Frequently Asked Questions

We treat hearing loss as a progressive degenerative neurological disorder linked to cognition, fall risk, and quality of life. It is not something that can be fixed just by buying a hearing aid but by committing to a full-scope audiological treatment. Your journey includes case history, advanced testing, aural rehabilitation, cognitive and tinnitus monitoring, and structured follow-up over years, with hearing aids as one tool inside a larger treatment plan.

Full-scope audiological treatment means comprehensive diagnostics, personalized fitting, auditory training, cognitive monitoring, and long-term after-care. Specifically, it covers extended high-frequency and speech-in-noise testing, detailed case history, real-ear verification, annual hearing and cognition monitoring, provision of cleaning tools and moisture control, and access to follow-up appointments and adjustments.

We deliberately avoid superficial “complimentary screenings” that minimize the seriousness of hearing as a medical diagnosis. Your tests at Toronto Hearing Services are comprehensive diagnostic assessments that integrate medical history, advanced audiometry, and cognition because you deserve accurate answers, not a device-focused sales pitch.

Your diagnostic hearing test begins with an audiologist-designed medical case history that examines risk factors, systemic health, current hearing symptoms, and broader cognitive and balance concerns. Testing may include standard audiometry, extended high-frequency testing, speech-in-noise (LISN‑S), tympanometry, and cognitive screening, followed by a detailed Cognitive and Audiologic Report.​

Extended high-frequency testing can reveal hidden hearing loss (or cochlear synaptopathy) that often contributes to tinnitus and early communication difficulties. Speech-in-noise testing shows how much hearing “discount” you experience in real-world situations, which a simple tone test cannot detect.

Adults with no known risk factors should have their hearing screened periodically and more often with age. For those over 50, or with noise exposure, or with family history of hearing loss, you benefit from regular monitoring. We recommend building testing into an ongoing treatment plan so we can track trends over time, not just snapshots.

Hearing screenings have key limitations for adults as they tend to miss primary complaints, diagnostically incomplete and potentially misleading as stand-alone tools, and unable to detect early auditory issues. Despite their incompleteness, they serve as a starting point for identifying at-risk individuals and prompting further care. The one thing you need to know is, passing the screening does not mean your hearing is perfect.

A CAPD test evaluates how your brain processes sound, even when your basic hearing thresholds may be in the normal range. Our CAPD protocol can include auditory discrimination tasks, temporal processing, speech-in-noise testing, and related measures to identify processing and listening challenges in everyday environments. We also compile for you the relevant documentation after the test.

Your journey follows structured phases: medical case history, diagnostic testing, determination of hearing loss stage, review of your Cognitive and Audiologic Report, collaborative treatment planning, and then treatment initiation. Our treatment begins on day 1 and includes device fitting when indicated, auditory training onboarding, and communication strategies for you and your family, followed by integration into our After Care Bundle.

After testing, your audiologist reviews your hearing and cognitive findings, explains what stage of hearing loss you are in, and outlines evidence-based options. Together you set realistic expectations, agree on next steps (including devices where appropriate), and decide how to structure auditory training and follow-ups.​

The After Care Bundle provides ongoing hearing and cognitive support through auditory training progress checks, proactive hearing monitoring with comprehensive audiometry, annual cognitive performance tracking, and unlimited adjustments and in‑clinic maintenance during the active period. This structured follow-up goes far beyond basic device checks and is central to our medical model.

Hearing loss is progressive, and early detection of changes allows us to adjust treatment before problems significantly impact communication or safety. Regular monitoring also lets us fine-tune device programming and aural rehabilitation as your listening environments and brain adapt.

Our auditory training partners with LACE AI Pro, a structured, evidence‑based process that helps your brain relearn how to listen and understand speech after hearing loss or tinnitus, with or without hearing devices. It goes beyond “hearing the sounds” to improve speech clarity, listening comfort, and communication confidence in everyday environments. If hearing aids are crutches, auditory training is your physiotherapy.

We establish a cognitive baseline early in your care using validated tools such as Cognivue Thrive® and then re-assess annually as part of the After Care Bundle. By tracking memory, processing speed, and related domains, we can detect concerning changes, provide cognitive training, and refer for neurological evaluation when appropriate.

At Toronto Hearing Services, hearing aids are fitted only after thorough diagnostics, case history, speech-in-noise, and cognitive assessment. We use real-ear measurements and functional outcome goals to program devices, then embed adjustments and auditory training into a multi‑year treatment plan instead of treating them as optional extras.

Hearing treatment is individualized. While the hearing aid price is an integral part of your audiologic treatment, your comprehensive medical program should include diagnostics, fitting, rehabilitation, and long-term monitoring. Listing device-only prices encourages viewing treatment as a simple gadget purchase, which misrepresents our medical approach.

Deep discounts you see often hints at stripped-down diagnostics, limited follow-up, or a heavy sales emphasis rather than clinical care. We focus on matching technology and service level to your medical, cognitive, and communication needs, with transparent explanations of what is included in your treatment.

We work with a full range of modern hearing devices, including behind-the-ear and in-the-ear styles, as well as advanced options like rechargeable and wireless-streaming models. Device selection is based on your audiogram, speech-in-noise performance, dexterity, cosmetic preferences, and lifestyle—not on brand promotion alone.

