Lambton Audiology Associates

02/19/2026

Untreated hearing loss can lead to auditory deprivation, where your brain can lose its ability to process speech and sound over time. Without stimulation, the connection between your ears and your brain gets weaker over time, and your brain has increased difficulty turning the sounds you hear into meaningful speech.

To put it plainly: in this case, all the volume in the world isn't going to fix the problem with clarity of speech where auditory deprivation is at play. In extreme cases, it's like listening to Charlie Brown's teacher: turning her volume up isn't going to make her any easier to understand.

This is why treating hearing loss early is imperative, as a means of preventing auditory deprivation and preserving meaningful comprehension of speech.

So how do we know when it's time to treat hearing loss? Regular hearing tests. If it's been more than 2 years since your last hearing assessment, call 519-542-0569, message us, or drop in to schedule.

We're here to help YOU hear better.

Check out this article for more information on auditory deprivation: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/46306-Hearing-loss-auditory-deprivation

02/18/2026

Did you know weight loss promotes better hearing? Studies show adults with a healthy BMI are less likely to experience hearing loss. Learn more about protecting your ears today.

There are a lot of reasons to stay in shape, but did you know weight loss promotes better hearing?

02/18/2026

How is sound processed?

To catch you up if you've missed our previous posts:
Sound waves travel through your ear canal and bounce off your eardrum, moving the middle ear bones connected to it and conducting the sound vibrations on to the cochlea. The cochlea is filled with fluid, and the movement of the middle ear bones against the cochlea moves moves microscopic hair cells in the cochlea just like ocean current moves plants on the ocean floor. The movement of the hair cells fires nerve impulses up through the auditory nerve to the brain via the neural pathway.

Inside the brain is where the message is put together.

The Auditory Cortex identifies sounds. It helps you distinguish basic units of sound like music, or speech, or babies crying, or cats purring, or dogs barking, and so on. It helps you tell where sound is coming from in the space around you. It breaks down complex speech into syllables or tones. It helps you recognize melodies and rhythms.

Wernicke's Area of the brain transforms sounds into meaningful language, allowing you to understand words and conversations. This is where "I love you", and the "Olivia is such a great audiologist and person", and the "Wernicke's Area is so cool" come to be recognizable. Wernicke's Area allows you to form emotional connection to speech and language.

Damage to this area of the brain means loss of ability to receive and comprehend speech and sound - something we wouldn't wish on anyone.

The brain as an entity is amazing. We don't talk about it enough!

02/17/2026

The auditory pathway is the neural route that takes electrical sound information from the cochlea up to the brain.

This includes a set of each of the following:
1. Auditory Nerve
- See our previous post for more information
2. Cochlear Nucleus
- The point in the brainstem where information is separated and initial processing occurs
3. Superior Olivary Complex
- Input from both ears comes together, which is important for telling which direction sound comes from (localizing sound)
4. Lateral Lemniscus
- Carries the information upward to the midbrain
5. Inferior colliculus
- This "hub" acts like a switchboard, further helping localize sound, initiate a startle reflex to loud noises, and filters different information such as pitch and rhythm
6. Medial Geniculate
- The final point of filtering before sending information to the cortex. This is where the emotional importance of sound is assigned, and music is recognized

The neural pathway can seem scary to learn about but BRAIN SCIENCE IS AMAZING, and is an integral part of starting to process sound.

02/17/2026

Now, more than ever....
❤

02/16/2026

Concerned your hearing may be declining? Early detection is key. Schedule a hearing test today to protect your remaining hearing and maintain your quality of life.

In some cases, you may be able to prevent your hearing loss from worsening. Learn about how you can regain control of your hearing.

02/16/2026

We wish you a day of reflection and gratitude with the people you love most. Our offices are closed today so we can also spend time with our families. See you tomorrow as usual!

02/14/2026

This Valentine’s Day, show your ears a little love ❤️ Healthy hearing helps you stay connected to the people and moments that matter most. Schedule a hearing check and invest in the sounds you love.

02/14/2026

Wear your HEARt on your sleeve, Valentine 🥰

02/13/2026

We love hearing stories about the families of our patients. Even better, we love meeting them! We are lucky to be the names and faces that multiple generations trust with their ears and their hearing.

We will be closed on Monday, February 16 so we can spend time with our own families. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday.

Happy Family Day!

02/12/2026

Nothing puts a smile on your face like a random act of kindness. We are lucky to have such awesome people around us 🐛🍳

(Thank you!)

02/12/2026

Hearing in noise is far and above the number one struggle described to us, whether or not there's measurable hearing loss involved. Strengthening the connection between your ears and your brain is possible.

Aural rehabilitation is all about improving your experience with communication, with the ultimate goal of improving relationships and your quality of life.

Hearing aids are not the only solution. Our comprehensive aural rehabilitation includes clinically validated and peer reviewed auditory training programs involving listening exercises proven to increase working memory and understanding of speech in noise.

If you're interested in giving this a try, call 519-542-0569 to discuss with one of our Audiologists or Hearing Instrument Specialists. There's nothing to lose!