Success Stories
David Ferguson - Burnaby,BC
- Comments on the results of his new hearing aid fitting.
I
never thought that I would ever be able to hear this well. Nothing that I've had
previously has ever given me the ability to hear and understand conversation the
way that I am able to now, even in noisy situations."
I will recommend this Beltone clinic to anyone who asks me about hearing help.
Stewart Martin - West Vancouver,BC
- Comments on Beltone and recommends getting hearing help.
I’ve been associated with Beltone for 4 years, beginning with North Vancouver and then switching when Beltone opened a new office in West Vancouver.
I’ve
always found all staff to be courteous and helpful.
Nik is a very professional person, with his wide training in Europe and
Canada.
I have always received
prompt attention with the technical care of my hearing aids as attention to the
actual physical use of them.
I
have a very top-quality product which does a good job … these hearing aids give
me a great deal more enjoyment of life. I
have worn hearing aids before and have never been shy or embarrassed about
wearing them, because I know how important they are!
I would encourage
anyone who is delaying getting tested and purchasing hearing aids, to just get
things done, and get on with it! Devices
in the ear are commonplace now, and the younger people in my family are so
pleased that I have taken this step, since it has helped to improve
communication with them!
Eileen Doherty - West Vancouver,BC
- New hearing aid at age 91.
"I didn’t realize I was going to be able to hear so well, and I’m sorry I didn’t get a hearing aid years ago.
This is making the latter years in my life much more pleasant. It seemed like a lot of money to spend at age 91, but it was money very well spent! The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is put the hearing aid on, and the last thing I do at the end of the day, after watching television (which is so much easier to hear now), is take it off, so I’m wearing it 15 – 16 hours a day!
I have absolutely no complaints … it has all been a very pleasant surprise for me."
Matti Ikavalko - Burnaby,BC
- on his new advanced technology hearing aids.
"I have never heard as well as I do now. I have always worn one hearing aid on my left ear, but now with two hearing aids I can hear so much more clearly and understand what is being said because of 'stereo' sound"
Lois Ronning - Burnaby,BC
-
on her new advanced-technology hearing aids.
"
Being in a noisy restaurant with six other people around a round table and then
being able to hear and understand what my friends were saying was incredible! I
used to have to pick the people I would sit beside based upon how well I could
hear their voice.
I never realized that there were so many birds singing. I no longer have to say
"pardon" to my customers.
I like watching channel 46 on TV but I always had trouble understanding people
with accents, but now I can hear and understand with no problem.
It's like someone took a drill and opened up my ears and my hearing!"
John Bellamy - West Vancouver,BC
- on his new Beltone Access hearing aids.
“About 5 years ago I tried some hearing aids and I didn’t have a good experience at all. In September, 2007, Nik Kolev fitted me with 2 Beltone Access hearing aids, and they are a great improvement over the ones I previously tried. The service was very good, and I wouldn’t be without my hearing aids now. I wear them every day, all day!”
Brian Sidelman - North Vancouver,BC
- on his new Invisa Linq deep canal CIC.
“I would suggest to anybody who is reluctant to correct a hearing problem, to just go and do it! Since I got my new hearing aid, I can hear in crowds and engage easily in conversation when there is noise around me. It is much easier to understand the words of the speaker and I feel more confident.”
“I spent many years nodding my head doing my best to understand. I was in retail
sales, and I was often intensely trying to read lips, and as a result of the
strain, I realize I was frowning at many of my customers! Hearing aids have
taken the stress and strain out of this, and I can enjoy these conversations
much more.”
“Let’s face it – many of us are vain about the idea of wearing hearing aids. My
advice to anyone hesitating about the appearance of a hearing aid on their ear
is, “Get over it! Nobody notices your hearing aid, and nobody cares that you are
wearing one! With the types and styles available people won't even notice. What
they do notice is your hearing loss, and the sooner you correct it, the better.”
“My hearing aid has improved the quality of my home life and work life. I can
hear all the commentary on the hockey games now! This is great!”
