Key points
- In Canada, you can buy prescription hearing aids at a hearing clinic. You don't need a doctor's referral.
- Depending on the clinic, your hearing aid batteries may be included with your purchase.
- A hearing loss diagnosis is required for prescription hearing aids. Book a hearing test to see if hearing aids could benefit you.
Although you can buy over-the-counter amplifiers online, prescription hearing aids require a hearing loss diagnosis from a licensed hearing care professional.
Hearing professionals work in clinics. You can find these clinics in hospitals, malls, plazas, medical offices—any place that can support a soundproofed environment for testing.
How to choose a hearing clinic
When choosing a hearing clinic, you’ll want to consider
- The distance
- Any ongoing support for your hearing aids
- The hearing care professional
- Reviews
1. Choose a convenient location
Healthy hearing is important for your safety, communication and quality of life. If you have an issue with your hearing aids, convenient access to your hearing clinic can help resolve the issue sooner.
For hearing aid providers with multiple locations, you can receive consistent care even when you’re not in your neighbourhood.
Browse our list of clinics to find one close to you:
- Ontario
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Saskatchewan
2. Ask about hearing aid warranties and aftercare
In addition to daily cleaning you may do at home, routine checkups are necessary to make sure your hearing aids are working their best.
Some hearing care providers understand the importance of ongoing services for hearing aids and include it in the cost.
A first-time hearing aid wearer may underestimate the benefits of personalized, ongoing hearing care—prioritizing a lower cost that does not include aftercare.
Fortunately, there are other ways to save on hearing aids without sacrificing the care from a licensed hearing professional.
3. Your hearing professional’s training and your experience with him or her
Ongoing care for your hearing aids means routine visits with your hearing care professional. A healthy client-provider relationship can make a visit to the clinic feel like visiting a friend.
Your hearing care professional should discuss the effect of hearing loss on your lifestyle and relationships, and how best to manage difficult listening situations.
The conversation should touch on the level of challenges you experience in hearing over the phone.
Your hearing professional should also ask about your manual dexterity and vision status because these can affect your ability to handle hearing aids successfully.
With your hearing professional, you should also discuss realistic expectations and ask about your lifestyle, which can affect your choice of style and recommended features.
4. Hearing clinic reviews
Hearing clinic reviews can provide some insight into how your experience at a clinic may be. However, the hearing healthcare industry in Canada is heavily regulated; in some provinces, reviews cannot be encouraged by the hearing healthcare provider.
In addition to online research, try calling the clinic or visiting in person to see how friendly and personable the staff are to you.
A hearing aid purchase starts with a hearing test. Book a free hearing test to start your journey to better hearing today.
