Tom* is a man with a big smile and a positive attitude who volunteered to help at the Canadian Hearing Society. As it turned out, he ended up receiving some help too, through much needed support for his failing hearing. 

“I was going to different doctors and tried all sorts of different hearing aids, but they all stopped working.  I was referred to one doctor who just told me I was deaf and there was nothing I could do,” says Tom.  “The staff at the Canadian Hearing Society helped me to try different supports and find the right doctor.”

Although, he acknowledges that he misses things like the sound of music, Tom has figured out how to live with his disability with support from the Canadian Hearing Society. Since losing his hearing, Tom has learned to communicate by reading people’s lips, expressions and hand motions.  He has learned how to use his new supportive devices, allowing him to use the telephone and to know when someone is at the door. 

“Staff at the Canadian Hearing Society really look after us,” says Tom’s wife of 54 years. “They’ll come to our apartment two or three times a week to make sure Tom gets used to a new system or device.”

Tom adds, “They did me an awful lot of good. They didn’t brush me off; they made suggestions to help make my life easier. They went out of their way to help.”

“Canadian Hearing Society is a fantastic group. That’s all there is to it,” Tom says.

Your donations to United Way of Guelph & Wellington support the work of Canadian Hearing Society, helping people like Tom every day.

*Name has been changed to protect anonymity.