Irv Ross - Burnaby,BC
- on his new 'titanium and black open fit' personal communication devices (PCD's)
" I never believed I would be able to adapt this easily. I would have done it a lot sooner had I known the level of technology available today."
Olga M. - Burnaby,BC
- on her new 'open fit' personal communication devices (PCD's)
"I don't feel like I'm talking through my nose. My voice sounds so much more natural. These new open fit hearing aids are so much more comfortable than my older ones, and much lighter. The TV is set much quieter and I am able to understand all that is being said
George Rose
"I have been very pleased with Beltone."
"I spent 3 months researching before I made the decision to buy from
Beltone, and have never regretted my
choice. I feel that their service is superior over all."
"There is less pressure to buy and more focus on client satisfaction. I worked
as a salesman for many years, and I know when someone is being honest with me.
Gerry
gave me the straight story every time."
"Beltone's prices are competitive and all follow-ups and services I needed after my
purchase were free. I had many consultations and adjustments and never had a
sense that I was an imposition and there were no charges at any time! The cost
of batteries at the Beltone clinic
is far lower (less than half) of market price, and batteries are an ongoing and
considerable expense to any hearing aid user."
On "The EDGE":
"My hearing loss is in the high frequency range. I have trouble hearing my
soft-spoken wife, the television, and voices in noisy environments."
"The "Edge" aids took
all the stress out of hearing these sounds. The Edge does not block the low
frequencies that are very clear for me, but replaces the high frequency sounds I
had been missing. ( 'th', 'ch' 'sh' 'k' 't' 'g') I can now understand my wife, I
can enjoy television with her at the same volume, and I can hear and understand
my friends in social situations."
Helen
Tyler-Worst
"Beltone opened up a new world for methat is one I used to
know - the sound of waves lapping as I walk along the sea wall, the cry of the
gulls, and the chuckles of my sweet granddaughter. All this, and the lovely
staff at Beltone, for whom nothing
is too much trouble. The service there is something we knew in bygone days.
Thank you! Thank you!"
Dale
Lundstrom
"I was putting off dealing with a hearing problem that my wife assured me I had.
A sign on the sidewalk advertising a hearing test, and some time I had
available, put me in the care of very competent
Beltone staff."
"Sure enough, I discovered I was missing certain frequencies in my ability to hear (after very thorough testing). The aids I was suggested have proven to be superb in every way. Music again has the fullness that I had once known. Conversation is much easier to participate in and I am more comfortable in group situations. All in all, a very good experience, and it continues to be. Highly recommended."
Doreen
Cunningham on Beltone
"I love everyone at Beltone! With
my hearing devices, I can enjoy life again… I didn’t realize before how much of
life I had been missing. The new digital hearing aids are such a boon."
"I can watch television late at night now without disturbing my neighbours, and conversation with my friends is fun again. The clear sounds are such a relief. (If I didn’t have my hearing aids, I’d be lost!)"
Phil Miles 
I am very satisfied with my new Beltone
"Edge" hearing aids.
I was looking for a hearing aid that improved my hearing in group situations yet
did not look like a big plug stuck in my ear.
I was impressed with the professional manner of the
Beltone Staff and the way they explained
my hearing loss and described the various options they could provide for me.
The " Edge" gives me the enhanced hearing I was wanting and is essentially
impossible to see. In fact, many members of my family had no idea I was wearing
hearing aids until they were told. The hearing aid is easy to maintain at home
and I am happy to know that Beltone
has offices throughout N. America where I can get a yearly checkup and /or take
my aids if they need servicing anytime.
I can certainly recommend my "Edge" hearing aids and the service that
Beltone has given me.
Joy Thompson
I have been wearing my new Invisa/Corus hearing aids for many months now, and I
am absolutely delighted and amazed at their quality! I can hear and understand
the lyrics in music (new songs) for the first time in many years.
I can hear around corners! I hear better than many of my friends! My family is
astonished, as am I, and delighted. The new technology in these tiny invisible
things is priceless.
