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Volume 4, Number 3, 2011 

The magazine that’s all about your hearing 

Does my 

child have a 

hearing loss ? 

page 6 

For an outstanding 

TV experience... 

treat yourself to 

wireless! 

page 17 

Fondation 

Jérémy Gabriel 

page 3 

Can toys 

Be damaging to 

hearing? 

page 7 

Grandparents: 

A precious bond! 

page 20

2 

Editorial 

TM 


Hearing. 

An invaluable asset. 

Spearheading a 

province-wide 

h e a r i n g h e a l t h 

care and comm 

u n i c a t i o n 

awareness campaign, 

Lobe Magazine’s publication 

began six years ago. 

The first and only periodical 

of its kind in Québec, Lobe 

Magazine recently crossed a 

major milestone—with 1 million 

free copies distributed 

throughout the province—and 

has been published in English 

for the last year now. These 

achievements we owe to you, 

loyal readers, for taking the 

time to share your comments, 

questions and stories with us. 

We also owe our success to 

all of the contributors and 

health care professionals who 

have kindly provided us with 

free articles on the topic of 

hearing health over the years. 

What better way to inform 

and educate the public about 

caring for their hearing? 

It is in this light that we carry 

on with our awareness campaign 

today. 

Since 10% of the population 

presents with some form of hearing 

loss at some point in time, 

you have probably been part of a 

discussion, mostly in a group setting, 

in which a friend, co-workers 

or family member frowned, held 

out their ear or asked the speaker 

to repeat themselves because 

they didn’t understand. At that 

moment, did it ever cross your 

mind that this kind of behaviour 

might be related to a hearing 

problem? 

Pay attention: the effects of 

deafness can be subtle. 

For individuals with an 

untreated and/or uncorrected 

hearing loss, it can often be a 

struggle to join in social activities, 

even among family. Some of the 

most common problems associated 

with untreated deafness are 

social withdrawal and isolation. 

If anyone you know is showing 

signs of such problems, suggest 

that they have their hearing 

checked. A hearing exam will 

help assess the state of their hearing 

and maintain their quality of 

life. 

By taking this small step, 

you will also help eliminate the 

stereotypes surrounding hearing 

impairment! 

Martin Cousineau 

Editor 

Martin Cousineau, President 

mcousineau@lobe.ca 

Editor-in-Chief 

Sabrina Grégoire, sgregoire@lobe.ca 

Columnists 

Joëlle Bélanger, MPA, Audiologist 

Julie Caya, Audioprosthetist 

Michelle Fournier, Audioprosthetist 

Natacha Ioannoni, Audioprosthetist 

Sébastien Lanthier, Audioprosthetist 

Valérie Tremblay, MOA, LL.M., Audiologist 

Michèle Veilleux, MPA, Audiologist 

Advisory committee 

Isabelle Côté 

Natacha Ioannoni 

Michèle Veilleux 

Graphic designers 

Michelle Lambert 

Véronique Labbé 

with Novalux Conception Impression inc. 

Rights and responsibilities 

Any translation, reproduction or adaptation of 

texts, illustrations and photos in this work, for 

any reason whatsoever, in whole or in part, is 

strictly prohibited without written permission 

from the editor. 

The opinions expressed in articles published 

by Lobe Publications are the responsibility of 

the author. 

Legal deposit 

ISSN 1913-0287 

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National Library of Canada, Ottawa 

Lobe Publications 

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Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures QC G3A 0B4 

Tel.: 418 877-7222 

Fax: 418 872-1451 

Email: courrier@lobe.ca 

www.lobe.ca 

Lobe Magazine is published in English three 

times per year by Lobe Publications. 

Printed in Canada 

Subscribe to INFO-Lobe 

The e-newsletter that keeps you 

up to date with the latest news 

on hearing health, speech and 

language. 

Visit www.lobe.ca 

all rights reserved 

Lobe Magazine 

www.lobe.ca

Jérémy Gabriel 

3 

period during which the implant fuses with the bone 

(a process known as osseointegration), a device called a 

bone conductor (or sound processor) is attached to the 

implant. This processor transfers sound to the cochlea 

by converting signals to vibrations in the mastoid 

bone. 

We have all heard the name of 

Jérémy Gabriel uttered at some 

point or another. He is the boy 

with Treacher Collins syndrome* 

who, in 2006, performed a song for 

Pope Benedict XVI. At 14 years old, 

Jérémy is now enrolled in École Cardinal-Roy’s 

integrated arts program, after having graduated 

from the École oraliste de Québec pour enfants 

malentendants ou sourds. Still with plenty of 

ideas brewing in his mind, Jérémy now sports 

the brand-new BAHA BP100, presenting him 

with a fresh set of challenges. 

Jérémy’s BAHA 

Jérémy wears a bone conduction hearing aid, commonly 

referred to as a BAHA implant. Generally 

speaking, the BAHA is designed for people with hearing 

loss due to a middle- or inner-ear disorder. This 

can include the absence or abnormal formation of the 

outer ear, or a dysfunction of the middle ear (tympanum 

and/or ossicles). The BAHA is also suitable for 

individuals who cannot wear conventional hearing aids 

as a result of an otologic condition preventing their 

continual use, such as chronic otitis, psoriasis or otorrhea. 

On the other hand, to be suitable for a BAHA, 

candidates must have normal to near-normal inner-ear 

function. 

The BAHA BP100 

Only recently was Jérémy able to obtain a fully digital 

conductor, meaning one that is computer programmed: 

the BAHA BP100. This model used technological 

developments that are new to the world of BAHAs, 

allowing for better sound quality and greater flexibility 

in terms of adjustments. Replacing the previous processor, 

the new one simply attaches onto the implant 

like a snap fastener. 

The price of a BAHA 

The initial cost for a BAHA is about $6,500, not 

including the surgeon’s and other professionals’ fees. 

And even though they are necessary in many cases, the 

Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec does not cover 

these implants. Patients thus have two options: they 

can either pay for it themselves or apply for assistance 

through various foundations, such as the Shriners Hospitals 

for Children affiliated with the Montréal Children’s 

Hospital or the MUHC or Sainte-Justine UHC 

foundations. Recently, a pilot project was conducted 

at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec hospital, in which some 

15 patients received BAHA implants paid for through 

a special budget granted by the Ministère de la Santé 

et des Services sociaux. 

Fondation Jérémy Gabriel 

Since most foundations will not cover the cost of 

replacing the processor, Jérémy decided to set up his 

own foundation, the Fondation Jérémy Gabriel, to 

increase access to BAHA implants. Any proceeds from 

Jérémy’s appearances at various events will be donated 

to his foundation. www.jeremygabriel.com. 

Don’t hesitate to consult your audiologist at one of 

the Lobe Santé auditive et communication multidisciplinary 

clinics for more information. 


How does the BAHA work? 

Basically, the BAHA consists of an abutment (a small 

titanium implant) that is placed surgically in the 

mastoid bone behind the ear. Following a recovery 

Michèle Veilleux, MPA 

Audiologist 

Québec City Area 

* Treacher-Collins syndrome is a hereditary disease characterized by facial defects and, in most cases, conductive hearing loss caused by abnormal outer/middle ear 

formation or chronic otitis. 


www.lobe.ca

4 

TM 


Just one call. 

We listen. We care. TM 

OUR mission 

The professionals who practice in Lobe Santé auditive et communication 

multidisciplinary clinics share the goal of offering people who 

have hearing, language, or speech challenges every possible means 

of improving their quality of life by using the most current technologies 

and by applying a multidisciplinary patient-centered approach. 

