JUST ONE CALL. - Lobe

The magazine that’s all about your hearing 

THE HEariNg TEsT… 

How do i persuade 

a loved one to book 

a consultation? 

page 8 

Hearing aids: 

even more effective! 

page 13 

Treat yourself 

to wireless for 

watching TV 

page 20 

Volume 5, Number 2, 2012 

plEasE TakE oNE 

FREE 

interview with 

Marie-Josée Taillefer 

Making deafness visible! 

page 3 

ENT’s rEporT 

Cholesteatoma 

page 5

2 

Editorial 

Pay attention 

hearing loss can creep 

up on you! 

at Lobe Magazine, 

we have made it 

our mission to raise 

awareness about 

the importance 

of taking good 

care of your hearing. It is always 

sad to see people isolate themselves 

from their families simply 

because they can no longer follow 

conversations. 

Once again, this issue focuses 

on the various telltale signs of 

hearing loss. It is full of tips to 

help you assist your hearingimpaired 

loved ones as they take 

the necessary steps to maintain 

their quality of life. 

an aging ear is a natural 

phenomenon. 

Just as presbyopia often 

appears in aging eyes, presbycusis 

is the result of the hearing system’s 

normal aging process. 

The biggest problem with 

presbycusis is its gradual onset. 

Because it develops so slowly, a 

person may not be aware they 

have the condition, at least not 

in its early stages. People often 

blame their hearing problem on 

lobe MAgAzine www.lobe.ca 

others and complain that those 

around them are not speaking 

clearly, not enunciating properly 

or are not loud enough. 

Certain conditions will make 

it more obvious that a person 

is having trouble making out 

speech: 

� noisy environments (a lively 

meal, a crowded pub, public 

transportation); 

� conversations that take place 

at a distance (such as from one 

room to another); 

� several people talking at the 

same time (meetings, debates); 

� large and sparsely furnished 

spaces (churches, conference 

halls). 

If you see these signs in a 

loved one, friend or co-worker, it 

is a good idea to approach them 

about having their hearing tested. 

Happy reading! � 

Martin Cousineau 


editor 

Martin Cousineau, President 

mcousineau@lobe.ca 

editor-in-Chief 

Sabrina grégoire 

sgregoire@lobe.ca 

Columnists 

Cédric Bégnoche, Audioprosthetist 

Simon Dufort, Audioprosthetist 

paul Fontaine, Audioprosthetist 

Martin Fortin, MOA, Audiologist 

Sébastien Lanthier, Audioprosthetist 

France Morrissette, Audioprosthetist 

Jonathan plouffe, Audioprosthetist 

Michèle Veilleux, MPA, Audiologist 

advisory committee 

Josée Boulanger 

annie Dumontier 

Michelle Fournier 

Martin Fortin 

Natacha Ioannoni 

Francine Morrissette 

Michèle Veilleux 

Rafif Zarka 

graphic designer 

Véronique Labbé 

Novalux Conception Impression inc. 

TM 

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 

Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, Montréal 

National Library of Canada, Ottawa 

Lobe Publications 

3520, rue de l’Hêtrière, bureau 103 

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

All rights reserved 

Marie-Josée Taillefer is the 

spokesperson for the 

inaugural fundraising campaign 

for the Fondation Sourdine 

pour l’École oraliste de Québec 

pour enfants malentendants ou 

sourds, and she met our interview 

request with enthusiasm. 

As the inspirational parents of 

two deaf children, Marie-Josée 

Taillefer and her husband René 

Simard understand better than 

anyone the importance of our 

awareness campaign, which seeks 

to inform people about the impact 

hearing has on our daily lives. 

When Olivier was born, Marie- 

Josée and René thought he was simply 

a very calm baby. An extremely 

calm baby. Far from silent, Olivier’s 

babble served to mask his deafness. 

But over time, his small sounds 

became more and more infrequent. 

Since he couldn’t hear them, he did 

not develop the habit of repeating 

after them. However, like all babies, 

he could sense vibrations. If an 

Over a period of five years, this major 

campaign will raise 2.5 million dollars 

to go towards acquiring a building 

that will house the École oraliste 

de Québec. The money will also be 

used to create an endowment fund 

to ensure the school can continue to 

provide services and to build an intensive 

education program for students. 

“We decided to support this campaign 

because we know that for deaf 

or hearing-impaired children, proper 

education is crucial to their development. 

This is why we are very happy to 

Interview with Marie-Josée Taillefer: 

Making deafness visible! 

object fell on the floor, it would 

startle him—not because of the 

noise, but because he could feel it. 

After a while, Marie-Josée and René 

real ized that they were not able to 

calm their son’s crying with their 

voices alone. Olivier would only 

quiet down at the sight of his parents. 

That was when they decided 

to have him tested. At 11 months, 

Olivier’s deafness was diagnosed. 

EArLy CHILDHOOD 

INTErVENTION IS CrITICAL! 

When Rosalie was born two years 

later, it was a completely different 

story. At that time, the hospital was 

testing a new device for detecting 

deafness in newborns, and they 

soon diagnosed Rosalie as being 

deaf as well. For the couple, the 

news came as a shock. Their experience 

with Olivier had shown 

them how important it is to act 

quickly, equipping the child with 

hearing aids and adopting appropriate 

behaviours right away to 

avoid developmental delays. Early 

intervention is crucial because language 

develops in a child before 

the age of three. “For example, if a 

lend our support to this extraordina ry 

school,” says Marie-Josée. 

Throughout our interview, Marie- 

Josée displayed an incredible gener- 

child begins to talk at one year old, 

it’s because he’s been hearing words 

for a whole year,” says Marie-Josée. 

“Imagine the delays a child would 

experience if he only started to hear 

at the age of five!” 

Marie-Josée points to the hidden 

nature of deafness, which is 

not an easily detected disability. 

“People don’t usually think their 

child’s hearing could be deficient; 

parents take it for granted that 

their child can hear well from birth. 

Imagine—we were with our son 

24 hours a day, and even though 

Olivier is deaf, we had to piece 

together all these little signs before 

we became suspicious and decided 

to have his hearing tested. Think of 

what it would be like with a child 

who has mild or moderate deafness. 

Often, parents will become aware of 

their child’s hearing loss only once 

he or she starts school and displays 

difficulty with reading and writing. 

If you have even the slightest 

suspicion, you should consult an 

audiologist to make sure,” advises 

Marie-Josée. 

rENé aNd MariE-JoséE HaVE agrEEd To bE THE spokEspEoplE for THE firsT 

fuNdraisiNg caMpaigN for THE foNdaTioN sourdiNE pour l’écolE oralisTE 

dE QuébEc pour ENfaNTs MalENTENdaNTs ou sourds. 

When we asked Marie-Josée 

to tell us what her ultimate 

goal was, she replied without 

hesitation: “To make deafness 

visible!” Indeed, the disability 

receives scant attention. 

osity of spirit, and we would like to 

thank her from the bottom of our 

hearts for this enriching and enlightening 

encounter. � 

www.sourdine.qc.ca 

3 

To read the full interview, 

visit www.lobe.ca. 

lobe MAgAzine www.lobe.ca

4 


cédric bégnoche 

Audioprosthetist 

Nathalie bisson 


Josée boulanger 


Julie caya 


Joey champagne 


paul côté 


Martin cousineau 


skueda dessureault-Tremblay 


karl drouin 


simon dufort 


annie dumontier 


Janie durette 


paul fontaine 


Michelle fournier 


Elaine gagnon 


christophe grenier 


stéphanie Hamel 



Natacha ioannoni 


francis laflamme 


sonia lamarche 


sébastien lanthier 


étienne lefebvre 


stéphanie Marceau-dugal 


france Morrissette 


francine Morrissette 


andré ouellet 


Jonathan plouffe 


Jacinthe poitras 


annie potvin 


Nicole Tourigny 


audrey Tremblay 


Michel Zalatan 


Hugues baril 

MOA, Audiologist 

Hélène beaucher 


Association québécoise de défense des droits 

des personnes retraitées et préretraitées 

TM 

Our PArTNErS 

Association québécoise de défense des droits 

des personnes retraitées et préretraitées 

Joëlle bélanger 

MPA, Audiologist 

élise boucher-doddridge 


kathia faust 


Martin fortin 


linda gagnon 


audrey goulet 


Joanie lessard 


Marie-Ève lessard 


Justine ratelle 


Nadine Tougas 


Jessica Tremblay 


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 

lace des aînés 

DE L’ÉNERGIE À REVENDRE ! 

