Welcome to Chinook Hearing Clinics

When is the last time you were told to have your hearing tested as part of your yearly physical?

*Over 4 million people in Canada possess hearing loss that affects daily life.
* Much like a lot of other serious health problems, many people have no idea they possess hearing loss in the early stages and as a result it goes undetected. 
* Even minimal hearing loss impacts daily life and leads to emotional distress. 
* The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health name hearing loss due to noise exposure one of the most pervasive health problems suffered by individuals. 
* Vitamins, dental visits, eye exams, and yearly physicals are considered significant by most of us yet a simple hearing test is a forgotten element in routine preventative healthcare.

If you think hearing loss is something you don't have to worry about until you, your parents and/or your children are "old", consider this:

* Hearing loss can occur and be prevented before birth. 
* As with everything in life, we are allowed only so much hearing reserve (16000 hair cells) and with age, trauma, heredity, and noise exposure our hearing reserve drains slowly but surely. 
* Hair cells are created at birth to last a lifetime. 
* It takes only one loud exposure (firecracker, gunshot, explosion) to destroy all or part of your hearing for life. 
* Unlike sharks, whose ears continue to produce hair cells throughout life, human hair cells once destroyed do not regenerate. 
* Does it run in the family? Genetic effects result in a decrease in the number or effectiveness of hair cell function. 
* Although a familial hearing loss may not present itself at birth, the genes that will cause hearing loss later in life are in place… do what you can to slow the process that is inevitable. 
* Genes contribute only 30% to an individual's health and disease prevention, while 70% is determined by environment and lifestyle.

We Live and Work in a NOISY World with Consequences
Your ears suffer when they are exposed to loud noise by:

* Blasting away cells in the form of tiny hairs in your inner ear 
* A rise in blood pressure causes a decrease in circulation resulting in oxygen deprived hair cells made vulnerable to mechanical damage 
* DAMAGE THAT IS PERMANENT

ALMOST EVERYONE!
*When you vacuum your floors, grind your own coffee, mow your lawn, hunt, attend concerts, visit movie theatres, frequent nightclubs, listen to loud music or simply cope tolerate your children's loud music… you are at risk!

At Work…
Industrial, Construction, and Other Occupations Set in Noise 
* A combination of the level of noise and the duration of noise exposure are the factors associate with occupational noise exposure 
* The KIND of noise the individual is exposed to makes no difference

With proper and consistent use of hearing protection at work, the risks are significantly minimized. Discomfort is a common complaint of conventional foam-insert earplugs therefore, investing in a set of custom noise plugs that are easily inserted, inexpensive and comfortable is the solution for many people.

At Play…
Recreational Sports Enthusiasts

* Hearing loss starts to appear in people as early as their late 20's? 
* Noise protection actually blocks background noise without interfering with conversation so you may still enjoy socializing? 
* In high noise levels, noise protection will improve speech understanding ability for an individual with normal hearing?

* Do you need to shout so others will hear you during performances? 
* After loud sound exposure, do you experience ringing in your ears for hours? 
* By the end of the day, does the music sound slightly distorted? 
* Do your ears sometimes have a sense of fullness or plugged feeling?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions you are at risk for music related hearing loss! In early stages, the damaging effects may go unnoticed, however, eventually they serve to seriously alter the perception of music quality.

Presently, custom musician hearing protection combines natural sound quality with comfort. Protection from the harmful effects of music is provided without altering the ability to self-monitor the instrumental or vocal quality while performing.

Beyond a Basic Hearing Test…

Research indicates the need for greater public awareness of the harmful effects of hearing loss. People need to know when sounds are too loud, what sounds are too loud, how to care for their ears, and options for hearing protection. Hearing loss prevention is an important part of audiological care that often goes unrecognized when working in and amongst people with diagnosed hearing loss who require rehabilitation.