TM 

Cédric Bégnoche 

Audioprosthetist 

Nathalie Bergeron 


Nathalie Bisson 


Josée Boulanger 


Claudia Brassard 


Guy Bussières 


Julie Caya 


Joey Champagne 


Paul Côté 


Martin Cousineau 


Karl Drouin 


Simon Dufort 


Annie Dumontier 


Paul Fontaine 


Michelle Fournier 


Elaine Gagnon 


Christophe Grenier 


Stéphanie Hamel 




Steeve Laliberté 


Sonia Lamarche 


Sébastien Lanthier 


Étienne Lefebvre 


France Morrissette 


Francine Morrissette 


Simon Ouellet 


Jonathan Plouffe 


Annie Potvin 


Audrey Tremblay 


Michel Zalatan 


Hélène Beaucher 

MOA, Audiologist 

Joëlle Bélanger 

MPA, Audiologist 

Josiane Comtois 


Isabelle Côté 

M.Sc.S., Audiologist 

Kathia Faust 


Martin Fortin 

MOA, Audiologist 

Audrey Goulet 


Joanie Lessard 


Marie-Ève Lessard 


Nadine Tougas 


Jessica Tremblay 


Valérie Tremblay 

MOA, LL.M., Audiologist 

Michèle Veilleux 


Ann Yuile-Campbell 

M.S. Aud (C), Audiologist 

Rafif Zarka 


Marie-Claude Fortier 

MOA, Speech-language 

Pathologist 

Sylvie Thivierge 

MOA, Speech-language 

Pathologist 

Tanya Béliveau 

Specialized Educator 

Johanie Boisvert 


Myriam Boulanger 


Marie-Julie Carbonneau 


Stéphanie Filion 


Marie-Ève Guay 


Estelle Lamonde 


Marie-Christine Lavoie 


Audrey Racine 


Annick Rousseau 


Sarah Roy 


Professionals working in Lobe Santé auditive et 

communication multidisciplinary clinics are RAMQ, 

CSST and Veteran Affairs Canada accredited. 

Our Partners 

Association québécoise de défense des droits 

des personnes retraitées et préretraitées 

Association québécoise de défense des droits 

des personnes retraitées et préretraitées 

lace des aînés 

DE L’ÉNERGIE À REVENDRE ! 



www.lobe.ca

ENT’s report 

5 


Hearing 

without ears 

(auditory brainstem implant) 

Nowadays, it is possible to hear without ears. 

People who are completely deaf in both 

ears and who do not have an auditory nerve 

between the brain and the ear can now benefit from 

a new auditory technology. 

An auditory implant can be implanted in a part 

of the brain that is accessed via the ear and mastoid. 

The implant is placed in the wall of the lateral recess 

of the fourth ventricle in the area where the axons 

(nerve fibres) and cochlear nucleus (synapses)—which 

transport sounds picked up by the ear to the cerebral 

cortex—are found. This is the normal oto-neurological 

channel that detects sound and speech. Practically 

speaking, a microphone is placed externally behind the 

hearing-impaired person’s pinna (ear flap). This transmits 

sound to a receiver embedded in the skin, which 

subsequently transforms electrical impulses to small 

electrodes placed in the brain (cochlear nucleus). 

An ENT surgeon (ear and mastoid) and a neurosurgeon 

(brain) jointly perform the implantation of this 

type of implant. The first auditory brainstem implant 

was performed in 1979 at the House Ear Institute, 

in Los Angeles. After basic studies, the implant was 

marketed officially in 2000, and the first implantation 

in Québec was carried out in 2005 at Hôpital 

de l’Enfant-Jésus du CHAUQ by Dr. Denis Pouliot, 

ENT specialist, and Dr. Claude Picard, neurosurgeon. 

Located in Québec City, Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus is 

the only hospital in the province that performs this 

surgery. 

A multitude of participating partners 

First of all, CHAUQ is a health care, teaching and 

research establishment, as well as an affiliated university 

centre. For over 20 years, a multidisciplinary team, primarily 

comprising ENT specialists and neurosurgeons, 

has developed cutting-edge expertise in the treatment 

of basal skull tumours. For its part, Hôtel-Dieu de 

Québec du CHUQ carried out Canada’s first cochlear 

implant in 1984. Since then, the nationally and internationally 

renowned Québec Cochlear Implant Program 

has become an ultra-specialized centre in auditory 

implants, thanks to the participation of a number 

of partners. Given the expertise developed in cochlear 

implants at Hôpital-Dieu de Québec and that of basal 

skull surgery at Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus, access to 

state-of-the-art technology, requiring the involvement 

of this team, is now possible. Then there is the Institut 

de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec 

(IRDPQ), a university institute that offers habilitation 

and rehabilitation services, as well as social integration, 

counselling and family support to individuals involved 

in the rehabilitation of patients receiving auditory 

brainstem implants. Finally, since its creation in 1984, 

the Quebec Cochlear Implant Research Foundation 

has funded all new and research activities in the field 

of auditory implants, and has also financed the cost of 

the first two auditory brainstem implants. 

Patients who most often received the auditory brainstem 

implant are those presenting with type 2 neurofibromatosis. 

These patients have benign tumours that 

destroy the auditory nerves, making it impossible to 

use a standard hearing aid or a cochlear implant due 

to the complete absence of the nerve. Some patients 

who have suffered from meningitis resulting in total 

deafness, due to the destruction of the cochlear nerve 

and new bone formation within the cochlea, may also 

benefit from the auditory brainstem implant. 

Following surgery, recipients should receive speech 

therapy and audiology follow-up to relearn how to 

interpret new sounds. Post-surgery studies show that 

84% of patients who have received these implants are 

satisfied with the results and would advise others to 

undergo the same procedure. 

Thus, patients presenting profound deafness in both 

ears with a destroyed cochlea and/or auditory nerve 

can benefit from this new auditory technology. Without 

this implant, these patients are completely isolated 

from the world of sound. With an implant, they are 

able to enjoy greater interaction with their surroundings 

and experience a more fulfilling social life. 

Denis Pouliot, M.D., FRCS(c) 

ENT Specialist 

ENT Department, Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus 

Québec City 


www.lobe.ca

6 


Audiologist’s report 

Does my child have 

a hearing loss? 

How can I know for sure? 

It is difficult for parents 

to accept the 

notion that their 

child may have a 

hearing loss, especially 

if he is in perfect 

health and no one else in 

the family is hearing impaired. 

Deafness in children often goes 

unnoticed from family members 

and health care professionals, 

until the child begins to show 

signs of delays in his or her 

language development. Generally 

speaking, hearing impairments 

are only detected after 

the age of two. 

Screening newborns’ hearing 

in the days immediately following 

birth can help lower the age at 

which they are diagnosed with a 

hearing impairment and speed up 

treatment, potentially minimizing 

the negative effects of the condition 

on their development. 

The screening tests used are 

quick and painless for the baby. 

They are performed when the child 

is calm or asleep. The most widely 

used test is called an otoacoustic 

emission test and consists of recording 

an echo produced by the ear in 

response to an auditory stimulus. 

A tiny earplug is inserted into the 

child’s ear and the device automatically 

records the response in 

the minutes that follow. The other 

test used is the auditory evoked 

potential test, which consists of 

recording, by means of small electrodes 

placed on the baby’s head, 

the electrical impulses produced 

in the brain when a quiet sound is 

played. As with the other test, the 

device automatically records the 

subsequent response. 

If the screening tests generate 

positive results or are not performed 

properly, it does not necessarily 

mean the child has a hearing 

impairment. At that point, more 

comprehensive hearing tests will 

be needed to establish whether the 

child hears well. Performed by an 

audiologist, these tests are used to 

confirm or deny the presence of a 

hearing impairment. If the child 

is in fact diagnosed with a hearing 

impairment, the audiologist will 

discuss treatment options with the 

family based on the extent of the 

child’s hearing loss, such as the use 

of hearing aids. 

Québec will soon have its first 

universal newborn hearing 

screening program in place, 

providing all newborn babies 

free hearing screening in their 

first days of life. 

Do not hesitate to consult an 

audiologist at any Lobe Santé auditive 

et communication multidisciplinary 

clinic for more information. 

 

Joëlle Bélanger, MPA 

Audiologist 

Québec City Area 



www.lobe.ca


Audiologist’s report 

7 

be damaging to hearing? 

The toys industry 

generates 60 billion 

dollars i n a n n u a l 

revenues and is a 

$1.4-billion business 

in Canada. 