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 

Tanya béliveau 

Specialized Educator 

Myriam bouchard 


Valérie boucher 


Myriam boulanger 


Marie-Julie carbonneau 


stéphanie desjardins 


émilie fournier 


isabelle galarneau 


Marie-pier gervais 


Marie-Ève guay 


stéphanie guillemette 


Estelle lamonde 


Marie-christine lavoie 


audrey racine 


annick rousseau 


sarah roy 


Marianne Vermette 


All rights reserved


Cholesteatoma 

The human ear is susceptible to a thousand 

and one problems: ear infections 

are common among children while the 

elderly often experience presbycusis 

(age-related hearing loss). Cholesteatoma, 

on the other hand, is a disease 

marked by cysts on the eardrum and in the middle 

ear. 

Cholesteatoma is a type of chronic ear infection 

or long-term inflammation of the eardrum or middle 

ear. It consists of a cyst or retraction pocket on the 

eardrum. Cholesteatoma is sometimes congenital, but 

most often it results from chronic tympanic membrane 

retraction or a perforated eardrum. Cholesteatoma is 

more frequent among children under 15, but it can 

occur at any age and usually appears in only one ear. 

Patients with cholesteatoma may experience hearing 

loss or ear discharge, but symptoms are sometimes 

very mild. 

HEariNG 

ENt’s rEport 

an eNT can perform a microscopy exam to diagnose 

problems of the eardrum and the middle 

ear, including cholesteatoma. a computed tomography 

(CT) scan of the ear is also often useful. 

Cholesteatoma must be surgically treated by an 

ENT specialist. The condition often requires longterm 

monitoring. It should be treated quickly to avoid 

certain complications such as infections (mastoiditis, 

meningitis), permanent deafness, dizziness or facial 

paralysis. 

If you are experiencing prolonged ear discharge, do 

not hesitate to consult an ENT doctor. � 

Dr. Yanick Larivée 

Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist 

Head and neck surgeon 

President of the Association of Oto-rhino-laryngology 

and Maxillo-facial Surgery of Quebec 


5

6 

HEariNG 

audioprostHEtist’s rEport 

Two ears: 

two cerebral hemispheres 

The brain acts as 

headquarters for the 

central nervous system, 

controlling our 

ideas and thoughts. 

It is home to over 

a hundred billion interconnected 

nerve cells that transmit and 

receive messages from different 

parts of the body. These cells are 

the seat of intellectual, sensory and 

motor functions. 

The brain is divided into two 

hemispheres, and as a general rule, 

these are organized in the following 

way: 

The LeFT heMISpheRe 

The left hemisphere: The brain’s 

left hemisphere is the rational side, 

the primary centre for language, 

computation and analysis. 

The right hemisphere: The 

right hemisphere excels in everything 

visual and spatial, perception 

and intuition. The right hemisphere 

of the brain is associated 

with creativity and music. 


The RIghT heMISpheRe 

Each hemisphere is subdivided 

by fissures forming several lobes: 

the limbic lobe, the insula, the 

frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the 

occipital lobe and the temporal 

lobe containing the taste, memory 

and hearing centres. The auditory 

cortex is responsible for analyzing 

the information we receive through 

hearing. 

heaRINg (TeMpORaL LOBe) 

Each cerebral hemisphere processes 

information according to 

its speciality, and then forwards 

its results to the other half of the 

brain. For example, to stretch the 

right leg, the left hemisphere is 

what triggers the movement. 

BINauRaL heaRINg 

Nature has equipped us with two 

ears and two cerebral hemispheres. 

Each cerebral hemisphere analyzes 

the messages transmitted by both 

ears, which means it is important 

that each ear is functioning well. 

references: 

* See the article “La privation sensorielle,” Lobe Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 1, p. 8. 

- MArIEBS, Elaine N. Principes d’anatomie et de physiologie humaines, Éditions du renouveau pédagogique. 

- TOrTOrA, Gerard J., and Sandra rEyNOLDS GrABOWSkI. Principes d’anatomie et de physiologie. 

- PurVES, Dale (2003). Neurosciences, 2nd edition, trans. J. M. Coquery (De Boeck). 

- revue Audio info (April 2004). 

Studies show that hearingimpaired 

people with bilateral 

hearing aids describe sounds 

as having more clarity, intensity, 

proximity and softness, 

and report an improvement 

in their ability to understand 

conversation in noisy environments. 

In short, binaural hearing 

provides a better hearing 

experience than monaural 

hearing. 

Not only do our two ears allow 

us to hear, they also let us locate 

sounds in our environment. For 

example, your ears don’t just let 

you know a car is coming, they also 

tell you the direction from which 

it is arriving. With his eyes closed, 

a person with bilateral hearing aids 

(both ears corrected) is able to tell 

if a vehicle is arriving from the left 

or the right. In addition, hearing 

aids stimulate the reorganization 

mechanisms of the auditory cortex 

(brain plasticity) and improve cognitive 

and social performance.* 

Hearing aids “re-educate” hearing, 

even in the very elderly. So it is 

never too late to reap the benefits of 

modern digital technology! 

To learn more, do not hesitate to 

consult an audioprosthetist at any 

Lobe Santé auditive et communication 

multidisciplinary clinic. � 

France Morrissette 


Boisbriand and 

Laval • Sainte-Dorothée 

All rights reserved


Brain plasticity 

You have undoubtedly already heard 

of books or memory games that are 

bursting with various problems to test 

our memories and mental skills. They 

engage our brain’s ability to maintain 

its malleability. This phenomenon is 

referred to as brain plasticity. In essence, our central 

nervous system is perpetually reorganizing itself 

regardless of our age. 

The idea is simple: the more stimuli the brain 

receives, the more it reorganizes itself to better manage 

those stimuli. A good example of this is how sometimes 

the blind develop a sense of touch or hearing 

that is stronger than the average person’s. Many scientific 

experiments and studies have shown this observation 

to be true. Some researchers even believe that 

brain plastic ity could be at the centre of slowing down 

symptoms of Alzheimer disease in some subjects, as if 

the brain were compensating for having the disease. 

In other words, the brain continuously remodels itself. 

Brain plasticity is extremely important to a successful 

hearing aid fitting; it should definitely not 

be ignored. put another way, you need to give 

yourself some time. adapting to hearing aids is a 

process, not an innate ability. 

HEariNG aids 


Today, hearing aid miniaturization allows us to 

brush aside most pejorative stereotypes about the 

devices. The adaptation period remains essential to the 

success of a hearing aid fitting. People can take days 

or weeks to find their auditory markers and reorganize 

the processing of this new information by the various 

nerve endings. Your audioprosthetist and specialized 

educator will support you during this adaptation 

period. In addition, always keep in mind that time is 

a determining factor in this process, so give yourself a 

chance to see the positive changes over time. 

