Cove Hearing and Audiology is the only locally owned and independent hearing clinic in Digby
providing patient-centred care to anyone who has concerns with their hearing health.
Sara has 14 years experience in hearing clinics across the world in Australia and in Canada and offers her expertise in full diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology in areas such as Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Sound Sensitivity (hyperacusis) and Auditory Processing.
Since Cove Hearing and Audiology is an independent hearing clinic and not a big chain, Sara is able to offer flexible appointments to spend time with you and examine your situation and concerns to offer appropriate management systems that reflect each individual’s very unique lifestyle and their requirements.
DIGBY HEARING AIDS
Taking good care of your hearing is important to your personal safety and well-being. Hearing helps us with communication and connection and links us to the world around us. Studies have linked the effects of untreated hearing loss to stress, depression, isolation and, in some cases, dementia. With untreated hearing loss, your brain must work hard to fill in the gaps which may lead to fatigue and frustration.
New hearing aid technology does the hard work to help supports your brain’s natural way of processing sound, allowing an individual to understand speech, hear better in challenging environments, and tell what direction sound is coming from. The higher the technology level, the harder the aids work for you, taking the strain off your own hearing system.
No one hears sound the same way, and no two lifestyles are the same. I will work with you find a personalized hearing solution to help you better understand speech with less effort so that you can participate more in the joys of life and the connections you make. We will decide together which style/shape and technology would best suit you.
DIGBY HEARING TESTING
Our hearing is a complex system that starts outside the ear and ends up at the hearing area in our brain. Hearing loss can take place anywhere from the ear canal, middle ear, inner ear or even deep inside pathway to the brain. My job is to discover how this complex system is working, using state of the art testing equipment and a thorough battery of tests.
A complete hearing assessment will take place to evaluate the acuity of your hearing, your speech understanding and the mechanical processes of the outer, middle, and inner ear. I will make sure that if there are any issues that you understand them fully. We will take the time to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your ears and your hearing. We will discuss what types of difficulties you are experiencing in your life, if any, and how it affects your unique lifestyle. A report may be given to a physician upon request and when deemed medically necessary. I will then make the appropriate recommendations to move forward based on the entirety of the information given.
TINNITUS TESTING IN DIGBY
Tinnitus is an audiological condition that causes a person to hear a sound when there is no external cause of the sound. Often referred to as ringing in the ears, the condition affects 15 to 20 percent of the population. Tinnitus may be a constant or intermittent sound. There may be single or multiple tones, and the volume can range from subtle to loud.
Tinnitus does not yet have a cure, however, there are treatment options to help you cope and manage your life with tinnitus. Tinnitus can significantly affect the quality of life.
The exact cause of Tinnitus is unknown, but the following can contribute to or worsen the condition:
Age-related hearing loss
Exposure To Loud Noise That Damages The Inner Ear
Wax Build-up
Misalignment Of The Jaw
Conditions Such As Fibromyalgia, Hypo- Or Hyperthyroidism & Meniere’s Disease
Medication Side Effects and Otoxic Medications That Damage The Inner Ear
Cardiovascular Disease
Head & Neck Trauma
Although it affects people differently, if you have tinnitus, you may also experience:
Fatigue and stress
Problems getting to sleep or staying asleep
Trouble concentrating
Memory problems
Depression
Anxiety and irritability
Looking deeper at these linked conditions and treating them may not affect tinnitus directly, but it can help you feel better.
Cove Hearing and Audiology offers a variety of methods to treat tinnitus in Digby, including hearing aids and sound therapy. During your hearing assessment with me, we will discuss any issues related to tinnitus and how I may help you. We’ll determine the triggers of your tinnitus and find the treatment or combination of treatments that work best for you.
YOUR DIGBY AUDIOLOGIST
Sara Chetwynd is your very own local audiologist in Digby, serving clients from Southwest Nova to the Annapolis Valley.
Sara knew she wanted to be involved with people with communication disorders after watching her grandmother who was profoundly hearing impaired suffer a brain tumor surgery that affected her speech and the muscles in her face. Sara was determined to help others overcome communication challenges.
Sara received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Dalhousie University with an Advanced Major in Neuroscience in 2002. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Audiology from Dalhousie University’s School of Human Communication Disorders in 2005.
Sara began her career in Audiology by traveling to Australia and working for Australian Hearing. Once moving back to Canada, Sara provided hearing health care in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia for several years. After bringing her young family back to their roots in southern Nova Scotia, she recognized there was a need for Audiology care in the area that was not being met. Because of this, Cove Hearing and Audiology was created.
Sara is passionate about delivering the highest standard of patient-centered hearing care and education to individuals with hearing related disorders, their families and working closely with allied health professionals. Sara truly believes in the importance of the connection that takes place through communication and how she can help enhance the lives of her patients by improving their communication capabilities.
EAR WAX REMOVAL
Cerumen is ear wax that is produced by the cells inside the ear canal. Its job is to catch dirt and debris that might make it inside the ear canal, as well as dead skin cells and carry them out to the end of the ear canal. Occasionally, the wax builds up or dries out and can cause some problems; it can even form a complete blockage which would result in a conductive hearing loss.
Removal of the wax can be done in clinic. It is done gently and easily using removal tools and flushing with warm water when necessary.
Fee for Cerumen removal is $20 per ear.
DIRECT BILLING
Cove Hearing and Audiology is a licensed and preferred provider for these following Third Party Payers. Direct billing to these providers is available:
Veteran’s Affairs Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Worker’s Compensation Boards across Canada (WCB)
Any other third-party payers such as those listed below must be billed to the patient. The patient must then complete and submit a claim form for reimbursement.
Great West Life
Blue Cross
Sunlife
Other Private Health Insurance