Sixty per cent of all toy purchases 

a r e m a d e a t C h r i s t m a s t i m e 

alone. Anyone who is in contact 

with children knows that batterypowered 

sound-producing toys 

are extremely noisy and increasingly 

prevalent (63% of Fisher- 

Price toys and 54% of Little Tikes 

toys for children under the age 

of three make noise). 

The noise produced by such 

toys not only gets on parents’ 

nerves, but some even reach 

decibel levels high enough to 

cause temporary or permanent 

hearing damage. 

Studies have shown that, in 

addition to causing auditory damage, 

noise also increases children’s 

stress levels, which can lead to 

hormonal imbalances in the short 

term, and cardiovascular, immune 

system and digestive problems in 

the long term. 

Current legislation in Canada 

bans toys and electronic games that 

emit noise levels exceeding 100 dB 

at a distance of 30 cm. However, 

the safety standard recognized by 

the World Health Organization 

(WHO) is 75 dB for a period of 

8 hours. As such, listening to noise 

from a toy that emits sound above 

100 dB for 2 to 15 minutes can 

cause hearing damage. Moreover, 

children tend to hold noisy toys 

close to their ears, which is closer 

than the distance prescribed by law. 

In 2004, a study led by Option 

consommateurs revealed that while 

only 5% of the toys studied did not 

comply with the law, all of them 

exceeded safety standards if the 

child holds the toy up against his 

or her ear. 

In 2004, a coalition was formed 

to push for changes to the current 

legislation and educate the public 

about the dangers of noisy toys. 

Despite its best efforts, the same 

laws, which date back to the 1970s, 

are still in force today. 

Period of 

exposure 

Acceptable noise level 

according to ISO 

(referred to here as a 

compromise standard) 

It is thus up to consumers to 

protect their children by choosing 

not to buy excessively noisy toys or 

by opting for toys with a volume 

control and decreasing the amount 

of time spent playing with these 

toys. Parents can also cover speakers 

with masking tape to lower the 

volume of some noisy toys. 

For further information, do not 

hesitate to consult a hearing health 

professional. 

David Mayer, MPA 

Audiologist 

Terrebonne and 

CSSS du Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes / 

Hôpital de Saint-Eustache 

Acceptable noise level 

according to the WHO 

(referred to here as the 

safety standard) 

8 hours 85 dB 75 dB 




30 minutes 97 dB 87 dB 

15 minutes 100 dB 90 dB 

7.5 minutes 103 dB 93 dB 

3.75 minutes 106 dB 96 dB 

Source: Guénette, Maryse. ”Jouets sonores à piles : trop bruyants pour vos enfants !“. 

Consommation. Fall 2004. 


References: 

- CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLO- 

GISTS (CASLPA). “CASLPA Calls On Prime Minister for Action on Noisy Toys”. Press 

release. April 8, 2008. 

- NATIONAL COALITION ON NOISY TOYS. ”Noisy Toys – NOT For those delicate little 

ears this Christmas“. Press release. December 2004. 

- GUÉNETTE, Maryse. ”Jouets sonores à piles: trop bruyants pour vos enfants !“. 

Consommation. Fall 2004, 6 p. 

- LAROCQUE, Richard and Marie-Catherine ARSLANIAN. ”Les jouets bruyants pour 

bambins : une cacophonie à risque ?“. Supporting documentation for a presentation 

given at The Montreal Children’s Hospital on May 25, 2009. 


www.lobe.ca

8 

Hearing aids 

Audioprosthetist’s report 

I have a hearing loss, 

what do I do now? 

After a thorough assessment of your 

hearing, you recently found out that 

you have a hearing loss. Now that 

you’ve gone through a range of emotions, 

you suddenly find yourself full of questions. 

Know this: you are not alone! More 

than 10% of the population has some 

form of hearing impairment. 

What should I do? 

First and foremost, you should make an 

appointment with an audioprosthetist. 

These are the only health professionals that 

sell, fit and adjust hearing aids. Always on 

top of the latest technological advancements, 

the audioprosthetist will become a 

close ally in guiding you through the process 

of choosing hearing aids. 

Here is what you can expect 

at your first meeting with 

your audioprosthetist. 

First of all, the initial meeting serves as an 

opportunity to discuss the audiometric 

exam, assess your listening and communication 

needs and select the most appropriate 

hearing aids based on all of these 

considerations. 

1 Reviewing 

your audiometric exam 

Bear in mind that there are different types 

and degrees of hearing loss, namely sensorineural, 

conductive and mixed, ranging 

from mild to profound. The leading 

cause of hearing loss is presbycusis (natural 

degeneration of the ear). Presbycusis 

mostly affects the hair cells of the inner 

ear. The hearing aids recommended will 

depend on the type and degree of your 

hearing loss. 

2 Assessing your listening and 

communication needs 

This is one of the most crucial steps in the process. Here, the 

audioprosthetist will ask you a long list of questions to gain a 

thorough understanding of the activities and moments in your 

day-to-day life during which you have trouble understanding 

what people are saying. These questions might include: 

o Do you have to turn the volume up high to hear the TV 

properly? 

o Do you have trouble following a conversation among 

several people or at a restaurant? 

o Do you have trouble understanding what your co-workers 

are saying during meetings? 

o When watching a presentation, do you have trouble 

understanding the speaker? 

o Do you have trouble understanding lyrics and hearing 

the music at live performances? 

o Do you have a hard time understanding movies at 

the cinema? 

o Do you have trouble hearing what people are saying 

when riding in a car? 

o Do you have trouble understanding the person on 

the other end in phone conversations? 

o Do you find it difficult to follow conversations during 

family gatherings? 

o Do you take part in any sporting activities, such as golfing 

or cycling? Do you struggle to understand your teammates? 

o Do you participate in any social activities such as dancing 

or card games? Do you have problems understanding your 

fellow participants? 

o And so on... 

Your answers are vital for the audioprosthetist to be able to get 

a complete picture of your listening and communication problems 

and recommend the most suitable hearing aids for your needs. 



www.lobe.ca



9 

Let’s look, for example, at Suzanne, 

a 45-year-old high school teacher. 

Below is an overview of her lifestyle. This information will help 

the audioprosthetist fully understand Suzanne’s listening needs 

and, in turn, offer the most appropriate hearing aid. 

Suzanne is active: 

She plays volleyball with coworkers 

(she needs to communicate 

quickly on the 

court). 

She organizes educational outings 

for her school (she has to 

be able to hear the presentations). 

She is the head of her school’s 

science and technology department 

(she must fully grasp 

everyone’s comments during 

weekly meetings). 

She often uses a cell phone 

when going to and from different 

places. 

She loves classical music and 

goes to concerts frequently 

(she needs sharp sound quality 

to truly appreciate the 

pieces). 

She goes to restaurants a lot 

with friends (she needs to follow 

conversations with a lot of 

background noise). 

At 45 years of age, appearance 

is important to her (she wants 

hearing aids that are fairly discreet 

without compromising 

performance quality, which is 

absolutely necessary for her). 

After going over the audiometric 

exam and lifestyle assessment, 

the audioprosthetist will 

recommend a type of hearing 

aid that will deliver superior 

performance and adjustment 

flexibility to meet her listening 

and communication needs in 

different situations. Suzanne’s 

hearing aids will also have to 

be compatible with Bluetooth 

technology to make it easier for 

her to talk on her cell phone, listen 

to presentations, etc. It goes 

without saying that Suzanne’s 

needs are greater than someone 

who lives alone and rarely 

socializes. 


3 Choosing 

your hearing aids 

The choice of hearing aids available to you will depend on 

several factors: the degree of your hearing loss, the shape 

of your ears, as well as your listening and communication 

needs, expectations, style preferences, and of course, 

budget. Having realistic expectations is also a key factor in 

any successful fitting process. 

Do not hesitate to consult an audioprosthetist at any 

Lobe Santé auditive et communication multidisciplinary 

clinic. These professionals are there to guide you through 

the process to help you maintain your quality of life. 