BrAIN PLASTICITy 

FrOM ANOTHEr ANGLE 

It can work the other way too: a brain receiving a 

reduced quantity of information will slowly lose the 

ability to process that information. This phenomenon 

is referred to as sensory deprivation. 

people who have been hearing-impaired and 

without a hearing aid for several years will face a 

greater challenge during the period in which they 

are adapting to their hearing aid. Therefore, it is 

imperative to proceed with a hearing aid fitting as 

soon as hearing loss is diagnosed. 

Considering that a person with hearing loss takes 

an average of seven years before consulting a professional, 

it is not surprising that the adaptation period 

will be longer. 

Do not hesitate to consult an audioprosthetist at any 

Lobe Santé auditive et communication multidisciplinary 

clinic for more information. � 

Simon Dufort 


Montréal • Saint-Laurent 

references: 

- ArLINGEr, S. “Negative consequences of uncorrected hearing loss−a review,” 

International Journal of Audiology (2003); 42(2), 17-20. 

- PHILIBErT, B., et al. “The auditory acclimatization effect in sensorineural hearing-impaired 

listeners: Evidence for functional plasticity,” Hearing Research 

(2005); 131-142. 

- TrEMBLAy, Jessica, MPA, Audiologist. 

- “À la découverte de la plasticité cérébrale,” http://www.psychologies.com, page 

consulted on January 22, 2012. 

- “Les personnes à risques d’Alzheimer peuvent désormais espérer retarder 

l’apparition des premiers symtômes,” http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca, page 

consulted on January 22, 2012. 


7

8 

HEariNG 

audioloGist’s rEport 

The hearing test… 

How do I persuade a loved 

one to book a consultation? 

It is not easy to 

convince the people 

in our lives to consult 

an audiologist. Deafness 

is commonly 

associated with old 

age, and who wants to admit to getting 

older with the accompanying 

loss of abilities? Telling someone 

they “don’t hear well” can therefore 

feel somewhat confrontational. 

Deafness can sneak up on 

people. Because it often occurs 

very gradually, many don’t even 

realize that anything is wrong with 

their hearing. People who fail to 

notice their hearing loss will often 

lay blame on those around them: 

“Everyone else mumbles—they 

don’t speak clearly!” is a common 

argument. It is hard for a person to 

realize they are missing sounds they 

can no longer hear. Bear in mind 

that before hearing impaired people 

come to terms with their deafness, 

they typically go through a fairly 

long period of denial. It can be a 

frustrating experience. On average, 

it is usually five to seven years 

between the time someone starts to 

notice a problem and the time they 

consult an audiologist. Some will 

even wait up to 15 years. 

There is no magic formula for 

persuading someone to book a 

consultation. Every person will 

react differently to the suggestion. 

For some, it is important to 

approach the topic very gently, 

while others will respond to a more 

direct approach. It can be helpful 

to appeal to a person’s emotions; 

for example, by asking them if they 

are bothered by their inability to 

understand others during family 

get-togethers or when they play 

with their grandchildren. You can 


also bring up your own feelings by 

talking about how it makes you 

sad when the person avoids taking 

part in conversations, or frustrated 

when you constantly need to repeat 

yourself. Make sure to choose an 

appropriate time when the person 

is likely to be receptive. Above all, 

avoid bringing up the topic when 

a third person is present. Be respectful 

when broaching the subject 

and you will have a better chance of 

being heard. 

Stick to the facts, and avoid using 

a harsh tone or accusatory words so 

the person does not feel as if they are 

being attacked. Avoid the following 

expressions: “You don’t understand 

anything,” “You always make me 

repeat everything” or “Your responses 

don’t make any sense!” It is 

better to use the “I” formula: “I have 

the impression that you are more 

tired after group gatherings,” or 

“I think you are having more trouble 

under s tanding people than you used 

to.” It is important to let the person 

know that you only want what is 

best for them and that your goal is 

to improve their quality of life. 

Be an active listener and try to 

understand their point of view. 

Don’t force the issue. 

hearing health professionals 

are there to help people 

cope with hearing loss. You 

can let your loved one know 

they have nothing to lose and 

everything to gain by booking 

a consultation! 

You can even offer to make the 

process easier by arranging the 

appointment or accompanying 

them to the audiologist. For people 

who are dealing with hearing loss, 

gestures like these will certainly 

reduce their stress. 

Here are a few other helpful tips: 

� Leave some Lobe Magazine issues 

lying around to demystify the 

issue. 

� Find a reason to bring up a 

recently published article that 

may be of interest. 

� Make a positive comment about 

a neighbour’s hearing aids. 

� Etc. 

Lastly, just like our eyes, our ears 

need regular preventative check-ups 

throughout our lives, and hearing 

tests are recommended, especially 

after the age of 50. 

If you have any questions, please 

do not hesitate to contact an audiologist 

at a Lobe Santé auditive et 

communication multidisciplinary 

clinic. � 

Michèle Veilleux, MPA 

Audiologist 

Québec 

All rights reserved


When deciding if 

a person should 

wear a hearing aid, 

there are several 

factors to consider. 

an individual’s 

personality and their environment 

bear more or less equal 

consideration in determining 

hearing aid needs. 

First of all, it is important to 

understand that the audiogram 

represents only one factor. This 

graphic, generated by the audiologist, 

illustrates the degree and type 

of hearing loss present. It forms 

the basis of any hearing assessment, 

certainly, but bear in mind 

that two people with the same type 

of deafness can each face very different 

challenges. 

These challenges vary depending 

on the heaRINg-IMpaIReD 

peRSON’S LeVeL OF aCTIVITY. For 

example, people who do not lead 

busy social lives and who are not 

working will interact less frequently 

with others, and therefore will run 

up against fewer communication 

challenges. In addition, if they 

know the people with whom they 

usually communicate, their needs 

will be less acute. People who are 

hard of hearing will usually find it 

easier to communicate with friends 

and family as opposed to strangers. 

It is also important to consider 

the TYpe OF WORk a peRSON 

peRFORMS. People who engage in 

manual labour and who have little 

need to communicate with others 

may feel less inclined to use hearing 

aids than a person who attends 

meetings frequently, interacts with 

the public or who works in customer 

service. The actual work 

environment can be a factor as well. 

Quiet workplaces such as closed 

offices make it easier for hearingimpaired 

people to understand 

conversation, in contrast to noisy 

environments like open concept 

spaces that are shared with several 

colleagues. 

ReCReaTIONaL aCTIVITIeS also 

come into play. Life does not only 

happen at work—what a person 

does in their free time is also an 

important consideration. To take 

full advantage of leisure activities, 

it is important to take stock of 

what is required. People who participate 

in numerous social activities 

(bingo, bridge, etc.) will have 

greater need for a hearing aid than 

those who engage in solitary pastimes 

such as reading, sewing or 

embroidery. 

It is important to note that the 

aBILITY TO aDapT TO heaRINg 

LOSS varies greatly from one individual 

to another. Some people are 

limited in their ability to compensate, 

such as through lip-reading or 

by signalling that they have missed 

what was said. People who are less 

inclined to employ good communication 

strategies experience more 

severe consequences as a result of 

hearing loss, which increases the 

need for hearing aids. 

Furthermore, a person’s CapaC- 

ITY TO Make MeNTaL aDJuST- 

MeNTS hinges on their language 

facility (syntax and vocabulary) 

HEariNG aids 

audioloGist’s rEport 

DID YOu kNOW that the type of hearing aid 

you wear is based on your individual profile? 

as well as their degree of general 

knowledge; these make a big difference 

in one’s ability to understand. 