Yes, many patients come to us after retail purchases when they feel their hearing or tinnitus are still not well managed. While we are not allowed to work with your current set of aids due to liability issues, we can perform comprehensive diagnostics, and enroll you into our treatment program and auditory training. Professional fees apply for this reassessment and ongoing care.

Medically necessary hearing tests are covered by OHIP with a doctor’s referral, which covers the standard audiometry but not the comprehensive testing. Many patients instead rely on workplace benefits, private insurance, or health spending accounts to cover diagnostic and treatment fees.

OHIP itself does not usually pay for hearing aids, but Ontario residents may access funding programs such as the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) and other third‑party benefits. Our audiologists help you understand coverage terms like “Ontario hearing aid coverage” and “hearing aids covered by OHIP” and complete required clinical documentation.

Yes, comprehensive diagnostic reports and third‑party form completion require clinician time and are billed as professional or administrative services. Fees depend on the type of the documentation, and we explain them before proceeding so expectations are clear.​

Our diagnostic assessments include a medically designed case history, advanced audiometry, speech-in-noise and sometimes cognitive testing, followed by a detailed report and treatment plan. Unlike the “free hearing test” that takes less than 15 minutes, the level of clinical depth we offer takes over an hour, and is part of a medical diagnosis instead of sales pitch.

We operate full-service medical audiology clinics in North York, Markham, Stouffville, and Etobicoke, serving patients from across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Each location offers comprehensive diagnostic hearing tests, tinnitus and cognition-focused care, hearing aid fitting, custom hearing protection, and after-care.

At our Markham clinic, we provide diagnostic hearing tests, tinnitus and cognition-focused assessments, hearing aid fitting, and ear wax removal for Markham and surrounding communities. The Markham clinic also serves as a key location for follow-up visits and after‑care within your multi‑year treatment journey.

Our North York clinic provides full diagnostic hearing testing, central auditory processing and speech-in-noise evaluations, hearing aid fitting, ear wax removal, and ongoing after-care. It is also a key hub for “audiologist Toronto” and “ear clinic Toronto” searches, which has helped us serve patients from many parts of the city in downtown Toronto in the past 39 years.

The Etobicoke clinic offers diagnostic hearing tests, hearing aid consultations, ear cleaning and wax removal, custom hearing protection, and follow-up services. Patients can start or continue their medically guided hearing treatment here while sharing records seamlessly with our other Toronto Hearing Services locations.

Yes, your Cognitive and Audiologic Report and treatment plan are shared securely across our sites, so you can attend whichever location is most convenient over time. Many patients complete diagnostics in one clinic and schedule after-care or auditory training in another closer to home or work.

We provide professional ear wax removal at our GTA locations, including Markham, North York, and Etobicoke. We utilize a professional-grade cerumen management system Earigator™ for your ear wax removal. Tympanometry will first be conducted to confirm integrity of eardrum.

If you feel fullness in the ear, reduced hearing, feedback in hearing aids, or visible blockage. During your appointment, an audiologist examines your ear canal, explains whether wax is contributing to your symptoms, and removes your ear wax manually or with the otologist-designed Earigator™.

Yes, we offer custom ear plugs for musicians, noisy workplaces, and general hearing protection, which are a key part of our hearing protection solutions. Custom plugs provide a secure, comfortable fit and are especially useful for patients wanting to protect hearing in high-noise environments over many years.

We create custom swim plugs using quick, painless ear impressions, with plugs made with waterproof materials such as silicone or vinyl. They are especially important for children with ear tubes, hearing aid users, and frequent swimmers in the Greater Toronto Area who need reliable protection against trapped water and infections.​

Ask whether the clinic performs extended high-frequency and speech-in-noise testing, assesses cognition, offers structured after-care, and uses real-ear measurement. Be cautious if the focus is mainly on “free tests,” heavy discounting, and brand promotions rather than on medical assessment and long‑term outcomes. You can utilize our full-scope audiologic treatment checklist to help your selection.

A detailed case history uncovers noise exposure, medical comorbidities, medications, cognitive concerns, and fall risk—all of which impact hearing and treatment decisions. Skipping this step turns hearing care into a product transaction instead of a medically informed plan.

We examine tinnitus in the context of hidden hearing loss, extended high-frequency damage, and cognitive stress instead of only masking sounds. Tinnitus management is integrated into your diagnostic work‑up, treatment planning, and auditory training to reduce its impact on daily life.

Auditory training, or aural rehabilitation, is a structured program that helps your brain relearn how to process sound, especially speech in noise, after hearing loss or amplification. It is particularly helpful if you find conversations exhausting, struggle in group settings, or are adapting to new hearing devices.

Hearing aids amplify sound, but they do not automatically retrain the brain to process speech in noise, fast talkers, or complex conversations. Aural rehabilitation helps your brain catch up to the new input, reducing listening fatigue, improving speech understanding, and making your investment in hearing treatment more effective.

Care is led by Doctors of Audiology (Au.D) with advanced clinical training and specialty certifications in dementia and tinnitus care. This level of training supports complex hearing loss, cognitive-hearing interactions, and medically grounded decision‑making.

Dr. Lorraine Vosu is a Doctor of Audiology and one of the lead clinicians shaping our cognition-focused, medical audiology approach. Her interests include complex hearing loss, tinnitus, and brain‑hearing connections.