Julie Caya 


Longueuil 



Pointe-Claire 


www.lobe.ca

10 



At times, persons with hearing loss 

can be tempted to shop around 

for the best price on hearing aids. 

Choosing the right hearing aids, 

however, should come down to 

more important factors than cost 

alone. The team of professionals who will take 

care of your hearing aid adjustments and fittings 

should be the number one deciding factor. 

questions. The specialized educator thus sees to it that 

every patient feels fully at ease handling and maintaining 

his or her hearing aids, and uses listening and 

communication techniques effectively. The educator is 

therefore a key piece of the puzzle in ensuring the best 

possible adaptation of patients to their new hearing 

aids, and in making the hearing experience a success. 

This team of professionals is by your side to ease your 

transition into the world of sound. 

Choosing a team 

Hearing health professionals, audioprosthetists and 

specialized educators, will take you under their wing 

and walk you through choosing the right hearing 

aids. 

As hearing health professionals, audioprosthetists 

are there to guide you through the process of selecting 

hearing aids (sale, fitting and adjustment) and assistive 

listening devices, according to your hearing needs, 

lifestyle and preferences. With technology advancing 

at such a rapid pace, audioprosthetists have to be 

informed and aware of all latest developments and the 

unique features of each product on the market in order 

to effectively advise you. They will also monitor your 

reintegration into the world of sound and communication. 

Adapting to the presence of sound is a crucial 

step, one that is taken with the help of a specialized 

educator. 

In collaboration with the audioprosthetist, the 

educator follows a treatment plan and teaches individuals 

with hearing loss about their prosthetics. The 

goal is to ensure the best possible adaptation to the 

use of hearing aids and assistive listening devices. The 

educator works alongside the hearing-impaired person 

throughout the process of becoming acclimatized 

to the listening environment, and answers his or her 

Choosing the service 

The process of obtaining hearing aids calls for adjustments 

by a qualified audioprosthetist, as well as meticulous 

monitoring by a specialized educator working 

closely with the latter. Fine tuning your hearing aids 

thus demands a certain expertise, listening ability and 

affinity with the audioprosthetist and his or her team. 

Several visits will be required, so it is important that 

the relationship between the team of professionals and 

the patient be as constructive as possible, and that the 

professionals be quickly and readily accessible to you. 

Obtaining hearing aids requires approximately 

four visits: 

Selection 

Adjustment 

Post-prosthesis follow-up (two visits) 

These services are included with your hearing aid 

purchase. 

Eventually, biannual visits are recommended to 

ensure your hearing aids perform at their best and are 

cleaned more thoroughly. 



www.lobe.ca



11 


Choosing based on your listening 

needs 

We cannot stress it enough: your hearing aids must 

be chosen and adjusted based on your current and 

future listening and communication needs. For some, 

the option of a remote or Bluetooth receiver (to be 

compatible with a cell phone or other Bluetooth-type 

transmitter) may be essential, while for others it may 

be important to have hearing aids with multiple programs, 

a button to control several settings, or a volume 

control to remain flexible in the long-term. Such latitude 

in fittings means the hearing aids can be adjusted 

over time based on the wearer’s listening needs, thus 

increasing user satisfaction. Once chosen, these options 

can be activated or deactivated as needed. 

Choosing certain options and taking future needs 

into account may affect the price of your hearing aids. 

However, the cost difference will be less than having 

to replace the hearing aids early because they no longer 

meet the user’s needs. It is therefore important to fully 

understand your own needs and invest in the hearing 

aids that stand up to the demands of your day-to-day 

life. 

Identifying your listening and 

communication needs 

Listening needs are, essentially, situations that pose a 

problem for hearing-impaired persons and for which 

they would like to improve the quality of their hearing. 

Here are a few examples: 

watching television 

talking on the phone 

meeting with a group (e.g. a reunion) 

having a discussion at a restaurant 

talking while in a car 

listening to a presentation 

going to the movies 

using a cell phone 

etc. 

Choosing batteries 

The cost of batteries also depends on their quality. 

Cheap batteries are available in some big-box stores 

and even on the Internet; however, cheaper often 

equates to poorer performance. To be sure your hearing 

aids work properly, superior-quality batteries are 

a must. 

By skimping on something as inexpensive as batteries, 

you could significantly compromise the performance 

of your hearing aids. Since hearing aids operate 

using a digital circuit that analyzes the wearer’s sound 

environment on a continuous basis, they require a constant 

and stable power source. 

Knowing how to spot a high-quality battery 

As their name suggests, zinc-air batteries contain 

zinc, which is sealed inside the battery with a 

sticker. When the sticker is removed for the first 

time, the zinc comes into contact with the air, 

thereby activating the battery. 

The battery should have one flat side and one 

rounded side (not two rounded sides, as with 

some brands, since this can cause the battery 

contacts inside the hearing aid to bend, and 

eventually weaken the contact). 

There should be no glue residue left on the flat 

side (this is often an indicator that the battery is 

not good or has been exposed to humidity). 

Any battery should have small holes on the flat 

side (the side to which the sticker was affixed), 

since this is what allows air to enter and activate 

the zinc. 

An informed decision 

In closing, choosing hearing aids based specifically on 

price can hinder their current and future performance. 

This is precisely why the service provided by the team 

of professionals (audioprosthetists and specialized 

educators) is so important, considering that purchasing 

hearing aids involves adjustment and follow-up 

appointments throughout the devices’ service lives. 

Although it can be tempting to try and save money by 

buying cheaper hearing aids, first and foremost, your 

best bet is to invest in a team of hearing health professionals 

who will be there for you! 

Do not hesitate to consult an audioprosthetist at 

any Lobe Santé auditive et communication multidisciplinary 

clinic for more information. 

Michelle Fournier 


Lévis 


www.lobe.ca

12 



Hearing aid fittings 

for noise-induced 

hearing loss 

In today’s urban, industrialized society, 

noise is pervasive in both the 

natural landscape and the workplace. 

Repetitive noise exposure 

causes irreversible damage to the 

auditory organ (cochlea), resulting 

in permanent, sensorineural hearing loss. 

The CSST (Commission de la santé et de la 

sécurité du travail) has set up a workers’ compensation 

program specifically for people who 

work in noisy environments. Under this program, 

workers can even get reimbursed for the costs of 

some hearing aids. 

The CSST representative reviewing your file will first 

establish whether your hearing loss is a direct result of 

occupational noise exposure. If so, the ENT specialist 

will write up a medical report for the CSST. This 

report includes calculations for financial compensation 

(if eligible), and recommendations for binaural hearing 

aids (barring any medical contraindications against 

hearing aids). 

Following the final approval of your file, the CSST 

representative will send you a letter inviting you to consult 

an audioprosthetist to choose the hearing aids best 

suited to your listening and communication needs. 

Some hearing aid models are covered by the CSST: 

ITC (half-shell), BTE (behind the ear with earmold), 

Open Fit (behind the ear with tube and dome) or 

RITE-RIC (behind the ear with receiver in the ear). 

Since their release on the market, RITE-RIC models 

have become the leading choice for persons with 

noise-induced hearing loss. These kinds of hearing aids 

combine style, comfort and performance. The CSST 

covers the cost of one or two hearing aids, based on the 

recommendations made by the ENT specialist in the 

report rendered to the CSST. 

Hearing aids can be replaced every five years. You 

should nevertheless contact your insurance company to 

insure your hearing aids against major loss or damage 

through your home insurance. When you receive your 

hearing aids, a specialized educator and your audioprosthetist 

will gladly explain how to have your hearing 

aids insured. 

In addition to covering your hearing test (audiogram) 

and hearing aids, the CSST program also 

covers the cost of batteries, maintenance products, 

listening systems for the television (subject to certain 

restrictions) and many other considerations. 

Do not hesitate to consult an audiologist or audioprosthetist 

at any Lobe Santé auditive et communication 

multidisciplinary clinic for more information. 

Here are the following steps if you need to be fitted 

with a hearing aid. 

