the ossicles, are the Malleus, Incus, and Stapes. Also know as the Hammer, Anvil, and Stirrup based on how they look. Middle Ear Fun Facts I don't know about you, but I like random fun facts, so here are a few about the middle ear! These bones are the smallest in the human body! They are small enough all 3 can fit on a dime. You can see the Malleus (Hammer) on the eardrum when looking into someone's ear. If damaged, these bones can now be surgically replaced! Talk about a tiny replacement part! They can vibrate as much as 20,000 times per second. The ear bones are the only ones that do not continue to grow after birth. Without these small bones, you would have moderate to severe hearing loss. You can have arthritis of the middle ear. It's true! This is called Otosclerosis, a hardening of the bones. Amazing how something so small can have such a large impact on our hearing. See Them In Motion To see how the ear works and how the middle ear bones move, check out the video below. Middle Ear from 0:22 to 0:47 Youtube: https://youtu.be/eQEaiZ2j9oc Do you know any other fun facts about the middle ear bones? Or the ear in general? Leave them in the comments below. For more fun facts, check...

Read more
ear anatomy

10 Facts You May Not Know About Your Ears

10 Facts About Your Ears The human ear is amazing! The more I learn about it, the more I’m blown away at how such a small organ can do so much and be so intricate. Here are 10 cool facts that you may not know about your ears and hearing. The smallest bones in the body are in the ear! They are the ossicles in the middle ear; the incus, the malleus, and the stapes (also called the anvil, hammer, and stirrup because that’s kind of what they look like). The inner ear is the circumference of a pencil eraser! Your sense of hearing depends on tiny hairs deep inside your ear. If you lose these hairs, you lose your hearing. The slightest movement of these hairs is how we hear a variety of sounds and frequencies.  You do not need to clean wax out of your ears unless you have an abnormal condition. Ears are self-cleaning, they push the wax out on their own. On occasion, they may need a bit of help from a professional.  Most individuals experiencing hearing loss are under the age of 65… that’s right UNDER 65, hearing is not just about ‘aging’  The number one cause of hearing loss is exposure to excessively loud sounds (85 decibels or higher). Those orange foam earplugs are a great way to protect your hearing in noisy environments. Your hearing can be damaged permanently even after a single exposure to extremely loud noise (shotgun blast, explosion, etc.). Your ears...

Read more
Support Group

Tinnitus Awareness – Tinnitus Support Group

Tinnitus Awareness - February 2020 It is the hope that through this group, anyone with Tinnitus can join in to find support from others who have Tinnitus, learn about new therapies to try, test out some of them, and ultimately find hope in knowing they are not alone. Let’s dive into this month’s topic! This month happens to include Tinnitus Awareness Week! Put on by the British Tinnitus Association each year, this week is to promote awareness to the general public and further research into treatments and ultimately a cure.  This Month’s Group This month, we asked our three group members about their story, Tinnitus advocacy, awareness, and prevention, and advice they would for someone newly diagnosed.  A very big thank you to each of you! Lucia Greig, John Lethange, Jim Leigh, and their spouses.  Your Tinnitus Story How would you describe your Tinnitus and your journey? Lucia - I contracted Tinnitus as a result of Meniere's Disease.  In the initial 15 years, I learned to accept and live with the high pitched noises.  After going bilateral in 2015, I was faced with a multitude of base like noises. As another adjustment period passed, that too became part of my daily life.  John - Well, I’ve had it since I was 20. You get used to it after a while. I have my good and bad days or periods. Right now the Meniere's is not as bad.  Jim - [Tinnitus for several years without hearing loss] Try everything, you won't know what...

Read more

Opening Hours

  • Monday - Friday
    8:30 - 16.30
  • Saturday - Sunday
    Closed