In addition, when the language 

a hearing-impaired person 

hears is not their mother tongue, 

difficulties increase, along with 

the need to wear hearing aids. For 

example, if you are learning French 

or enjoy frequent travel, you may 

find these activities very challenging 

once you experience hearing 

loss and feel a greater need for 

hear ing aids. 

Always keep in mind that to 

reap all the benefits of hearing aids 

and to facilitate their regular usage, 

it is important to recognize one’s 

own unique challenges and feel 

motivated to make the necessary 

effort! 

Do not hesitate to consult an 

audiologist at a Lobe Santé auditive 

et communication clinic for 

more information. � 

Michèle Veilleux, MPA 

Audiologist 

Québec 


9

10 

QuESTIONNAIrE 

HEArING AND LISTENING 

difficulties screening 

For each question, place a checkmark in the circle under the answer that best describes your listening 

and hearing experiences. Please only use one checkmark per question and answer all the questions. 

Questions 

1. I have difficulty understanding a conversation when I am 

speaking with someone and there is background noise present 

(example: in a shopping mall, in a restaurant, in the car). 

Never 

0 point 

occasionally 

2 points 

often 

4 points 

always 

6 points 

� � � � 

2. I have to turn up the volume of the television or the radio 

in order to understand better. � � � � 

3. I have difficulty understanding conversations when a number 

of people are talking at the same time. � � � � 

4. I have difficulty hearing someone knocking at the door or 

hearing the doorbell ringing. � � � � 

5. I have difficulty hearing the telephone ringing from another 

room at home. � � � � 

6. I have difficulty understanding speech if I cannot see the face 

of the person talking to me. � � � � 

7. I have difficulty understanding speech when people talk 

too quickly. � � � � 

8. I have difficulty understanding on the phone. � � � � 

9. I have difficulty identifying where sounds are coming from. � � � � 

10. I have difficulty understanding speech when someone talks 

to me from another room at home. � � � � 

1. add up your points. 

1 

Make an appointment 

with an audiologist for 

a complete hearing evaluation. 


2. add: 

• Below 60 years of age: 0 

• Betwen 60 and 64: 6 

• 65 years or more: 12 

IF YOuR TOTaL scorE is 24 or MorE, 

The FOLLOWINg STepS aRe ReCOMMeNDeD: 

2 

Upon your request, a copy of your hearing evaluation 

will be sent to your family doctor. 

This questionnaire was designed by Martin Fortin, MOA, audiologist, in conjunction with Lobe Santé auditive et communication. 

No part of this document can be reproduced without the written permission of Lobe Santé auditive et communication. 

To find the multidisciplinary clinic nearest you: 

1 866 411-5623 • www.lobe.ca 

3. add boxes 

1 and 2. 

If a hearing loss is identified; you will be 

referred to either, your family doctor, 

an ear-nose-throat specialist or an audioprosthetist. 

All rights reserved


Myths surrounding 

the use of hearing aids 

are you embarrassed 

to wear glasses 

because you want 

to keep others from 

knowing you have 

vision problems? 

are you always pushing off correcting 

your vision until later? Do 

you use a magnifying glass to read 

the newspaper instead of wearing 

your glasses? Then why keep your 

hearing problems a secret? 

If you have a hearing loss, why 

are you embarrassed about wearing 

hearing aids? Could it be the myths 

surrounding hearing aids and deafness? 

If so, let’s demystify them. 

Following are a few examples of 

myths that hearing health professionals 

often encounter. 

1. HEArING AIDS ArE TOO 

BIG; EVEryONE WILL SEE 

I HAVE THEM. 

So? What’s important is that you 

hear and understand better. There 

are hearing aids that can be placed 

at the bottom of the ear canal. 

However, for people whose degree 

of hearing loss or size of auditory 

canal do not allow the wearing of 

this style of hearing aid, devices 

worn behind the pinna (ear flap) 

are much smaller and more discreet 

and comfortable than before. 

Matched to hair colour, they are 

essentially hidden. 

2. HEArING AIDS PrODuCE 

FEEDBACk ALL THE TIME. 

Feedback is increasingly rare in 

new hearing aids, which are much 

improved in this regard, with their 

references: 

* See the article “Mes appareils sifflent, est-ce normal?”, Lobe Magazine dated 

August 15, 2008. 

- kOCHkIN, S. “MarkeTrak VII: Consumer satisfaction with hearing instruments in the 

digital age,” The Hearing Journal, September 2005, Vol. 58, No. 9: 30-43. 

- www.hear-it.org 

anti-Larsen system (which eliminates 

feedback as soon as the hearing 

aid perceives it). If there is feedback, 

it is likely because the hearing 

aid is not properly positioned in 

the auditory canal or the wearer has 

a ear wax plug.* 

3. I DON’T WANT TWO; 

I’LL LOOk EVEN DEAFEr! 

Wearing two hearing aids is nothing 

but positive, offering better understanding 

in noisy situations and 

better spatial sound localization. 

The reason is simple: in most cases, 

hearing loss occurs in both ears. In 

fact, Dr. Sergei Kochkin of the Better 

Hearing Institute tells us that in 

90% of cases, hearing loss occurs in 

both ears and therefore, two hearing 

aids are needed! 

4. I DON’T NEED THEM; 

AT My AGE IT’S NOrMAL 

TO BE HArD OF HEArING. 

Presbycusis is the degeneration of 

the cells of the inner ear. Therefore, 

it is normal that with age presbycusis 

affects your ears. What is not 

normal is not doing anything about 

it! It’s a bit like someone suffering 

from presbyopia (degeneration 

of the cells of the eye) telling you 

he no longer reads the newspaper 

because he doesn’t see well. That 

makes no sense! A simple correction 

can fix everything and improve 

your quality of life in one step. 

5. I WON’T LIkE IT. 

A study shows that 92% of hear ingimpaired 

people who wear hearing 

aids are satisfied with them. This 

HEariNG aids 


study, conducted by Dr. Kochkin, 

also reveals that nine out of ten 

people agree that their quality of 

life has improved since they have 

hearing aids. You know, the best 

way to find out if you’d like wearing 

hearing aids is to try them! 

Because of these myths, you 

are depriving yourself of the joy of 

hearing your grandchildren, birds 

singing or understanding what 

people are saying to you. When 

you meet hearing health professionals 

and they recommend you 

to wear hearing aids, understand 

that it is because you need them. 

The goal of a hearing aid is not 

to show everyone that you have 

a hearing problem, but to clearly 

understand the people talking to 

you, to help you appreciate your 

time with family members and 

friends. It simply means that you 

are taking care of your hearing and 

that you are solving a problem a 

lot of people have, starting with 

yourself. 

For more information, do 

not hesitate to contact an audioprosthetist 

at a Lobe Santé auditive 

et communication multidisciplinary 

clinic. � 

Sébastien Lanthier 


Sainte-Foy 

- kOCHkIN, S. “MarkeTrak VII: Hearing loss population tops 31 million,” The Hearing 

Journal, July 2005, 12: 16-29 and Fördergemeinschaft Gutes Hören. 

- http://www.french.youth.hear-it.org/Les-appareils-auditifs-ameliorent-la-qualite-de-vie. 

- BETTEr HEArING INSTITuTE, www.betterhearing.org. 

- CArMEN, richard, and Shelley urAM. “The Consumer Handbook on Hearing Loss & 

Hearing Aids: A Bridge to Healing,” The Hearing Journal, April 2012. 


11

12 

HEariNG aids 


M 

the negative effects 

When getting fitted for hearing 

aids, certain obstacles 

can influence the expected 

results (hearing aids + % discrimination 

= expected results). One 

such obsta cle is diminished auditory 

discrim i nation, represented as 

a percent age on your hearing test 

results. 

