Page 78 - Dockside Magazine Muskoka, Summer/Fall 2018

LOUD
an across-the-board group of people. problem. Many
people can hear some sounds perfectly well but can’t distinguish others.
Fortunately, hearing aids can now be programmed to target specific tones and pitches
and to help in understanding missed speech.
Some people are annoyed by the deep hum of the refrigerator, but their grandchildren’s
shouts of excitement sound like whispers. Others may hear well when speaking one-on-one, but
“Hearing aids are not one- type-fits-all devices,” says John Tiede, who founded Hear Well Be Well with wife Kathleen in 1984. “We have the ability to individualize every aspect of hearing. We use our decades of experience, combined with top- of-the-line technology to treat your hearing loss.”
Sound booth examinations have long been common practice:
a person sits in a soundproof room and is tested based on sounds controlled by the Hearing Instrument Specialist or Audiologist. This shouldn’t
be the only test administered, says John.
He begins with an ear canal examination using
a high definition video
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL BENNETT
camera and large screen TV, allowing both parties to see the ear drum is not blocked with wax or debris. If no
issues are evident, John moves through 14 steps, including determining if sounds properly bounce off your ear drum.
While the client is fitted with hearing aids, John simulates various social settings: hearing in a quiet room can be easy even with hearing loss, but will your hearing aids work in a noisy situation? Recordings of loud, busy restaurants are played while John speaks to the client, giving an in-depth glimpse into their situation before finding a solution.
“This way our clients are receiving real solutions to their hearing loss,” says John, who has over 35 years experience
as a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist.
Modern hearing aids are small and fit snugly into your ear canal – making them virtually invisible – so no one has to know about your hearing loss.
Hear Well Be Well continues
regular check-ups with clients to
ensure their hearing aids are set
for the appropriate frequencies 705-784-0330
and loudness levels. www.HearWellBeWell.ca
&H CLEAR earing loss is rarely are lost when surrounded by a
“Hearing loss changes over the years,” says John. “They may need some tweaks made, which is why we insist on regular appointments.”
Caring for all
John and Kathleen are also active supporters of various charitable causes, including local hospital foundations, seniors’ accessibility and mobility organizations,
and more.
Since 2008, they’ve been working with survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The
couple takes hearing aids to Rwanda and helps educate local doctors, nurses and specialists about the latest hearing loss strategies and technologies.
“We take with us perfectly good, working digital hearing aids which can no longer
be sold in Canada due to legalities,” says Kathleen. “Rather than throw them out, we use them to help those
in less fortunate parts of the world. It’s our responsibility to help those who need it.” DS
BY CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
John and Kathleen Tiede, Founders of Hear Well Be Well
105-73 King William Street, Huntsville 2-125 Steamship Bay Road, Gravenhurst
76
Modern hearing aids fit right inside
the ear canal.