While her new clinic keeps her busy, audiologist Tosha Hodgson has found the time to both educate and give back to the community.
Hodgson opened Rockwell Audiology last year in downtown Vernon and has made herself available to a variety of audiences in the community, striving to create an environment that encourages people to feel comfortable asking questions.
“Unfortunately, stigmas about hearing loss still exist so it’s important to break those barriers and get people asking questions so answers are personally meaningful and so we can all learn from each other,” said Hodgson, who is also a hearing instrument practitioner.
In May, she launched a hearing aid loaner program for seniors, the Rockwell Audiology Instrument Loaner Program (RAIL).
“With the support of the Seniors Information and Resource Bureau (SIRB), the North Okanagan Falls Prevention program and generous donations of hearing aids from people in our community, we are now able to assist hard-of-hearing low-income seniors get their hearing back on track.”
Hodgson gives credit to Morning Star seniors’ columnist Pat Black, who recently retired as coordinator of the Falls Prevention Program, and Dayle Drury, SIRB manager, who both approached her with the aid-loaner concept. RAIL relies on donated behind-the-ear hearing aids which Hodgson refurbishes then provides to applicants who meet the criteria of the program.
“It’s been great to see the community give and even better to pass those donations on to people who need them, right here at home.
“I’ve had the privilege of connecting with some incredibly caring and hard-working people in this community, many of them volunteers.”
Hodgson celebrates her clinic’s first birthday by holding events throughout October, including a “Tech-it Out” workshop, Healthy Hearing Bingo supporting the local food bank, patient appreciation day and an open house.
For more information about the hearing aid loaner program, please call Hodgson at 250-545-2226 or e-mail info@rockwellaudiology.ca
