Ottawa Hears - Audiology

01/02/2026

📣 Hearing and Brain Health — More Connected Than You Think!

Studies show that age‑related hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, and even dementia.

For example:
• A large meta‑analysis found that hearing loss is significantly linked with cognitive decline and higher risk of dementia in adults.
• Another systematic review concluded that hearing loss consistently shows an association with incident cognitive impairment and dementia across many cohort studies.
• Research also indicates that hearing loss correlates with changes in brain structure, including reduced brain volume and increased white matter abnormalities — all tied to brain aging.

👉 **The good news?** Early hearing checks and intervention — like hearing assessments and appropriate care — could help you stay socially engaged and mentally active, *which are both important for brain health*.

💬 Don’t wait — your brain (and your “marbles” 😄) will thank you!

🔗 Book your hearing assessment: www.ottawahears.com
📧 Email us: info@ottawahears.com

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[1]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29222544/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Association of Age-Related Hearing Loss With Cognitive Function, Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis - PubMed"
[2]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38788800/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Adult-onset hearing loss and incident cognitive impairment and dementia - A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies - PubMed"
[3]: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2841000?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Hearing Loss, Brain Structure, Cognition, and Dementia Risk in the Framingham Heart Study | Neurology | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network"

01/02/2026

Just read an insightful report from the NCBI on hearing health outcomes — a powerful reminder that better hearing is about more than sound. It’s about connection, communication, and quality of life. 👂✨

Take the first step toward hearing better:
Book your assessment at www.ottawahears.com
or email us at info@ottawahears.com

Your hearing matters.

01/02/2026

🧠 👂 Hearing well impacts both daily life and long-term brain health. Studies link hearing loss to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Here are four key ways hearing loss affects brain health:

- Auditory Processing: Hearing loss reduces brain activity, causing gray matter shrinkage. The Wernicke's area, responsible for speech comprehension, is near areas affected by Alzheimer’s. Early hearing treatment can slow cognitive decline.

- Symptom Overlap: Dementia and hearing loss share symptoms like memory issues, depression, and anxiety. A simple hearing test can distinguish between the two.

- Social Isolation: Hearing loss leads to social withdrawal, a known risk factor for dementia and depression. Treating hearing loss helps improve social engagement and mental health.

- Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline: Greater hearing loss correlates with worse cognitive decline. Studies show that untreated hearing loss accelerates memory problems.

Quick Facts:
- 94% of dementia cases involve hearing loss.
- Mild hearing loss doubles dementia risk, while moderate hearing loss increases it five-fold.
- Hearing aids improve memory and behavior in Alzheimer’s patients and boost cognitive function by 50% in a year.

Schedule a hearing test today to protect your brain health! Visit www.ottawahears.com to book a consultation.

12/15/2025

Thank you KRP Properties ❤️

12/11/2025

Genia made a pottery dish for our clinic with our logo on it 💙
It even has a little crack… which we love.

In Japanese pottery, the art of Kintsugi (“golden joinery”) fills cracks with gold to celebrate, not hide, breakage—finding beauty in imperfection, history, and repair, and turning it into a symbol of resilience and renewal. ✨

This dish will sit in our clinic as a reminder that healing isn’t about being “perfect” – it’s about shining through our cracks. 🌿,🧡

12/03/2025

From energy to biology — when the body isn’t aligned, it doesn’t function at its best.
Tinnitus is often a symptom, a signal that something in the system needs attention. It’s rarely “just the ears.”

As a holistic audiologist, I look at the bigger picture.
I may ask you:
🌱 What do you eat?
💧 What do you drink?
😴 How well do you sleep?
🏃‍♀️ Do you move your body?
🧘 How is your stress level?

Your hearing health is connected to your whole body — energy, biology, lifestyle, and daily habits.

Book with Genia — Doctor of Audiology.
A holistic audiologist who continues to undergo intensive, specialized training to better serve her patients and support healing from multiple angles.

At Ottawa Hears Audiology, we don’t just treat symptoms.
We look deeper.
We listen to you.
We help you realign the system so your ears — and your body — can function better.

✨ Holistic hearing care starts with understanding the whole person.
www.ottawahears.com

11/22/2025

I am an audiologist and… yes, I wear a skull headband.
Because why not? Hearing health is serious — I just don’t have to LOOK serious every day. 😆💀

If you hear ringing… that’s tinnitus.
If you don’t hear your spouse… that’s selective hearing (or maybe hearing loss 👀).
If you can’t hear your kids… honestly, I won’t judge. 😂

Either way, your ears deserve some love.
Book your hearing check before your ears start “ghosting” you 👻
www.ottawahears.com ✨

11/19/2025

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
For many people, the very first sign is tinnitus — that ringing, buzzing, or noise in the ears that just doesn’t go away. If you’re hearing something that no one else hears, it might be time to visit an audiologist.

Yes — Genia Kanne-Shmigol is fluent in French aussi! 🇫🇷✨
Book your hearing check at: www.ottawahears.com

11/07/2025

✈️ From civil pilots to military jet pilots — and everyone in between — we’ve got your hearing protected without compromising audibility!

Custom aviation ear tips, microphones, and hearing protection designed for comfort, performance, and safety at any altitude. 🛩️

Book your appointment today 👉 www.ottawahears.com

11/05/2025

"🎀 What could I tell my 12-year-old self — the little girl who once arrived in Canada without a word of English or French?

I would tell her: “You made it — through all the noise.”
Through the voices that said, “You can’t do this,” “You’re not capable,” “It’s too hard,” “It’s impossible,” or “Well… it’s nice to dream about it.”

And yet — here you are.
You turned every no into motivation.
You proved that resilience, courage, and belief can shape your own destiny.

A huge thank you to my parents for their unconditional love and support, and to everyone I’ve met along the way — because we are all mentors and students in each other’s stories.

This ribbon from Ottawa Hears Audiology isn’t just an award —
it’s a symbol of strength, willpower, and perseverance.
A reminder to never give up, and above all — to always do what you love. " 💙 Genia

11/03/2025