To determine this percentage, the 

audiologist has the patient listen to 

several words and repeat them. The 

purpose of this test is to measure the 

patient’s ability to recognize words 

at a comfortable loudness level and 

therefore determine word clarity to 

the patient’s ear. Typically, the audiologist 

uses a list of 25 mono syllabic 

words. Every time the patient makes 

a mistake when repeating a word, 

4% gets subtracted. 

Diminished auditory discrimination 

translates into a difficulty in 

differentiating between the various 

sounds of speech. As such, some 

words may be distorted or altered. 

To illustrate this, suppose you were 

listening to your favourite radio 

station and the reception was bad. 

Turning up the volume won’t eliminate 

the sound distortion. This phenomenon 

applies to someone with a 

hearing impairment whose auditory 

discrimination is dimin ished. 


O 

KI 

D 

L 

N 

Q 

P 

of diminished auditory discrimination 

on the performance of your hearing aids 

Discrimination 

qualification scale 

(this scale may vary 

depending on the author): 

excellent discrimination: 

90% or higher 

Very good: 80% to 89% 

good: 70% to 79% 

Fair: 50% to 69% 

Weak: 20% to 49% 

almost nil: 0% to 19% 

Take the example of a form of hearing loss common to many hearingimpaired 

people, whereby high frequencies are affected and low frequencies 

are normal. Let’s analyze the frequency structure of the word sunset. 

The “s” and “t” are sharp (high frequencies) and the “un” and “e” are low 

frequencies. The hearing-impaired person will therefore have difficulty 

perceiving the “s” and “t.” The figure below illustrates the concept. 

sunset: 

Perceived by a normally hearing person 

Perceived by a hearing-impaired person 

with sensorineural hearing loss 

Perceived by a hearing-impaired person 

with sensorineural hearing loss 

with hearing aids 

With the results of your hearing test conducted by the audiologist, the 

audioprosthetist will be able to explain what benefits you can expect from 

your hearing aids. The role of your hearing aids is to maximize residual 

hearing, i.e. stimulate the intact parts of the auditory system, not repair 

them. 

For hearing-impaired people with diminished auditory discrimination, 

it is important to be aware of the specific solutions for maximizing residual 

hearing. Among these, using two hearing aids (binaural hearing aids), 

choosing hearing aids with more advanced technology, and using listening 

and communication strategies make it possible to obtain the maximum 

amount of information from the sound environment. 

In conclusion, patients who have diminished speech dis crimination 

abilities must have realistic expectations in terms of the results they will 

achieve with their hearing aids. 

Do not hesitate to consult an audioprosthetist at any Lobe Santé auditive 

et communication clinic for more information. � 

Jonathan Plouffe 


Saint-Hubert 

HA F 

P 

E 

CD 

Cédric Bégnoche 


Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 

references: 

- LESHOWITZ, B., and r. LINDSTrOM (1979). “ Masking and speech-to-noise ratio ,” Audiol. Deaf Educ. 6, 5-8. 

- PLOMP, r., and A.M. MIMPEN (1979). “ Speech-reception threshold for sentences as a function of age and 

noise level ,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 66, 1333-1342 

B 


G


Hearing aids: 

even more effective! 

hearing problems are 

increasingly widespread. 

people suffering 

from deafness 

are looking for hearing 

aids that match 

their lifestyle. Through science, our 

auditory knowledge continues to 

grow, which lets us develop even 

more effective hearing aids. One of 

the problems the hard of hearing 

most often cite is hearing in noisy 

environments. 

Hearing and understanding 

are two different, but interrelated, 

things. Hearing loss means that 

people perceive words less distinctly, 

which means understanding 

is reduced considerably. This is why 

they hear the words, but don’t really 

understand them. Using hearing 

aids earlier in our lives enables us 

to better adapt to hearing amplification. 

Today’s hearing aids use 

several systems to help users 

understand in noisy environments. 

A wide selection is available on 

the market and can be categorized 

into five levels of technology: premium, 

advanced, mid level, entry 

level and economy. 

Hearing aids using premium 

and advanced technology provide 

for the most effective correction 

systems. They break the sound into 

several fragments, which allows for 

intervention on small sound bands. 

These hearing aids are equipped 

with the latest generation computer 

system. Noise reduction systems 

work alongside the interactive 

microphones and the interaural 

communication systems (right and 

left ear), which increases the ability 

to understand in a noisy place. The 

noise reduction system works in 

the canal where ambient noise is 

present without altering the other 

bands, thus providing better sound 

quality. Using interactive microphones, 

the systems available in 

hearing aids ensure that the hearing 

aid opposite the main vocal source 

focuses on that same vocal source. 

Connectivity features are available 

to connect the hearing aids to the 

telephone or TV so that the sound 

source is perceived directly in the 

hearing aids. 

Hearing aids with mid level 

technology use less developed systems. 

They have fewer channels, 

and the noise reduction systems 

and microphones are less flexible 

than those in hearing aids with 

premium and advanced technology. 

They do not share sound information, 

but they can work together 

for directional microphone action 

or for adjusting volume. 

Lastly, hearing aids with economy 

and entry level technology 

HEariNG aids 


provide fewer options as they have 

fewer channels and less effective 

noise reduction systems. They can, 

however, communicate interaurally 

for volume adjustment and directional 

microphone action. 

Do not hesitate to consult your 

audioprosthetist at one of the Lobe 

Santé auditive et communication 

multidisciplinary clinics for assistance 

selecting the right hearing 

aids for you. � 

Paul Fontaine 


Lac-Mégantic and Saint-Georges 

references: 

Hearing aid manufacturers’ data sheets. Thank you 

to the following companies: Starkey, Oticon and 

Phonak. 


13

14 

CALM 

LISTENING ENVIrONMENTS 

NOISy 

HEariNG aids 

CONNECTIVITy (BLuETOOTH, FM, INFrArED) 

hOMe 

TeLephONe 

Lobe Magazine www.lobe.ca 

PErFOrMANCES uSuALLy OBSErVED IN VArIOuS LISTENING 

ENVIrONMENTS BASED ON TECHNOLOGy LEVEL * 

ONE ON ONE 

FAMILy 

DINNEr 

THEATrE/ 

CONCErT 

OuTDOOr 

ACTIVITIES 

MEETINGS 

rESTAurANT 

PArTIES 

SOCIAL 

ACTIVITIES 

ECONOMy ENTry LEVEL MID LEVEL ADVANCED PrEMIuM 

MOBILe 

TeLephONe 

COMFOrTABLE 

* These levels of performance presuppose that the person is wearing binaural hearing aids and has strong speech 

recognition capabilities. 

TV OTheR auDIO- 

VIDeO SYSTeMS 

CONFeReNCe 

aLL rights reserved


Lobe Maintenance products 

To ensure both the comfort and longevity of your hearing aids 

Quick aNd EasY To usE 

TM Daily 

VapoLobe Cleaner 

ServiLobe TM 

IntraLobe TM 

ProtecLobe TM 

Daily 

Cleaning and 

Disinfectant 

Towelettes 

use directions 

Cleans hearing aids and reduces 

the risk of ear canal infection 

while helping to keep repair 

costs down. 

Cleans hearing aids and reduces 

the risk of ear canal infection 

while helping keep repair 

costs down. 

Deep Cleaner Deep cleans earmolds. 

Nightly 

protector 

for everyday 

Care 

TM Battery 

TestLobe Tester 

SoluLobe TM 

effervescent 

Tablets for 

earmolds 

TM air Blower 

VentiLobe for earmolds 

TM Lubricating 

InserLobe gel 

Eliminates excess moisture, 

which is the main cause of 

hearing aids malfunction. 

