Frequently Asked Questions

A “no walk-in” policy is still being maintained. By appointment only.

Proper health and safety measures are being maintained, based on both national and provincial government regulations/guidelines, to ensure your safety of our clients as well as the team’s.

These include:

All clients entering the clinic are asked to do the following:

For more information, please call 705-360-6680.
Looking forward to seeing you and supporting you with your hearing healthcare needs.

The Ethier Hearing Clinic has resumed its normal scheduling timeline.

It is always recommended to change the wax filter and dome or to clean the earmold, depending on the style. Also change the battery (unless it’s rechargeable). If your hearing aid is still not working properly despite doing these things, it is recommended that it be sent to us. This can be done by two ways:

Call us at 705-360-6680 to schedule a drop-off time for your hearing aid so that one of our Audiologists can examine it. We typically recommend the next day following your call, in order to give us time to alert the Hospital’s Screeners. After your screening upon arrival at the Hospital, you will be able to come in directly to the Clinic for drop-off.

Mail in your hearing aid by using Purolator or Canada Post courier:

Please note that there might be a time delay in receiving your hearing aid following repair compared to usual business practice, due to effects of COVID-19.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE IN QUARANTINE OR ARE EXPERIENCING ANY SYMPTOMS, YOUR HEARING AIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR 2 WEEKS, UNTIL YOUR QUARANTINE PERIOD IS OVER.

Please call the clinic at 705-360-6680 to put in your request (leave a message if needed), or email an Administrative Assistant or Audiologist (check the CONTACT section for access to all emails). They will be mailed out to you.

You can pay by credit card over the phone or by cheque (which can be mailed to the clinic at Ethier Hearing Clinic, c/o Timmins and District Hospital, 1559-700 Ross Ave East, Timmins, ON, P4N 8P2).

Most hearing aids can now be adjusted remotely if you have a Smartphone (iPhone, Android). Your Audiologist will be able to set this up for you and will be able to connect to your hearing aids through your Smartphone. Please contact your Audiologist at (705) 360-6680 or by email (Mark Gulliver: [email protected] or Manon Ethier: [email protected]) to see if you are eligible for this option.

We will be calling you to schedule a pick-up time. You will be able to come directly to the Clinic to pick up your hearing aid(s), following screening at the one of the Hospital’s entrances.

Audiologists are hearing health professionals who identify, evaluate, counsel and diagnose individuals with hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders. They provide management of such disorders, such as prescribing and fitting hearing devices. Training requires a minimum of a Master's Degree in Audiology.

A hearing evaluation (hearing test) is an in-depth assessment of your hearing and auditory system. The purpose is to determine your hearing health. If a hearing loss is detected, the Audiologist will determine its nature and degree. The evaluation starts with a detailed in-take questionnaire about your health and hearing history. Your hearing difficulties are also identified. Then you will be brought into a sound-proof booth for testing. The Audiologist will administer several tests to determine if there is any wax build-up or blockage in your ears, and then will typically check your hearing with earphones (or headphones); speakers can be used for some cases (for example younger children). Two aspects are assessed during this evaluation: volume (softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies/pitches) as well as speech clarity (is your brain able to make out what your ear is hearing?). After the evaluation, the Audiologist will discuss the results in detail with you. If a hearing loss is identified, management is usually recommended by the means of a hearing aid or other assistive listening devices. The Audiologist will then proceed with a Hearing Aid Selection appointment. The Audiologist may also provide intervention for hearing related disorders, such as tinnitus or sound sensitivity and will also discuss preventative measures for hearing loss.

For a possible medical issue, you will be referred to an Ears-Nose&Throat Specialist (ENT) before possibly proceeding with amplification.

No, Audiologists are regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) which was designed to give patients/clients access to health care professions of their choice. Audiologists practice independently within their scope of practice.

Yes: 60 days.

Yes; the client is responsible for the cost of repairs once this warranty period expires, unless covered by a third-party agency. Every hearing aid is covered by manufacturer warranty for a minimum of a two-year period.