Frequently Asked Questions

We serve all persons who are Deaf or who have hearing differences: if you are Deaf, Deafblind, hard of hearing or are losing some hearing, we can help!

If you have "typical hearing", once every 5 years. If you have hearing loss, we recommend being tested once every 2 years. Of course, if you notice any changes in your hearing, we suggest you book a re-evaluation right away.

Yes we do. The local health unit will provide anyone under 19 with free hearing assessments but we understand that sometimes you would like to eliminate the lengthy wait time and have it done privately. We can test children from age 4 and up.

Our hearing health clinicians are all registered audiologists who also have certification to fit hearing aids.

Our testing is always performed by a registered Audiologist. They are experts in hearing healthcare and can perform several diagnostic assessments in addition to hearing testing and dispensing hearing aids.

Yes! We provide hearing aids from all manufacturers that are available to us.

Your audiologist will recommend hearing aids for you based on the results of the assessment and your lifestyle. As these factors vary so much from person to person, we are unable to give a price over the phone.

Yes, we can re-fit hearing aids for you as long as they are appropriate for your hearing loss, and they are from one of the manufacturers we have programming software for. There is a fee for this service.

We have a lending library of assistive technology (such as amplified telephones) that we are happy to loan you for a week before you purchase one.

Yes, we gratefully accept them. Our Sound of Change program is dependent on people donating hearing aids to us. We also accept hearing aid accessories and assistive technology.

No, we refurbish hearing aids for our Sound of Change program only and they are free to those eligible.

Yes! We have ASL level 1 and 2 classes all taught by people in the deaf community at both the Victoria and Nanaimo locations.

We have the Sound of Change program which provides free donated and refurbished hearing aids to low income individuals who qualify. We provide ongoing hearing health care and replacement hearing aids as required.

We provide hearing aids and other hearing health services for Veterans Affairs Canada, WorkBC, Persons With Disabilities, and First Nations Health Authority.

IDHHC Employment Case managers can help walk you through the Assistive Technology Services application process through WorkBC. This is a cost share program where WorkBC may provide the majority of funds for new hearing aids with a contribution from yourself. For more info, please contact Janet in Nanaimo at janetm@idhhc.ca or Kim in Victoria at kim@idhhc.ca.

Yes, there is. However, people from many financial circumstances are eligible for funding; some applicants will be asked to provide more personal contribution than others, depending on their individual situation. WorkBC Assistive Technology Services staff will work with you to assess your eligibility.

Please fill out the Interpreter/Captioning request form and submit it to us at your earliest convenience. We will follow up with you via email.

Due to the high demand for interpreting and captioning services, the more notice you can provide the better chance we will have of securing an available interpreter or captionist for you. If you can provide us with at least 3 weeks notice that would be helpful.

Yes. We will do everything possible to secure an available interpreter/captionist for your last minute request (i.e. next day services), however please note that due to the high demand of interpreting and captioning requests interpreters and captionists get booked weeks and sometimes months in advance. The more notice you can provide the better chance we have of securing services for you. If you hold monthly meetings, provide us with your 12-month schedule now so we can arrange services for you.

You will be emailed an invoice during the first week of the month following the month you received services, i.e. you received interpreting services in September, you will be invoiced during the first week of October. You can pay for your invoice by calling our front desk 250-592-8144 with a credit card (please have invoice number and the amount ready), send an e-transfer (please include invoice number in the message section of the e-transfer), mail in a cheque to IDHHC 301-3960 Quadra Street, Victoria BC V8X 4A3, or pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (this needs to be set up in advance).