First, you’ll have to make an appointment with an 

audiologist, who will determine the extent of your 

noise-induced hearing loss. During the consultation, 

the audiologist will perform an audiogram and fill 

out the workers’ compensation form. Sixteen hours 

of reprieve from noise is required in order to undergo 

an audiogram. Once the exam is done, the audiologist 

will refer you to an ENT specialist to begin the process 

of opening your file at the CSST. 

Sébastien Lanthier 


Sainte-Foy 



www.lobe.ca

Special feature: Hearing aids 

Digital technology and hearing aids 

13 

T h e f i r s t t h i n g 

you need to know 

when it comes to 

hearing aids is the 

r a n g e o f d i g i t a l 

circuit technology 

available on the market (economic 

level, entry level, mid 

level, advanced and premium). 

The digital technology you 

choose will depend on your 

listening and communication 

needs. 

For instance, an executive working 

in a financial firm will have different 

needs than someone who only 

uses a home computer to check his 

or her email. Likewise, in terms of 

hearing aids, the financial executive 

will have different listening needs 

than a retired person. Furthermore, 

a socially active individual has 

needs that a sedentary person living 

alone does not share. Whether they 

are for attending meetings, dining 

out, going to work or taking part 

in social outings, premium hearing 

aids can meet your needs more 

effectively. Not only do premium 

models offer better noise cancellation 

capability, they also tune in 

more easily to the most important 

signals (speech) than their entrylevel 

counterparts. 

Naturally, the more advanced 

the technology, the faster the hearing 

aids’ platform will be, thereby 

enabling more accurate signal 

reproduction and as a result a 

sharper sound. As such, the voices 

of others and the wearer appear 

more natural. Also, the flexibility 

offered by more advanced hearing 

aids makes adjusting to more complex 

hearing loss possible. Highend 

hearing aids are in constant 

communication with one another 

(synchro nized between the ears), to 

enable good decision making at all 

times in complex sound environments, 

thereby generating more 

precise reactions and adjustments 

to any listening situation. 

Last but not least, with customized 

programming, high-end hearing 

aid models also provide connectivity 

with the latest and most 

advanced Bluetooth technologies 

(e.g. iPod, laptop, television). 

Krystelle Breton, 

M.Sc.(a) 

Pediatric Audiologist / 

Trainer – Québec 

Oticon Canada 

www.oticon.com 


Directional microphones 

Feedback canceller 

Bandwidth 

Channels 

Fitting flexibility 

Noise management 

Speech enhancement 

Speech management in noise 

Own voice management 

Wind noise management 

Self-learning 

Binaural synchronization and processing 

Binaural coordination 

Connectivity 

Phone compatibility 

Volume control / Memories 

Data logging 

Tone indicators 

Remote control 

ECONOMIC 

LEVEL 

ENTRY LEVEL 

MID LEVEL 

ADVANCED 

LEVEL 

For more information, do not hesitate to consult your audioprosthetist at one of 

the Lobe Santé auditive et communication multidisciplinary clinics. 

PREMIUM 

LEVEL 


www.lobe.ca

14 



At Starkey, the difference 

between 

an entry-level and 

a premium circuit 

is chiefly determined 

by two factors: 

the bandwidth and the 

number of channels. These two 

factors have an impact on the 

effectiveness of the digital circuit 

features that reduce noise, 

enhance speech audibility and 

improve sound clarity. 

As such, premium hearing aids 

will have a digital circuit with 

the capacity to adapt to the user’s 

sound space with greater speed 

and precision. Since smaller bandwidths 

utilize a larger number of 

channels, the changes made by the 

hearing aid are sharper. This difference 

affects the flexibility and speed 

with which hearing aids adjust to 

the wearer’s sound environment. 

In short, entry-level hearing 

aids process changes in sound 

environments far slower than their 

premium counterparts. Whether 

adaptation speed becomes a deciding 

factor will depend on the user’s 

specific needs. 

Let’s take a look, for example, 

at two hearing-impaired individuals 

whose needs differ: Robert is 

a retired and rather solitary homebody 

who enjoys reading and taking 

walks outside with his wife; Marie, 

on the other hand, is someone who 

loves socializing with friends, dining 

out, chatting on the phone and 

organizing family meals. 

For Robert, who spends most of 

his time in relative silence, entrylevel 

hearing aids are perfectly suitable 

for his needs, while Marie, 

whose noise environment is constantly 

changing, would be better 

off with a premium model. With 

slower adjustment speeds, entrylevel 

hearing aids will have greater 

difficulty managing background 

noise and adapting to Marie’s 

sound environment. They simply 

do not meet her needs. Instead, 

Marie should look for premium 

hearing aids with circuits capable 

of quickly adapting as she goes 

from one of her favourite activities 

to the next. 

To be sure to get the most out of 

any of the hearing aids available on 

the market today, it is thus crucial 

to accurately determine your hearing 

and communication needs. 

Julie-Catherine Ste-Marie, 

M.Sc. 

Audiologist 

Starkey Canada 

www.starkey.com 



Bandwidth 

Channels 





Own voice management 










ENTRY LEVEL MID LEVEL ADVANCED LEVEL PREMIUM LEVEL 





www.lobe.ca



15 

The high-end Siemens 

701 hearing 

aid features a 

SpeechFocus directional 

microphone, 

which tracks down 

and focuses on speech, even 

when it comes from behind, 

acting like an acoustic rear 

view mirror. 

Just imagine holding a conversation 

with passengers in the back 

of your car, and actually being able 

to understand them, despite the 

engine and wind noise! The 

automated directional 

microphone works in 

conjunction with the 

effective and vigilant 

noise reduction systems, 

which continually 

seek to reduce and follow the 

movement of distracting noises. 

SoundLearning 2.0 uses a situation 

detector to accurately determine 

your specific environment, 

i.e. whether you are in the presence 

of speech, noise, music or 

other sounds. As such, the changes 

you make to the volume setting of 

your hearing aids 

via the remote 

or volume control 

are recorded 

and your hearing 

aids automatically 

adjust to the 

different listening 

settings, maximizing the richness 

of music and the clarity of 

speech, while ensuring optimum 

noise comfort. This intelligent and 

intuitive system follows your daily 

routine and learns to adjust to your 

individual listening preferences. 

At Siemens, innovation and 

quality are the basis of all our 

products, which feature micro CIC 

hearing instruments with wireless 

capability, easy-to-handle hearing 

aid battery chargers and mini 

systems with dual purpose remote 

control and audio content streaming 

from devices such as televisions 

and cell phones. 

© 2011 Siemens Hearing Instruments Inc. All rights reserved. 

Michèle Dostaler, M.Sc. 

Audiologist 

Product Support 

Siemens Hearing Instruments 

www.siemens.com 




Bandwidth 

Channels 















ECONOMIC 

LEVEL 

ENTRY LEVEL 

MID LEVEL 

ADVANCED 

LEVEL 



PREMIUM 

LEVEL 


www.lobe.ca

16 



At Bernafon, there is certainly no 

shortage of choices, with hearing 

aids that can be programmed for 

degrees of hearing loss varying from 

mild to profound, and digital circuit 

technology ranging from economic 

level to premium. 

Why choose high-end hearing aids? 

The digital circuitry in superior hearing aids provides 

greater signal precision, enhanced adjustment flexibility, 

and more effective directionality and noise reduction 

systems, delivering clearer sound in many listening 

and communication environments. The binaural 

synchronization system automatically adjusts your 

hearing aids’ directionality for effortless, natural hearing 

at all times. What’s more, an automatic telecoil 

makes it easier to understand people when talking on 

the phone. Your hearing aids continuously exchange 

information to maximize your acoustic comfort. 

Multiple programs are also available to meet a variety 

of hearing needs. For example, the Chronos 9 model 

features a Cinema and Live Music program so music 

lovers can enjoy all their favourite concerts, plays or 

films with maximum clarity and detail. Depending on 

your day-to-day needs, you, too, may find the remote 

control and Bluetooth system options absolutely indispensable. 