Immediately indicates 

whether your battery 

is still good or 

needs replacing. 

Deep cleans and disinfects 

earmolds. 

Eliminates moisture from 

earmold tubes. 

Makes hearing aid insertion 

easier. 

Spray the VapoLobe TM 

solution on a tissue and 

gently wipe each hearing aid’s earmold, shell or dome. 

Can also be used to clean protective ear wear 

(e.g. earplugs for musicians, swimmers, etc.). 

Take a packet from the ServiLobe TM 

box and open it to 

remove the towelette. Carefully wipe the earmold, shell 

or dome of your hearing aid. Can also be used to clean 

protective ear wear (e.g. earplugs for musicians, 

swimmers, etc.). 

Light pressure is all that’s needed to wet the brush. 

Apply the cleaner to the earmold and brush lightly 

until the product has evaporated. 

Open the battery compartment, remove the battery 

and place hearing aids in the ProtecLobe TM 

container. 

The ProtecLobe TM 

tablet must be replaced every three months. Tip: write the date on the tablet. 

Insert the battery into the TestLobe TM 

tester. Slide 

the battery over the gold-coloured part of the tester, 

being sure to keep the “+” side upwards. 

The result: 

: Battery Ok 

: Battery needs 

changing 

: Battery Ok 

: Battery needs 

changing 

Fill the container with warm water and drop in a tablet. 

Disconnect the earmolds from the hearing aids and 

place them in the container. Soak for several hours or 

overnight. rinse with clean water. Dry with VentiLobe TM 

. 

Disconnect the earmolds from the hearing aids. 

Insert the air blower tip into the tube and squeeze 

until all moisture or condensation is gone. 

Apply a small amount of InserLobe TM 

lubricating gel 

on the earmold or in-the-canal part of the shell. 

Avoid getting gel on the receiver and microphone. 


15 

TM

16 HEariNd aids 

The Wi SerieS 110: 

Hearing aids designed for better speech 

intelligibility in noisy environments 

Starkey is introducing 

its brand-new 

line of Wi Series 

wireless hearing aids 

design ed to make 

your life easier, especially 

when it comes to hearing! 

The Wi family is available in three 

technology levels: entry level (Wi 

Series 70), mid level (Wi Series 90) 

and advanced (Wi Series 110). 

The Wi Series 110 was developed 

for active people who experience 

ambient noise levels of variable 

intensity. Thanks to its programming 

flexibility and unique background 

noise reduction algorithm, 

these high-end hearing aids provide 

optimal sound and performance in 

challenging listening and communication 

environments. 

Most hearing losses involve a 

diminished capacity to perceive 

high frequencies. Those frequencies, 

generally above 3 kHz, account 

for some 25% of the speech cues 

required to recognize spoken language 

(ANSI S3.5-1997). The 

Spectral iQ option that comes with 

the Wi Series 90 and Wi Series 

110 restores the audibility of highfrequency 

speech sounds without 

introducing any distortion. Spectral 

iQ uses a technique called “spectral 

identification” to identify incoming 

acoustic signals in the hearing 

aids, recognizing and classifying the 

acoustic characteristics of high frequencies. 

Once that’s done, it uses 

a sophisticated technical process 

to replicate those high-frequency 


characteristics at a lower frequency, 

leading to enhanced audibility and 

speech intelligibility. 

The Wi Series 110’s advanced 

technology also opens the door to 

a very useful function for hearingimpaired 

individuals: binaural synchronization. 

The principle is very 

simple: the hearing aids exchange 

information every six milliseconds 

to establish an accurate portrait of 

your acoustic environment. Then, 

that map of the acoustic environment 

is used to adjust the hearing 

aids’ noise reduction levels and 

microphones, providing the best 

possible sound quality for that 

environment. What’s more, when 

you turn up the volume on one 

hearing aid, binaural coordination 

reproduces the action on the other, 

providing balanced, optimal hearing 

at all times. 

In addition to helping you 

hear better in noisy settings, the 

Wi Series line can also relay audio 

signals from your television, radio 

or computer directly to your hearing 

aids through the wireless Surf- 

Link Media transmitter. You don’t 

have to install anything complicated 

or wear any special accessories: 

just connect the transmitter 

to your TV set or other device 

using the audio cables provided, 

and you’re all set! The transmitter 

will stream the audio signal from 

your entertainment device directly 

to your hearing aids, making sure 

you don’t miss a word while those 

around you can continue to watch 

their programs at a volume they 

find comfortable. � 

Remote Control 

SurfLink Media 

If you’d like further information or want to know 

whether this type of hearing aid or accessory 

is right for you, consult an audioprosthetist at 

a lobe santé auditive et communication 

multidisciplinary clinic today! 

Wi Series 

Artone 

Julie-Catherine Ste-Marie, M.Sc.S. 

Audiologist 

Starkey Canada 

www.starkey.com 

All rights reserved


Bernafon Chronos 7 

When it comes to 

hear ing aids, the 

chal lenge has always 

been to fit hearingimpaired 

people with 

hearing aids that provide 

appropriate amplification along 

with comfortable sound. 

The difficulty in achieving this 

balance becomes complex: 

1. If the person has hearing loss due 

to working in a noisy environment 

for an extended period; 

or 

2. If the person’s audiogram shows 

an atypical hearing loss; 

or 

3. If the person suffers from tinnitus; 

or 

4. If the person has difficulty in 

terms of tolerating loud sounds 

(recruitment). 

Bernafon Chronos 7 hearing 

aids provide adjustment flexibility, 

making it possible to program 

hearing aids to correct the most 

problematic hearing losses. These 

devices, along with all the others in 

the family of Chronos hearing aids, 

were developed to provide clear 

and comfortable sound. Audio 

Efficiency technology synergetically 

combines the processing of the 

ChannelFree signal and directivity 

for improved speech comprehension, 

with optimal elimination 

of acoustic feedback (hissing) and 

effective noise management. 

The technology speed of ChannelFree 

signal processing com bined 

with phonemic compression ensures 

that appropriate gain is phonetically 

applied while elimi nating any spectral 

blurring, resulting in enhanced 

sound quality. 

With the growing popularity of 

open hearing aids, particularly for 

people with ski slope hearing loss 

(where low to medium frequencies 

are often normal), a good system 

for counteracting acoustic feed- 

back is very important. The Adaptive 

Feedback Canceller (AFC) 

Plus, designed in conjunction with 

the Chronos family, detects and 

eliminates feedback while it is still 

inaudible, allowing for open hearing 

aids with no acoustic feedback 

for the majority of high frequency 

hearing losses. 

Chronos 7 hearing aids have a 

great deal of adjustment flexibility: 

� Ability to set up to four programs 

including telephone, automatic 

telephone setting and Bluetooth 

DAI (direct audio input), for 

maximum flexibility for your 

hearing needs. 

� Choice of four hearing aid formulas 

(NAL NL1, DSL i/o, Bernafit 

and Bernafit Comfort) to 

satisfy amplification needs. 

� Full range of styles and matrices 

for fitting a wide variety of people 

with different audiogram configurations 

and aesthetic preferences. 

� Choice of different shells for 

behind-the-ear products, including 

the standard colour hook and 

Spira Flex thin tube available in 

two diameters. 

HEariNG aids 

� Expanded scope of domes for 

maximum hearing-aid fitting 

flexibility for all ear sizes. 

� Data collection/recording of volume 

changes. 

� Connectivity via remote control 

and Soundgate (Bluetooth). � 

Martin Lusignan 

Bernafon 

www.bernafon.ca 

Consult your audioprosthetist at one 

of the lobe santé auditive et 


clinics to see whether this product 

is right for your hearing needs. 

