Carri Johnson AuD, Reg. CASLPO
Doctor of Audiology, Owner/Operator
Doctorate of Audiology, Salus University (2010)
Masters of Science (Audiology), Ithaca College (1996)
Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience), Laurentian University (1992)
Carri received an academic scholarship to attend Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY where she graduated at the top of her class with a Master of Science in Audiology. Upon graduating, she was hired as Canada Hearing Centre’s first audiologist, taking on the role of senior audiologist for several offices in Toronto and Kingston. She founded Near North Hearing Centre in October 2002 after moving home to North Bay to live in a vibrant community and to be closer to family. Carri is North Bay’s only Doctor of Audiology and enjoys having a patient-centred, community-based, independent practice.
She has participated in the promotion of the field of audiology as a lecturer/instructor, preceptor/mentor with Georgian College, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, CTS/CCC, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic School Board and several community businesses and groups.
Carri remains active in the promotion of and education about audiology though her work with the Canadian Academy of Audiology as Conference Chair, Board member, Third Party Committee Chair and President. Over the years she has also mentored many audiology students and new grads. She has provided work experience to students looking to pursue an education as audiologists and communicative disorders assistants as well as, foreign trained audiologists and speech-language-pathologists.
When not working, Carri can be found working with many community groups including Dressing Room Collective, Gateway Theatre Guild, Can-Do Theatre, Rotary Club of Nipissing, AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area. She also enjoys all the activities and events that North Bay and Area has to offer.
Over three million Canadians encounter some degree of hearing loss within the middle or inner ear. In one way or another, it is likely that everyone will be affected by hearing loss.
Promptly dealing with suspected hearing loss will help identify solutions, minimize its effects, and ensure the best quality of life.
Hearing loss is categorized by which part of the ear is affected. Listed below are the main types of hearing loss people can suffer from.
Conductive hearing loss involves the outer and/or middle ear and may be caused by a wax blockage, fluid in the ear, foreign objects in the ear canal, punctured eardrum, birth defects, ear infection and can also be hereditary.
Sensorineural hearing loss or nerve-related deafness is the most common type of hearing loss. It involves damage to the inner ear and/or the auditory nerve caused by aging, pre-natal and birth-related problems, viral and bacterial infections, trauma, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, a growth on the auditory nerve and can also be hereditary.
Mixed hearing loss refers to a combination of conductive and sensorineural loss and means that a problem has occurred in both the outer or middle and the inner ear.
More than half of Canadians over the age of 65 will experience some degree of hearing loss. More than 25% of all hearing loss can be attributed to aging and a growing percentage of adult hearing loss is now caused by noise damage.
Hearing loss can have a profound impact on emotional, physical and social well-being of a person and being left untreated, it can lead to depression, dissatisfaction with life, reduced functional and cognitive health, as well as withdrawal from social activities.
Although using hearing aids can improve the quality of life for hard-of-hearing adults, two-thirds of seniors who could benefit from hearing help either do not seek it or refuse treatment.
What to look for:
• Continually asking people to repeat themselves.
• The TV is set at a loud volume.
• Voices are unclear on the telephone.
• Difficult to understand speech in noisy situations.
• It is hard to understand conversations in social settings or at work.
The signs and symptoms of hearing loss differ from child to child. Even if a child has passed a hearing screening before, it is important to look out for the following signs.
What to look for with babies
• Doesn’t startle at loud noises.
• Doesn’t turn towards the source of a sound after 6 months of age.
• Doesn’t say single words by 1 year of age.
• Acknowledges you when they see you but not when you call them by name.
• Seems to hear some sounds but not others.
What to look for with children
• Speech is delayed and/or not clear.
• Doesn’t follow directions.
• Often says, “Huh?”
• Turns the TV volume up too high.
If you think that your child might have hearing loss, call Near North Hearing Centre to book a hearing screening as soon as possible.
Address: 510 Main Street East, Suite 204 North Bay, ON P1B 1B8
Call us: 705-494-9900
Fax: 705-494-9795