 

Martin Lusignan 

Bernafon 

www.bernafon.ca 



Bandwidth 

Channels 















ECONOMIC 

LEVEL 

ENTRY LEVEL 

MID LEVEL 

ADVANCED 

LEVEL 



PREMIUM 

LEVEL 



www.lobe.ca

hearing aids 

17 

For an outstanding 

TV experience... 

treat yourself to wireless! 

The RS 160 is 

a hi-fi system 

that comes 

with wireless 

h e a d p h o n e s , 

p o w e r e d b y 

two NiMH batteries, and a 

transmitter that connects 

to your output device. 

Being a plug-and-play 

system, installation is a 

breeze! 

This compact portable 

transmitter uses Kleer’s lossless 

uncompressed digital 

wireless transmission, offers 

an effective range of 20 feet 

(line of sight), and can serve 

up to four pairs of headphones. 

 

Nadine Girard 

Business Director 

Retail Strategy 

Consumer, Audiology and 

Communication Division 

Sennheiser Canada Inc. 

www.sennheiser.ca 

Features 

Digital wireless headphones. 

Dynamic transducer systems with 

neodymium magnets for clear and 

detailed audio reproduction. 

Ergonomic (adjustable) headband 

design for a comfortable, snug fit. 

Compact portable transmitter 

with multiple-receiver capability, 

enabling up to four people to listen 

to the same sound source. 

No set-up required—simply plug 

and play. 

For more information on these 

television listening systems, 

don’t hesitate to consult your 

audioprosthetist at one of 

the Lobe Santé auditive et 

communication multidisciplinary 

clinics. 



www.lobe.ca

18 


Amigo 

FM systems 

Understanding speech in noisy 

environments can be difficult for 

most children, and proves an even 

greater challenge for children with 

a hearing impairment. Nevertheless, 

all children must be able to 

access speech for language development and 

learning. 

Background noise, distance and reverberation are 

the three obstacles that significantly reduce children’s 

access to speech. 

These three obstacles are often present in a classroom, 

negatively affecting sound quality and learning 

ability. Although hearing aids are increasingly effective 

at improving the quality, audibility and clarity of the 

signal, they cannot eliminate all the factors that affect 

speech intelligibility. By sending a voice signal directly 

to the children’s hearing aids or headphones, the FM 

systems help overcome these three obstacles. 

About Amigo Arc 

The Amigo Arc is a universal 

induction loop receiver that 

connects the FM transmitter 

(worn by the teacher) to 

the student’s hearing aids. 

The teacher’s voice is captured by the transmitter’s 

microphone and sent directly to the Amigo Arc, subsequently 

sending the signal to the child’s hearing aids. 

The Arc neckloop works with any instrument fitted 

with a telecoil, including BTE, RIC, ITE, cochlear 

implant and bone-anchored devices. Amigo Arc can 

also be connected directly to modern audio systems, 

like MP3 players or iPads, sending the audio signal 

directly to the wearer’s hearing aids. 

About Amigo T5/R5 

The Amigo T5/R5 is an FM unit. Since 

it is worn with headphones, it is ideal for 

children with minimal hearing loss who 

are unable to wear hearing aids, those 

with a central auditory processing disorder 

(CAPD) or even those with attention 

deficit disorder (ADD). The T5 transmitter 

is worn by the teacher and sends a signal directly 

to the R5 receiver on the headphones worn by the 

student. As such, the obstacles affecting the student’s 

listening capability are eliminated, even if the child is 

not wearing hearing aids. 

About Amigo T30/T31 

The Amigo T30 is the ideal FM transmitter 

for sending the speaker’s signal 

directly to the hearing aids. Designed for 

classroom use, this device is extremely 

robust and reliable. The teacher’s voice 

is captured by the T30 microphone and 

sent directly to the sabots connected to 

the student’s hearing aids. The transmitter’s 

built-in LED light and small receivers connected 

to the hearing aids provide visual confirmation that 

the system is working properly and that the student 

is clearly receiving the signal in question. The Amigo 

T31 works in the same manner as the Amigo T30, 

except it also features a built-in team teaching function, 

which allows the use of several transmitters in 

the same room. 

About Amigo T10 

The Amigo T10 transmitter, like the 

T30, works with the help of receivers 

connected to the hearing aids 

or coupled with the R5 receptor. However, the T10 

offers multiple microphone options, and may be worn 

around the neck or placed on a table for everyone 

present to be understood by the hearing aid wearer, 

thus functioning as a conference microphone. 

Whether connected to headphones or hearing aids, 

Amigo FM systems help eliminate the three main 

obstacles to intelligible listening, and also help hearing-impaired 

children learn in an academic setting. 

Krystelle Breton, 

M.Sc.(a) 

Pediatric Audiologist / 

Trainer – Québec 

Oticon Canada 

www.oticon.com 



www.lobe.ca

aQDR’s report 

19 

Residential and long-term care centres: 

Negotiating the maze 


Better known as 

CHSLDs, these centres 

are a topic of 

discussion in the 

media and with our 

families, since any 

elderly person with decreasing 

independence could end up 

there one day. However, a certain 

amount of confusion reigns 

over the exact identity of these 

establishments, which used 

to be called nursing homes or 

old-age homes. 

There are, in fact, three types of 

establishments under the CHSLD 

umbrella. The first, public establishments, 

are owned and operated 

by the State. Next, there are private 

institutions that belong to private 

enterprise and offer the same services 

identified by the Ministère 

de la Santé et des Services sociaux, 

with accommodation costs identical 

to those of a public CHSLD. 

The difference between the two lies 

at the administrative level. Private 

CHSLDs under agreement are 

responsible for the administrative 

aspects concerning the ownership 

and management of the building, 

without State involvement. 

Lastly, there are private CHSLDs 

not under agreement. These centres 

must obtain a permit from the 

Ministère de la Santé et des Services 

sociaux authorizing them to admit 

persons with loss of autonomy. 

They do not receive any funding 

from the Ministère. In fact, the 

owners are free to establish their 

own prices, rules and criteria. 

Accommodation costs differ 

widely among private CHSLDs, 

where the greater the loss of 

autonomy, the greater the bill 

payable by the resident is likely 

to be. This is not the case with 

public CHSLDs and private 

CHSLDs under agreement 

(which receive funding), where 

accommodation costs are set 

every year by the Régie de 

l’assurance maladie du Québec 

and adjusted according to 

the resident’s ability to pay. 

As regards to tax credits for 

home-support services for seniors, 

persons aged 70 or older living in a 

health establishment (public or private 

under agreement) may claim 

certain services not offered by the 

establishment and which are purchased 

à la carte or by contract. 

As for private CHSLDs not under 

agreement, eligible services are the 

same as those offered in residences 

for seniors. For details on eligible 

and excluded services, please contact 

Revenu Québec. 

If you are dissatisfied with the 

quality of service and care provided, 

you may file a complaint with the 

local service quality and complaints 

commissioner. 

However, to ensure you are 

addressing the right party, 

for clarifications or for help 

throughout the complaints 

procedure, all individuals 

have access to free and confidential 

services from their 

region’s Centre d’assistance 

et d’accompagnement aux 

plaintes (CAAP). 

The CAAP toll-free number is 

1 877 767 2227. 

If you expected to receive services 

or you were told that you 

would receive services but that is 

not the case, you can demand an 

explanation. If you are not satisfied 

with the answers, ask your CAAP 

for support. You can also call upon 

a trusting friend or family member 

to do this on your behalf. 

Martine Gagnon 

Association québécoise 

de défense des droits 

des personnes retraitées 

et préretraitées 


www.lobe.ca

20 

Grandparents: 

A precious bond! 

N o w a d a y s , w e 

live in a society 

where everyone 

i s o v e r l o a d e d 

with responsibility 

and young 

parents struggle to find a balance 

between work and home 

life. Often, grandparents come 

to the rescue, picking up the 

little ones from daycare, stopping 

for groceries now and 

then, and lending a hand in 

countless other ways in their 

free time. Eventually, a unique 

bond forms between grandparents 

and their grandchildren, 

and they enjoy a truly 

precious intergenerational 

exchange! 