Lobe Magazine www.lobe.ca 

17

18 

HEariNG aids 

Pure Carat from Siemens: 

An innovative solution 

as a manufacturer 

specializing in innovative, 

practical and 

environmentally 

friendly concepts, 

Siemens has developed 

pure Carat, a rechargeable 

hearing aid. The handy eCharger 

recharging case is easy to use 

and spares you the hassle of purchasing 

and handling batteries. It 

also serves as a drying kit at night, 

drying your hearing aids to reduce 

the risk of internal corrosion that 

could result from exposure to 

moisture—including natural perspiration 

generated by normal activity. 

Pure Carat has earned a reputation 

for its flexibility, including a 

case that comes in a variety of interchangeable 

colours so you can personalize 

your hearing aids when ever 

you wish, and a switch that can be 

used to set the volume or change 

listening programs, as required. 

Equipped with Siemens’ Best- 

Sound technology, the Pure Carat 

hearing aid delivers truly natural 


sound quality. What’s more, the 

built-in TruEar function helps you 

determine where sounds come 

from. The SoundBrilliance feature 

restores the rich, round sound of 

music and Bluetooth audio feeds, 

thanks to the Tek and miniTek 

remote controls. Pure Carat can 

also play a part in tinnitus management 

programs, helping to alleviate 

a common after-effect of noise- 

related hearing loss. 

Pure Carat is a RIC (receiverin-canal) 

hearing aid featuring a 

size 13 battery for longer battery 

life without sacrificing the case’s 

tiny size. Its telecoil enables you 

to connect your hearing aids to 

compatible telephones and take 

advantage of magnetic induction 

loop systems found at establishments 

like museums, churches and 

theatres. 

Provided certain requirements 

are met, the CSST will cover the 

cost of this model for workers suffering 

from occupational hearing 

loss. � 

Consult your audioprosthetist at 

one of the lobe santé auditive et 


clinics to learn whether this product 

is a good match for your hearing 

profile. 

Michèle Dostaler, M.Sc.S. 

Audiologist 

Product Support 

Siemens 

www.siemens.com 

All rights reserved


AcTo Pro from oTicon: 

Hearing aids designed for noisy environments 

For most hearing aid users, noisy environments 

always pose a challenge. a survey 

of 3,000 hearing aid wearers conducted 

by Dr. kochkin in 2005 showed that only 

59% of hearing aid users were satisfied 

with their hearing aids’ overall performance 

in noisy environments. 

With the arrival of new technologies like wireless 

communication between hearing aids and extended 

bandwidth, Oticon is now focusing on speech perception 

in complex hearing environments. Oticon’s Acto 

Pro hearing aids are part of a product line that incorporates 

some of the best technologies on the market, 

including multiband adaptive directionality, TriState 

noise management and binaural synchronization. 

These features improve speech intelligibility in 

noisy, difficult environments, and they should be 

on your must-have list when the time comes to 

choose your hearing aids. 

Binaural synchronization is a function that allows 

two hearing aids to communicate with each other. Our 

ears naturally work together to acquire spatial information 

on the sounds around us, based on factors like 

time lag (a sound reaches one ear before the other) and 

difference in intensity (the sound is stronger in the ear 

closer to the source). To accomplish that same result, 

hearing aids must have considerable bandwidth because 

some spatial information comes from higher frequencies. 

In the case of Oticon’s Acto Pro, the bandwidth 

is 8,000 Hz. 

Binaural synchronization and bandwidth size are 

essential features, not only for pinpointing the sources 

of the sounds around us, but also for understanding 

speech in noisy settings. They help produce a sound 

picture of the surrounding environment that is richer, 

more detailed and more balanced. 

In a recent study (Oticon/Sagepub, 2010), 36 adults 

with symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (18 expe- 

Connect Phone Connect TV Connect MIC Streamer 

To see the Oticon/Sagepub study (kreisman, et al., 2010), visit www.lobe.ca. 

HEariNG aids 

rienced hearing aid users and 18 inexperienced users) 

were fitted in both ears with hearing aids, either models 

with an extended bandwidth and wireless communication 

capability or models with a narrower bandwidth 

and no wireless capability. The goal was to compare the 

performance of each pair of hearing aids in two listening 

and speech intelligibility tests: a quick speech-innoise 

(QuickSIN) test and a hearing-in-noise (HINT) 

test. Hearing aids with broader bandwidth and wireless 

communication capability achieved better results in 

both tests and all noise conditions than digital hearing 

aids without wireless communication capability. 

Acto Pro is also on the CSST’s list of eligible products. 

If you have an occupational hearing loss and a 

hard time understanding speech in noisy conditions, 

ask your audioprosthetist whether Oticon’s Acto Pro is 

right for you! � 

Josée Guillemette 

Audiologist 

Business Development Manager, 

Adult and Pediatric Trainer 

Oticon Canada 

www.oticon.com 

To find out whether this product is 

right for your hearing profile, consult 

an audioprosthetist at a lobe santé 

auditive et communication 

multidisciplinary clinic. 


19

20 

HEariNG aids 

When I sat down to write this article, I 

started pondering the phenomenon of 

hearing loss. My first thought was that 

most people do not even notice that 

it’s happening, and unfortunately, it’s 

usually their family and friends who suffer 

because of it! 

This week, I was Skyping with my parents in Florida 

when I realized that my father was starting to have 

a bit of trouble understanding what I was saying. My 

mother also complained that he kept turning up the 

volume on the TV to an annoying level. This set off 

alarm bells in my head. 

Please take a few minutes to answer the following 

questions. This exercise might allow you to recognize 

any changes in your hearing: 

� Do you set the TV volume at a higher level than 

those around you? 

� If you do not turn up the TV volume, do you have to 

make an effort to hear and understand what is being 

said? 

� Do the people around you, your children, friends 

or spouse complain that the volume of your TV or 

music is too high? 

� Does your spouse complain that you speak too 

loudly? 

rS 160 HEADPHONE SySTEM 

RS 160 headphones offer an affordable solution that 

can improve the quality of life for you and your loved 

ones. A high-fidelity stereo system, it consists of a 

wireless headset powered by two rechargeable NiMH 

batteries and a transmitter that connects to your sound 

source. With its clear, well-balanced sound, it delivers 

a high-quality listening experience. It is ideal for your 

TV, sound system and computer, or even for talking 

on Skype. And you can carry it with you wherever 

you go! 


To find out whether this product is 

right for your hearing profile, consult 

an audioprosthetist at a lobe santé 

auditive et communication 

multidisciplinary clinic. 

FeaTuReS: 

� Wireless noise-isolating headphones. 

� adjustable, comfortable headband. 

� effective range of 20 feet. 

� Compact portable transmitter with multiple 

receivers (up to four people can listen to the 

same audio source simultaneously). 

� No installation required—just plug and play. � 

Nadine Girard 

Business Director 

Retail Strategy 

Consumer, Audiology and 

Communication Division 

Sennheiser Canada inc. 

www.sennheiser.ca 

All rights reserved


Age-related hearing loss 

age-related hearing 

loss is known 

as presbycusis. Several 

studies have 

reveal ed that hearing 

loss has many 

adverse consequences that should 

give cause for concern. 

When someone loses their hearing, 

it can affect relationships with 

loved ones and service providers 

alike. Hearing loss sufferers may 

shy away from interactions, avoid 

discussion, and reduce their participation 

in recreational activities. 

Even family dynamics can deteriorate 

if loved ones fail to understand 

the impact of hearing loss. 

