Lambton Audiology Associates

03/02/2026

Think hearing loss only happens to older adults? Think again! Noise exposure, certain medications, and lifestyle factors affect hearing at any age. Don’t wait. Get your hearing checked today.

Think hearing loss stereotypes are harmless? Find out the truth. These 3 can cause irreversible damage to your health and happiness.

03/02/2026

You know when you go to a concert or a car race and find out the hard way why we recommend hearing protection at these events? Ringing in your ears, a temporary feeling of decline in hearing. All of this is thanks to your stapedius muscle working exactly the way it should.

The stapedius muscle contracts in response to loud noises, and the middle ear bones (malleus/hammer, incus/anvil, stapes/stirrup) stiffen to soften the volume of sound before it reaches your inner ear. That's right, your body has ways of naturally protecting itself from loud noise. With that being said, the attenuation or dampening of sound the stapedius muscle provides is NOT the same as wearing ear plugs, and you should continue to wear ear plugs in noisy environments to protect your hearing.

When the stapedius muscle isn't working correctly, sound sensitivity can occur. This is also called hyperacusis, and even normal sounds can feel too loud.

Sometimes, the stapedius muscle can malfunction and result in middle ear myoclonus, where the person can perceive persistent fluttering/clicking/buzzing. This happens to me personally during periods of extreme stress.

02/27/2026

Did you know a heart-healthy diet could protect your hearing? 🥗 Research shows Mediterranean-style eating—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins—may lower your risk of age-related hearing loss by 30%. Learn more!

New research reveals a surprising connection between your hearing and your diet. Here's what to eat.

02/26/2026

A conversation I have with patients is rooted in understanding intrinsic motivation, which is the internal drive to engage in an activity for personal satisfaction rather than external rewards or punishments.

As human beings we all want to enjoy our autonomy and the privilege to choose what we want to do. No one wants to be forced to participate in something.

Improvement in hearing and understanding requires intrinsic motivation. There must be a conscious choice to WANT to follow treatment plans, use devices as prescribed, or employ strategies to improve hearing. The person with hearing loss must choose to move forward for their own benefit. If someone else is forcing the person to undergo treatment, the outcome may not be ideal. In this case, the treatment seems more like a punishment than a reward. The outcome may mean even more stress on personal relationships!

"My friend got hearing aids and they ended up in a drawer". This is a hard conversation, because there are so many variables. Did they express their frustrations to their hearing care provider? Did they try multiple devices, or did they go with the first thing offered and stick with it despite being disappointed? Did they work to make hearing aids part of their daily routine beyond situational use? Did someone pressure them before they were ready to pursue treatment? Did they have the support of their loved ones for treatment or did they feel lonely in their frustration?

It boils down to this: better hearing only happens if you are willing to change habits and routines. Sometimes this means being pushed out of your comfort zone. Sometimes this means trial and error. Sometimes this means advocating for yourself where you are frustrated. It means intrinsic motivation must outweigh the inconveniences of better hearing.

Food for thought.

Our offices are currently offering complimentary initial screenings. No pressure - when you're ready, we're ready.

02/25/2026

Your hearing aids are an investment in your hearing and well-being. Keep them working their best by following proper care and maintenance tips.

Feel like you're not getting the best hearing experience with your hearing aids? Check out these 7 tips to care for your hearing aids

02/25/2026

What does it mean to be independently owned in the audiology world?

Often, we think of what occurred during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns: big business closed immediately and laid off their staff. LAA never closed. We never turned away a patient. We helped so many people we had never met before with hearing aids needing repair because their clinics had closed and they could no longer hear. One person drove 6 hours for a contactless hearing aid repair! We even won a City of Sarnia Accessibility Award for this reason.

Supporting local and supporting independent business ultimately means more security, choice, and control for you. Consider this in all of the business you support. If all the independent businesses go away, the big corporations are the ones making the decisions for you.

So again...what does it mean to be independently owned in the audiology world?

It means that there are no rules as to the devices and treatment we can offer.
It means we can offer comprehensive and specialized services, like earwax removal and Auditory Processing testing, that retail clinics won't.
It means there is no limit on the number of visits or the length of your appointment.
It means no manufacturer or agency stands over our shoulder and we can explore all options on your timeline.
It means taking the care and consideration to find out who you are, what you need, what you expect, and how we can make it happen together.
It means finding solutions that are customized for YOU, not cookie-cutter treatment plans that a marketing or sales team designed to sell to you.
It means having the equipment, training, and expertise to follow best practices and get it right.
It means developing trust and integrity within OUR community of Sarnia-Lambton, where we too live, work, shop, and support.

We're here to help YOU hear better.

02/24/2026

OHIP delisted routine earwax removal quietly in 2019, so many healthcare providers aren't offering their patients this service. Often, patients don't find this out until they're experiencing significant symptoms.

Now to be clear: we're supposed to have SOME earwax. Earwax naturally works its way out of your ear, and is useful in preventing ear infections and keeping your ears lubricated so they're not dry and itchy.

Our Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Specialist have all completed extensive training and are certified to remove earwax safely via microsuction, irrigation, or manual instrument.

Call 519-542-0569, message, or drop in to schedule your appointment for effective earwax removal if you're experiencing any of these concerns.

02/23/2026

Modern hearing aids are discreet, high-tech devices that help you reconnect with life. Hear your grandchild’s laughter, the birds outside, or your favorite music again. Don’t miss a moment!

What subtle lifestyle change can make you feel younger? There's a surprisingly discreet device that will prevent you from feeling old.

02/23/2026

Yes, your ears have muscles too.

When you begin to yawn, you hear a low rumbling sound. That's your tensor tympani muscle working to tighten your eardrum. I had worked in the field of audiology for years before I realized I could make that rumbling sound voluntarily happen whenever I wanted. Can you?

Your tensor tympani muscles are located in your middle ear spaces. They connect to the malleus (hammer) bone in your middle ear, and have a blood supply from your meningeal arteries.

The main function of the tensor tympani muscle is to brace the eardrum for impact in response to tactile force (from touching the ear canal or significant air entering the ear canal).

Your tensor tympani muscles dampen the noise your body produces (such as chewing). When the muscle is tensed, and the eardrum tightens, these sound waves have a more difficult time making it through to the cochlea. The muscle does NOT contract in response to sudden loud sounds, like explosions, as it doesn't have enough time to prepare to do this.

So...do you have the voluntary tensor tympani muscle control superpower too?

02/23/2026

Struggling to hear during cold and flu season? Inflamed eustachian tubes can trap fluid and distort sound. Don’t ignore persistent ear issues. Time for a professional evaluation.

Colds and allergies can cause a host of hearing problems. Find out how.

02/20/2026

100 people at the thrift store may have looked at this 1971 vinyl and thought, “Who would buy that?”

WE WOULD!

A fun listen and reminder of just how far the industry has come. Happy Friday!

02/20/2026

Foods we choose to fuel our bodies can have long term effects on many aspects of our health, including hearing.

A 2020 study (see below for link) suggests that diet is a modifiable risk factor for hearing loss and tinnitus. Regular and plentiful consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and high protein lean fat meats may be linked to healthier hearing. Higher intake of Vitamin D was positively correlated with reduced odds of hearing concerns. High protein diets suggested lower risk of tinnitus. Higher intake of calcium, iron, and fats were shown to have increased risk of tinnitus.

Start by making one small decision with your next meal. For example: an easy change for my household has been using cooked brown or red lentils as a substitute where you would normally use ground beef. Picky eaters in your home? A blender hides veggies in sauces and dressings well for your family's favourite meals.

Check out this study for more information: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7664714/