It is a fact that today’s grandparents 

cannot be compared to 

those of generations past. Being 

more populous, younger, more 

energetic and active, healthier 

DISCOUNTS 

and more affluent, the grandparents 

of our time have developed 

different needs and interests than 

their predecessors, and having 

flexible schedules means they have 

the opportunity to foster special 

relationships with their grandchildren. 

Take advantage of these rare 

moments with your grandchildren 

and you will encourage their 

personal growth and help them 

become informed adults. 

Suzanne Belzile 

Vice-Chair 

Table de concertation 

des personnes aînées 

de la Capitale-Nationale 

The FQCC is pleased to make 

the Lobe-Access hearing health program 

available to its members. 

We are listening 

Our 45,000 member-families are already enjoying the many 

benefits we provide, including the Lobe-Access program, 

exclusive to FQCC members. 

A passion for camping 

365 days a year 

ACTIVITIES AND TRIPS 

PUBLICATIONS 

For information and membership 

SERVICES 

Join today! 

www.fqcc.ca 



www.lobe.ca

Pharmacist’s report 

The use of Ritalin ® in the 

treatment of ADD/ADHD 

21 


Ritalin ® is one of 

t h e b e s t - k n o w n 

medications used 

to treat cases of 

Attention Deficit 

Disorder with or 

without Hyperactivity (ADD/ 

ADHD) in both children and 

adults alike. The active ingredient 

in Ritalin ® is called methylphenidate. 

Many concerns have 

been raised with respect to 

the use of the drug, which has 

increased dramatically over the 

last 20 years. 

Methylphenidate, first synthesized 

by the chemist Leandro Panizzon, 

was named after his wife, 

Rita, and marketed as Ritalin ® in 

1954. Ritalin ® was initially used to 

treat depression and chronic fatigue 

before being used in the 1960s to 

treat children and adults with ADD/ 

ADHD. Today, methylphenidate 

can be found in long-acting capsules 

(once daily dosage) under the 

name Concerta ® or Biphentin ® . 

Persons with ADD/ADHD 

have difficulty concentrating and 

completing activities with varying 

degrees of complexity. They often 

find it difficult to remain still and 

frequently act on impulse. 

Of course, these behaviours may 

be present in all individuals; however, 

they occur in a more abnormally 

pronounced manner and 

for extended periods of time with 

ADD/ADHD sufferers. These 

symptoms also appear in all life 

situations (not only at school or at 

home, for example). 

The cerebral stimulation triggered by Ritalin ® helps transmit messages 

between the brain’s nerve cells, thus improving concentration and memory, 

while managing anger and frustration. This drug must be introduced 

gradually (with a slow increase in dosage) to diminish the onset of side 

effects, with loss of appetite, sleep problems and irritability being the most 

frequent. The new, long-acting capsules also help control symptoms, while 

making it easier to swallow the medication. 

Nevertheless, the treatment of ADD/ADHD must not focus solely on 

medication. A psychosocial approach that includes establishing a 

well-organized schedule or adding educational activities, as needed, 

will facilitate the patient’s adaptation. Also, “Attentix,” a program 

developed by a Québec psychologist (www.attentix.ca), is available 

to parents and educators. To ensure the best treatment, it is important 

to accurately distinguish between ADD/ADHD and Auditory 

Processing Disorder (APD), which share behavioural similarities. 

Controversy has surrounded the growing use of Ritalin ® since the early 

1990s. Some believe that the explosion in demand for this drug is due to 

the insistence of the patient’s family. This should therefore be justified by a 

steady increase in ADD/ADHD cases, but it appears that the behavioural 

problem today is not significantly greater than it was in the past. 

Others believe that the increased use of Ritalin ® is due to a better 

understanding of the disorder and thus a better diagnosis. An ADD/ 

ADHD diagnosis must include several evaluations to eliminate other 

problems, such as depression, anxiety or hearing loss. The observations of 

parents and teachers play an important role. 

The advantages and disadvantages of treating ADD/ADHD with 

Ritalin ® are multiple. It is important to limit its use to children who really 

need the drug. The treatment of ADD/ADHD helps ensure adequate 

social functioning, and the use of medication remains one solution among 

other options. For more information, consult your pharmacist. 

Francis Turgeon, Pharmacist 

Pharmacie Fleury, 

Charest et Guilbert 

References: 

- RIOUX-SOUCY, Louise-Maude. Article in Le Devoir, published on June 11, 2005; Web page consulted 

June 13, 2011: http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/84019/du-ritalin-pour-la-vie 

- Centre l’étape du bassin de Maskinongé – Centre communautaire d’intervention en dépendance; 

Web site consulted June 13, 2011: http://www.etape.qc.ca/drogues/ritalin.htm 

- Wikipedia (methylphenidate page); Web site consulted June 13, 2011: 

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9thylph%C3%A9nidate 


www.lobe.ca

22 audiologist’s report 

Don’t play 

with fire! 

We may have heard this uttered time 

and time again as children, but this 

adage takes on a whole new meaning 

in adulthood, as we understand 

all there is to lose. Sadly, each 

year, many people’s homes are 

destroyed, along with all of their belongings, in 

house fires. 

Not hearing a smoke detector or fire alarm go off, 

especially at night, is a genuine concern for people with 

total or partial hearing loss, since most sleep without 

their hearing aids. However, did you know that, in 

some Québec towns 1 , you can have yourself added to 

the local fire department’s registry of persons with disabilities 

2 . Such registries let the firefighters called to a 

scene know whether there is someone inside who may 

References: 

1. Most notably, the cities of Montréal, Longueuil, Thetford Mines and Saguenay 

offer this service. 

2. The name of this registry varies from one town to the next; in Longueuil for 

example, it is called the Programme de secours adapté (adapted rescue program). 

3. Some cities, such as Québec City, have a register, but it only includes persons 

with severely restricted mobility. 

not have heard the alarm, so they can attend to that 

person immediately in the event of a fire. 

To find out whether this service is available in your 

area 3 and/or have your name added to the list, simply 

contact your local fire department and inquire. Requests 

can also be submitted online in some regions. 

Valérie Tremblay, 

MOA, LL.M. 

Audiologist 

Thetford Mines 

Association québécoise des 

retraité(e)s 

des secteurs public et parapublic 

The AQRP is pleased to make 

the Lobe-Access hearing health program 

available to its members. 

Founded in 1968, the Association québécoise 

des retraité(e)s des secteurs public et parapublic 

(AQRP) is the main independent association representing 

all retirees from the public and parapublic sectors 

in Québec. 

The AQRP stands out through its sustained citizen 

involvement in support of issues of concern to all seniors 

and early retirees in Québec. Specifically, the Association 

is involved in a number of initiatives affecting the health 

of these individuals, including access to care and treatment, 

housing and suicide prevention. 

Find out about the benefits of being an AQRP member 

by calling 1 800 653‐2747, extension 10, or by visiting our 

Web site at www.aqrp.qc.ca. 



www.lobe.ca

dossier : Appareils auditifs 

chronique de l’audioprothésiste 

23 

The 22 nd annual 

Emerald Ball 

in support of the Fondation Sourdine to 

benefit the École oraliste de Québec pour 

enfants malentendants ou sourds 

Photo: Gilles Fréchette 

The Québec Commandery of 

the Order of St. Lazarus has 

put on its renowned Emerald 

Ball at Québec City’s Fairmount 

Le Château Frontenac for the past 

22 years now, and this year is no 

exception! The 2011 edition of the 

prestigious annual event is slated 

for Saturday, October 29, with 

proceeds going to the Fondation 

Sourdine in support of the École 

oraliste de Québec pour enfants 

malentendants ou sourds. 