People with hearing loss may 

also experience a lower level of 

physical and social activity compared 

with those who hear normally. 

Some studies have even 

revealed an increase in symptoms 

of depression. 

It can take several years before 

a person with hearing loss seeks 

help by a professional. Although 

several studies have looked at ways 

that hearing-impair ed persons 

adjust to their situation, a recent 

study focused on the experience 

of seniors with hear ing problems 

in order to pinpoint the individual 

and environmental factors that 

facilitate or limit their adaptation. 

For this age group, the study’s 

authors identified four main stages 

of progress, ranging from the first 

awareness of hearing loss to successful 

adaptation. The authors 

also compared certain positive and 

reference: 

- POuLIOT, Louis-Marie, et al. “L’adaptation à la perte auditive chez la 

personne aînée: une transformation profonde insoupçonnée,” Vie et 

vieillissement, Vol. 9, No. 3. 

negative personal factors, such as 

whether a person has a confident 

or a defeatist outlook. Having the 

emotional support of loved ones 

and employing good listening 

and communication strategies can 

also help an elderly person move 

through these stages, as they cope 

with the reality of hearing loss 

and achieve a certain level of wellbeing. 

Do not hesitate to seek assistance 

from a hearing health professional 

in order to help your 

elderly loved ones. Their well-being 

depends on it! 

aqdr’s rEport 

To receive a copy of Vie et vieillissement 

magazine from the Association 

québécoise de gérontologie, 

please visit www.aqg-quebec.org. � 

Martine Gagnon 

Association québécoise de défense 

des droits des personnes retraitées 

et préretraitées 


21

22 

Good hearing 

for a good 

quality of life 

Our quality of life is dependent on 

many factors, not the least of which is 

our ability to hear. When we hear well, 

we are able to take part in conversations 

and communicate with people 

around us. In short, our hearing keeps 

us connected with life. 

It is important to remain vigilant and be on the 

lookout for evidence of hearing loss in our loved ones. 

Here are a few signs to watch out for: 

� You need to repeat yourself frequently; 

� The TV volume is abnormally high; 

� The person takes part less often in family discussions, 

as if they are unable to follow the conversation. 


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If you notice any of these signs, keep in mind that 

the person may not be aware of any hearing loss. You 

can help by speaking to them about the importance 

of having their hearing checked to pinpoint any problems. 

It really is the best gift you can give them! � 

Suzanne Belzile 

Vice-president of the 

Table de concertation 

des personnes aînées de 

la Capitale-Nationale 

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. 

Join today! 

The FQCC is pleased to make 

the Lobe-Access hearing health program 

available to its members. 

A passion for camping 

365 days a year 

For information and membership 

www.fqcc.ca 

All rights reserved


Preventing age-related disease and disabilities 

“The Canadian population 

is aging. people 

over 65 are part of the 

most rapidly growing 

age demographic. In 

2010, it was estimated 

there were 4.8 million Canadians 

age 65 and over, and this number is 

expected to double over the next 25 

years, reaching 10.4 million by 2036. 

By 2051, about one in four Canadians 

will fall into this age category.” 

As the body ages, it becomes more 

prone to the effects of illnesses such 

as cardiovascular disease, cancer, the 

loss of sensory perception, dementia 

and osteoporosis. However, it is possible 

to maximize healthy aging by 

adopting behaviours that help prevent 

and control disease. 

Age-related health problems are 

the result of major physiological 

changes that come with aging. The 

heart weakens, joints wear down, 

neurons grow less efficient at transmitting 

information and bones 

become brittle. But it is a known fact 

that a healthy lifestyle can help prevent 

or reverse age-related diseases. 

Physical exercise will help maintain 

The AQRP is proud 

to o�er its members the 

hearing health program 

a healthy heart, strong bones and a 

proper weight. And you don’t need 

to be a marathon runner to enjoy the 

benefits of an active lifestyle. Simple 

things like choosing a parking spot 

further away from the store or taking 

the stairs instead of the elevator are 

excellent habits that can help you 

stay fit. 

Quitting smoking will keep your 

lungs in good shape. A healthy diet 

will not only help you control your 

weight, it will provide your body with 

the nutrients it needs to function 

properly (for more help, consult the 

Canada Food Guide). In addition, 

certain medications can decrease the 

risk of falls and help prevent injury. 

“Gradual hearing loss often goes 

unnoticed. Yet it is the most common 

sensory disability among seniors, 

affecting more than 30% of 

people age 65 and over. It is a serious 

problem—not only does it affect the 

elderly’s ability to hear, it also impacts 

their overall well-being. Hearing loss 

creates difficulties in communication 

and can lead a person to isolate 

themselves from family and friends 

and avoid social activities.” 

pHarmacist’s rEport 

There is a clear link between cardiovascular 

problems and hearing 

loss. Hearing problems can be caused 

by insufficient blood flow to the 

hearing organ, which is yet another 

excellent reason to maintain good 

cardiovascular health. Other causes 

of deafness in the elderly include 

noise exposure, heredity, middle 

ear problems, certain medications, 

neurological disease or stroke, head 

injury and inner-ear infection. 

It is never too late to adopt habits 

that promote healthy aging, and you 

will reap the benefits at any age. Visit 

your pharmacist for tips on how to 

lead a healthier lifestyle. � 

Francis Turgeon, Pharmacist 

Pharmacie Fleury, 

Charest & Guilbert 

references available on www.lobe.ca 

Your rights aren’t retired 

There are plenty of good reasons to join the AQRP: 

· Exciting association activities and culture 

· Substantial savings 

· Exclusive, high-quality services 

· Ongoing lobbying for seniors' rights 

1 800 653-2747, ext. 10 • www.aqrp.qc.ca 


23

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 

Québec • Sainte-Foy 

Clinique médicale Saint-Louis 

(Parking: 75 min. free) 

3165, chemin Saint-Louis 

Bureau 420 

Québec (Québec) G1W 4r4 

Tel.: 418 781-1733 

Fax: 418 781-1736 

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 

cENTrE-du-QuébEc 

NEw cliNic 

Drummondville 

Across from Hôpital Sainte-Croix 

110, rue Saint-Jean, bureau 300 

Drummondville (Québec) J2B 7T1 

Tel.: 819 472-7676 

Fax: 819 850-4181 

aRe YOu 

a MeMBeR? 

AQRP • CAA 

Réseau FaDOQ 

FQCC • RPCU 

Exclusive benefits! 

mulTidiscipliNAry cliNics 

ENT • AudiologisTs • AudioprosThETisTs 

spEciAlizEd EducATors • spEEch-lANguAgE pAThologisTs* 

cHaudiÈrE-appalacHEs 

NEw addrEss 

Lévis 

Complexe Lévis 1 

1655, boul. Alphonse-Desjardins 

Bureau 210 

Lévis (Québec) G6V 0B7 

Tel.: 418 830-5623 

Fax: 418 830-5624 

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 

EsTErN TowNsHip 

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 

Saint-hubert 

4025, boulevard Taschereau 

Bureau 1200 

Saint-Hubert (Québec) J4T 2G6 

Tel.: 450 890-3781 

Fax: 450 890-3782 

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-Laurent 

1605, boulevard Marcel-Laurin 

Bureau 120 

Saint-Laurent (Québec) H4r 0B7 

Tel.: 514 788-7751 

Fax: 514 788-7754 

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 

NorTHErN QuEbEc 

Tel.: 819 378-7477 

Just one call. 

We listen. We care. TM 

1 866 411-5623 

www.lobe.ca 

Head office • Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures : Tel.: 418 877-7222 • Fax: 418 872-1451 

TM 

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

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

JUST ONE CALL. - Lobe

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