Safety and hearing loss prevention

By Deb Draper

The Connect Hearing Industrial Department has been providing mobile hearing testing for more than 35 years, helping industry ensure healthier and safe work environments. “We have four provincially certified industrial audiometric technicians on the Island,” says Ken Foley, industrial division manager, Connect Hearing, Vancouver Island. “Our door-to-door mobile service is still operating under the current COVID protocol.”

That means everyone must wear masks while in the mobiletesting truck. “Normally we test two people at a time,” says Foley. “These days we have only one person enter the truck and get them settled in the testing booth before bringing in a second person. We practice social distancing as much as possible, and our technicians wear both masks and face shields.”

Wiping down the equipment, headsets, and response buttons inside the booth was a regular precaution performed prior to COVID-19, but now staff also sanitize all the high-touch spots such as railings and door knobs.

One change that is not COVID-related is that Connect Hearing is no longer offering custom hearing protection, a service they had always provided but due to a change in regulations, the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of B.C. has deemed it to be a restricted practice. Now, anyone wanting a better fit for custom hearing protection must book an appointment with a registered hearing practitioner or audiologist.

One change that is not COVID-related is that Connect Hearing is no longer offering custom hearing protection, a service they had always provided but due to a change in regulations, the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of B.C. has deemed it to be a restricted practice.

“It’s unfortunate because about 90 percent of custom hearing protection has previously been done through industrial companies,” says Foley. “We’re hoping that the College will decide to offer a certification course on the procedure so that we can once again deliver custom hearing protection to our clients.”

Meanwhile, Connect Hearing has recently consolidated the industrial division office so it is now based out of Vernon, B.C. However, it is still business as usual on Vancouver Island with the Connect Hearing technicians ready to work wherever needed.

For more information about Connect Hearing or to find an office near you, visit connecthearing.ca.