Dear sir:
I am writing as a concerned citizen of the Kenora-Rainy River District about the limited availability and future of hearing health care in the district.
My question to local MPP Howard Hampton: What is the provincial government prepared to do to preserve or enhance the existing services provided by the Northwestern Health Unit and The Canadian Hearing Society.
Recently, to offset funding deficits, the Northwestern Health Unit has entered into the business of dispensing hearing aids and, in so doing, has forced the closure of The Canadian Hearing Society office in Fort Frances, with potential closures of their Dryden and Kenora offices.
As outlined on the Public Health Branch website, health units are mandated to provide hearing health programming for children solely.
For non-mandated programming, such as adult audiological and hearing aid dispensing services, they are to “. . . provide leadership in identifying issues and developing services, integrating them with other services in the community, and advocating for those which fall outside their mandate.”
How, then, can a publicly-funded service put a non-profit social service out of business?
With the closure of the Fort Frances CHS office, the community is now unable to receive a host of on-site services (i.e., in-home hearing aid services, hearing care counselling, communication device consultation and sales, hearing health care information, and hearing screenings), as well as off-site services provided via video-conferencing (i.e., mental health and addiction services, ASL-English interpreting services, literacy/life skills, and employment services).
I ask you, Mr. Hampton, is the availability of hearing health care riding on private enterprise or will it be a publicly-funded service—as it should be?
It is time that our government acknowledged and supported the dedication of existing hearing health care professionals and ensure the preservation and enhancement of these services now and into the future.
The recruitment of these professionals to the area is difficult and my own daughter, Nancy Griffiths, of the Dryden CHS office, obtained the education and currently is serving her communities as a hearing instrument dispenser.
Is her job in jeopardy?
Hearing loss is a chronic condition! It can, and does, affect quality of life and does require intervention. Bottom line—people who do not receive this do not receive what they need to lead healthy and productive lives.
If an Ontarian needs a wheelchair, they receive it. If an Ontarian living in Northwestern Ontario needs hearing loss intervention, will they receive it? It is questionable!
I have had a moderate to severe hearing loss since I was five years old. Life would be difficult, and my independence restricted, without the availability of devices, training, support, and counselling—hearing health care services provided by The Canadian Hearing Society.
I prompt Mr. Hampton to join me in supporting expanding these services in the Kenora-Rainy River District! These services also are not available around the corner like they are in southern areas of Ontario—our needs are quite different because our district is so vast.
Don’t let us be forgotten.
Sincerely,
Dianne Griffiths
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