The ear trumpet, considered the first hearing aid, was invented in the 17th century. Then came the collapsible ear trumpet in the late 18th century, followed by the first commercial device in 1800. In 1898, the first electric hearing aid was created, and by the late 20th century, the digital hearing aid was commercially available. The invention of the carbon microphone, transistors, digital signal processing chip, and the development of computer technology has helped transform the hearing aid to its present form. Learn more about the products available today by visiting a Hearing Care Professional at a Hearing Clinic.
Community News
Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program
Do you find yourself gambling too much? Has gambling stopped being a game? The Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (VSE) can be a useful tool to help you gain control of your gambling. The VSE Program enables you to voluntarily exclude yourself for 6 months, 1, 2, or 3 years from all facilities with slot machines, commercial bingo halls, or from accessing PlayNow.com, BCLC’s online gambling site. Excluding yourself from a gambling facility, automatically excludes you from PlayNow.com for the same period of time. Only you can sign yourself up; another person cannot do so on your behalf.
DANGER of Stored Emotional TRAUMA
When a traumatic event happens, emotional information is created and then stored in two places – as a memory in our brain and as an emotion/feeling in the body! Stored and unprocessed emotional trauma is the root cause of many health issues as proven in numerous scientific clinical research studies around the world. The energetic stored negative emotion can be easily removed without pain through the use of a new 3-D-Healing application based on Quantum Hypnotherapy. If you experienced a traumatic event, seek help. PTSD can be resolved so that life can continue to be in a happy place.
Give the Gift of Organic Beauty
Are you celebrating Christmas with gifts for your loved ones? Consider giving luxurious skincare products that hydrate, nourish, and pamper the skin. When selecting gifts of beauty, look for natural, handcrafted skin products made with the purest organic essential oils, without harmful chemicals and allergens. What we put on our skin and on our face is just as important as what we put into our body. Most skincare products contain fillers, even those described as ‘natural’. Make sure to read the label. Look for skincare products with no nasty chemicals, preservatives or artificial fragrance.
Community Profile – Soul Comfort
Soul Comfort Sheepskin, Sheep’s Wool & Hemp has been dedicated to creating natural wool products for more than 38 years. Wool’s natural healing qualities have been known by holistic practitioners around the world for centuries. Soul Comfort’s goal is to spread the word to healthcare professionals and patients that health-grade wool offers both preventive medicine and pain relief. They have extensive knowledge of the benefits of wool and are always learning more to help create even better products for you and your loved ones. Soul Comfort is continuously committed to bringing you the finest quality sheep’s wool products.
Travelling? Visit Your Pharmacist First
Travelling is a rewarding experience that will expose you to new languages, foods and cultures. Whether you travel for fun or for work you want to ensure the health of you and your family. Your pharmacist is a good resource to ensure you have everything you need for your trip. When travelling, you are at increased risk of contracting illnesses due to exposure to different environments. Some questions for your pharmacist regarding your destination includes, are any vaccines required and do I need to take any other precautions? Make sure you benefit from his or her advice before you leave. Enjoy your travels!
December Activities
December can be overwhelming as we try to prepare for the holiday season. We often forget to stop and enjoy moments with our friends and family. Here are some holiday-themed events for the whole family: • SKATES with SANTA: Tuesday, December 17, 6:30-8 pm at Frank Crane Arena and Friday, December 20, 3:45-5:15 pm at Nanaimo Ice Centre. • DUNK with SANTA: Saturday, December 21, 3-5 pm at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre. • WINTER WONDERLAND – $2 Skating Sessions: December 24 & 26 to 30 at Frank Crane Arena. • FINALE 2019 – Family New Year’s Eve Party: December 31, 5-10 pm at Beban Park.
Safe Winter Adventures
Winter is almost here and with that comes the cold and wet weather. Wearing warm clothing helps prevent frost bite, achy muscles and getting a cold or the flu. Proper warm insulated boots with good grips will keep your feet warm so you can still be outside to do what you love to do! A good pair of Walking Poles can be a key part in your outdoor adventures. They keep your balance inline, provide extra stability and give you a light workout! Our physiotherapists can show you proper poling technique and help you with all your Poling needs.
Celebrating the Holidays After a Loss
Dealing with grief can be twice as hard during the holidays. The first holiday after the loss of a loved one changes the way a family celebrates. Although family traditions and rituals are sacred events, they can be adapted to the changing dynamics in the family. Planning for the change, whether it be starting new family traditions or updating old ones, creates realistic expectations around significant events. It is important to acknowledge that things are going to be different. Adjusting to a family member passing is a big transition; accept it for what it is – an opportunity to create stronger family bonds and traditions.
What is a Hearing Evaluation Like?
To start, you will meet with a Hearing Care professional and a thorough history will be taken. An inspection of your ears will take place to confirm good ear health. You will be asked to respond to tones in a sound treated room. The tones tested are specific and range from the low to high frequencies that are important for hearing speech. You will undergo word testing to measure your communication abilities and how you hear speech in quiet and in noisy situations. Results are recorded to guide the Hearing Care Professional in forming a treatment plan if hearing loss is present.
The Power of Smell
Smell is amazing. It is far more than just a sniff or a whiff of something. Smell is the most primal of all of our senses and is the only one embedded in the limbic brain. The limbic brain is our emotional brain and in the end EVERYTHING boils down to how we FEEL. Our ability to smell has the ability to alter mood and behaviour. Changing how we feel changes behaviour. Instead of striving for a scent free environment, get rid of synthetic scents and toxins. Replace them with the smells of nature to improve mood and motivation. Viva our sense of smell!
