Maximum Hearing is helping people communicate

By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com

A year ago, Maxine Williams-Herbert expanded her business at Three Hills, Alberta, to include services at Hanna, Alberta. Her company, Maximum Hearing’s Hanna office, is open every Thursday and Friday. Clients can book appointments at Hanna by phoning the Three Hills location Monday to Friday. Unfortunately, she is unable to accommodate walk-ins at this time.

Maxine is a Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner, Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences, with over 30 years of experience. Although Maxine resides in Three Hills, she works at both locations, providing hearing services in a relaxed and friendly environment. The Hanna office is located at 119 - 2nd Avenue West.

Plans to open the Hanna office began after Maxine had a client from Hanna come to see her. Maxine discovered only one company came to that town once a month to provide hearing services.

“The problem with that is, if you have a problem with your hearing aids and it’s the day after the other company has been there, then you have to wait until they return, or make a two-hour trip one way to get it fixed. When it comes to hearing aids, so many people rely on them working to communicate, and to be without anything for any time is a huge concern,” Maxine said.

Having worked in the industry for over 30 years, she has seen plenty of changes. “When I started, we would use small screwdrivers and lambswool to help to adjust the sound of the hearing aid,” she explained. “Now everything we do is programmed through different software programs, and you can not only connect your hearing aids to your phone through Bluetooth, but you can download an app that will allow you to adjust the volume and help with overall sound quality.”

She also clarified the common misconception that hearing aids help you “hear” better. “Most people can always hear the sounds; it’s understanding what is being said that is a struggle. Hearing aids should actually be thought of as communication aids as they are being worn more and more to help provide clarity and understanding,” she said.

To help with that process, Maxine offers a program that helps to train your brain to hear sounds better. “The ears are the pathway, but the brain is actually what does the hearing,” she said. In conjunction with hearing aids, this program can help clients relearn how to hear, especially in difficult environments. “It is a self-directed program that the user can use at their own pace. Hearing aids have come a long way, but they can’t do everything. I try to use as many tools as possible to help people regain their ability to communicate.”