Isabelle Hudon, President of Sun 

Life Financial, Québec, will be the 

Honorary Chair of this year’s splendid 

benefit gala. The Emerald Ball is 

a unique philanthropic event that 

will offer the more than 350 anticipated 

guests a chance to delight in 

the culinary prowess of Jean Soulard, 

Executive Chef at Fairmont 

Le Château Frontenac, as well as 

the dancing rhythms of 30 piece 

orchestra Les Voltigeurs de Québec, 

in keeping with the impressive military 

decorum that sets the grand 

affair apart. A draw will be held 

for a piece of jewellery set with an 

emerald, an exclusive creation by 

designer Hélène Savard valued at 

$5,000. 

The Military and Hospitaller 

Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem 

Emerald 

Ball 

Saturday, October 29 

at 6:30 p.m. 

Fairmont 

Le Château Frontenac 

Québec City 

Tickets: $300 

For information: 

Fondation Sourdine 

418 263-5189, extension 23 

is an international order of chivalry 

that dates back to the 11th-century 

Crusades. The present-day Order 

of St. Lazarus has more than 3,000 

members worldwide. There are 

11 commanderies of the Order in 

Canada, including the very active 

Commandery of Québec, which 

has donated over $1,000,000 to 

various causes and foundations 

over the years. This year, the Québec 

Commandery of the Order of 

St. Lazarus is pleased to support 

the Fondation Sourdine through its 

Emerald Ball, and invites all those 

who are interested to attend an 

exclusive gala fit for the most lavish 

of venues, for a noble cause. 

Isabelle Hudon 

President 

Sun Life Financial, Québec 

”Sun Life Financial is proud to 

partner with the Emerald Ball 

and lend a helping hand to Fondation 

Sourdine. I am happy that 

this foundation, which supports 

the École oraliste de Québec 

pour enfants malentendants ou 

sourds (North America’s only 

French-language institution of 

the kind), has captured our 

attention. Thanks to the Fondation 

Sourdine, these students 

will have the chance to pursue 

their dreams and, in turn, Québec 

society will benefit from 

their passionate use of their 

talent and energy,“ confirms 

Isabelle Hudon, President of 

Sun Life Financial, Québec. 


Major Partner 


www.lobe.ca

Just one call. 

We listen. We care. TM 

1 866 411-5623 

multidisciplinary clinics 

ENT • Audiologists • Audioprosthetists 

Specialized Educators • speech-language pathologists* 

MC 

Proud partner of the Fondation 

Sourdine for the benefit of the 

École oraliste de Québec 

pour enfants malentendants 

ou sourds 

D E Q U É B E C P O U R E N F A N T S S O U R D S 

www.ecoleoraliste.qc.ca 

www.sourdine.qc.ca 

QuÉbec city area 

Québec • Lebourgneuf 

Polyclinique Lebourgneuf 

777, boulevard Lebourgneuf 

Bureau 120 

Québec (Québec) G2J 1C3 

Tel.: 418 780-3007 

Fax: 418 780-3016 

Québec • Neufchâtel 

Clinique médicale DuChatel 

9465, boulevard de l’Ormière 

Bureau 102 

Québec (Québec) G2B 3K7 

Tel.: 418 843-5244 

Fax: 418 843-0885 

Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures 

Complexe médical l’Hêtrière 

3520, rue de l’Hêtrière 

Bureau 103 

Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures 

(Québec) G3A 0B4 

Tel.: 418 780-3007 

Fax: 418 780-3016 

Opening in November: 

Sainte-Foy 

Clinique médicale Saint-Louis 

3165, chemin Saint-Louis 

Québec (Québec) G1W 4R4 

Tel. : 1 866 411-5623 

Chaudière-appalaches 

Lévis 

2 nd floor, Uniprix drugstore 

40, route du Président-Kennedy 

Bureau 204 

Lévis (Québec) G6V 6C4 

Tel.: 418 830-5623 

Fax: 418 830-5624 

New address: 

Saint-Georges 

2 nd floor, Uniprix drugstore 

14640, boulevard Lacroix 

Saint-Georges (Québec) G5Y 7G8 

Tel.: 418 228-2970 

Fax: 418 228-6722 

Sainte-Marie 

733, boulevard Vachon Nord 

Sainte-Marie (Québec) G6E 1M3 

Tel.: 418 387-7988 

Fax: 418 387-7918 

Thetford Mines 

Place 611 

611, boulevard Frontenac Est 

Bureau 201 

Thetford Mines (Québec) G6G 6Y7 

Tel.: 418 338-8777 

Fax: 418 338-3673 

Eastern townships 

Lac-Mégantic 

Carrefour Lac Mégantic 

3560, rue Laval, bureau 123 

Lac-Mégantic (Québec) G6B 2X4 

Tel.: 819 583-6633 

Fax: 819 583-4690 

Sherbrooke • LSQ 

Clinique de santé Jacques-Cartier 

1815, rue King Ouest 

Bureau 200 

Sherbrooke (Québec) J1J 2E3 

Tel.: 819 348-4334 

1 866 348-4334 

Fax: 819 542-1883 

Sherbrooke • Rock Forest 

Clinique Médicale Rock Forest 

4870, boulevard Bourque 

Sherbrooke (Québec) J1N 3S5 

Tel.: 819 348-4334 

1 866 348-4334 

Fax: 819 542-1883 

Laurentides and Laval 

Boisbriand 

Polyclinique 640 

2000, cours Le Corbusier 

Bureau 105 

Boisbriand (Québec) J7G 3E8 

Tel.: 450 437-4343 

Fax: 450 437-1719 

Laval • Chomedey 

Centre professionnel 

Cité de l’Avenir 

1575, boulevard de l’Avenir 

Bureau 120 

Laval (Québec) H7S 2N5 

Tel.: 450 934-2614 

Fax: 450 934-2615 

Laval • Sainte-Dorothée 

Centre médical Sainte-Dorothée 

3, boulevard Samson, bureau H 

Laval (Québec) H7X 3S5 

Tel.: 450 969-3335 

Fax: 450 969-3566 

Mauricie 

Shawinigan 

3222, boulevard des Hêtres 

Shawinigan (Québec) G9N 3B6 

Tel.: 819 539-8666 

Fax: 819 731-9922 

Trois-Rivières 

4870, boulevard des Forges 

Bureau 101 

Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8Y 1W9 

Tel.: 819 378-7477 

Fax: 819 840-8382 

MONTérégie 

Longueuil 

1215-165, chemin Du Tremblay 

Longueuil (Québec) J4N 1R4 

Tel.: 450 448-4544 

Fax: 450 448-4504 

NEW CLINIC: 

Saint-Hubert 

4025, boulevard Taschereau 

Bureau 1200 

Saint-Hubert (Québec) J4T 2G8 

Tel.: 450 890-3781 

Fax: 450 890-3782 

New clinic: 

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 

600, boulevard du Séminaire Nord 

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 

(Québec) J3B 7B4 

Tel.: 450 349-4343 

Fax: 450 348-4884 

MONTRÉAL 

Montréal • Saint-Léonard 

Les Terrasses Langelier 

6383, rue Jean-Talon Est 

Saint-Léonard (Québec) H1S 3E7 

Tel.: 514 798-0915 

Fax: 514 798-0916 

Pointe-Claire 

Corner of Saint-Jean Blvd. 

and Holiday Avenue 

18, place Triad, bureau 210 

Pointe-Claire (Québec) H9R 0A2 

Tel.: 514 782-0482 

Fax: 514 782-0480 

Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean 

Chicoutimi 

1577, boulevard Talbot 

Chicoutimi (Québec) G7H 4C3 

Tel.: 418 545-7766 

Fax: 418 545-1766 

Jonquière 

3625, boulevard Harvey 

Jonquière (Québec) G7X 3B2 

Tel.: 418 695-6232 

Fax: 418 695-6919 

La Baie 

513, boulevard de la Grande-Baie Sud 

La Baie (Québec) G7B 2C9 

Tel.: 418 544-7005 

Fax: 418 544-7067 

Northern quebec 

Tel.: 819 378-7477 

Other regions: 1 866 411-5623 • www.lobe.ca • lobe@lobe.ca 

* The types of professionals may vary from clinic to clinic. 

Litho Canada All trademarks are the property of Lobe Santé auditive Inc. / Bulletin produced by Lobe Publications.

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