Nikolay has performed miracles in programming these new aids to my exact needs,
and has been patient and diligent in making all adjustments required.
These hearing aids are not worth what Beltone charges for them! They are worth a million dollars, easily! Many thanks!
The Rev. N.J.
Parker Rector, St Stephen's
Dear Mr. Stitt,
On behalf of the Parish of St Stephen's, I write to offer my heartfelt
appreciation for the effort you put forth on our behalf. Know that you went far
beyond the call of duty to check out our audio loop system and for arranging for
Mr. Hans Roesier to diagnose our problem.
It is often frustrating in today's fast-paced world to get people to attend to
the various needs that arise from time to time. We tried in vain to contact the
installer of the loop system but to no avail. Had you not been persistent, the
problem would likely have remained with the hard of hearing suffering
unnecessarily.
Please accept our gratitude as a statement of your faithfulness and attention to detail. If all were more concerned at helping, our communities would be better places. Again thank you for the time, talent and treasure that you so graciously shared.
Sincerely,
The Rev. N.J. Parker
Rector, St Stephen's
West Vancouver BC
George Fiala
on his experience at
Beltone:
“I would rate the service and products (Corus-Mia) as excellent.
Beltone has a fine reputation. I saw the
ad in the newspaper and went in for a test. I received a company newsletter
after my first visit and that was a further stimulus to come in.”
“The professionalism of Nikolay, i.e. His total and careful explanation of the hearing tests and his total professionalism were the best features of my experience there.”
Winifred
Miller
on her Beltone
experience:
“The service and products at Beltone
are excellent!”
“I had noticed that I had difficulty hearing voices, and during telephone
conversations, and also when listening to television. I saw an advertisement for
Beltone in the North Shore News.
When I went into the office, a careful history was taken. Everything was clearly
explained and all of my questions, fully answered. The technology of the hearing
aids was also fully explained to me – the benefits to be expected, and the
limits of the devices.”
“I also appreciated my experience at Beltone
for the careful explanation of the use of my hearing aid and having the time
taken for me to give return demonstrations.”
“The “climate” of the Beltone
office was friendly, respectful and helpful at all times.”
“I have never received better care and attention in any health care setting!”
Mr. John
Greville
on his Corus-Mia Hearing
aids:
“The specialist I dealt with and the products I purchased are very good.”
“This is my first experience wearing hearing aids and it has been excellent! The
hearing aids fit very well and perform well. Simply put, I can hear now!”
“I wear my new hearing aids when I am in group situations, when watching television, listening to the radio, and I can hear with ease in those situations. I take my aids off and can have quiet whenever I want it, so I am enjoying my new “selective hearing”!
Henry Becker
on his Corus-Mia Hearing Aids:
“Both the service and products at Beltone are excellent!”
“I have been using Beltone products for approximately ten years and since I am a
repeat customer, I obviously have been satisfied with the product and the
service that I have received.”
“All of the people that I have dealt with at the various Beltone outlets have
been courteous and helpful and in short, a pleasure to deal with.”
“The hearing aids have not only improved my ability to follow conversation, but also made it possible to hear sounds that I can no longer distinguish without the assistance of a hearing aid.”
Mary
Macdonald
I’m so satisfied and delighted with Beltone!
Any problems I have are always fixed right away – no “if’s” “and’s” or “but’s”
about it, and all the service is free and cheerfully done.
My hearing aid is so comfortable; I don’t even know it’s there! Nobody’s ever
noticed it, and yet it makes hearing completely effortless for me. I can
understand people easily, without straining or having to turn my ‘good ear’
forward any more.
Hearing is completely effortless now! I am completely happy that I made the
decision to get hearing aids.
Mrs. Helena
Virs
on her Oria-Invisa Digital Aids:
“I feel that the service at Beltone is excellent! Nik is very patient, and a
really good listener. I don’t think I could have had a better experience than I
had there.”
“My hearing aid is very good for my needs. I wear
it every night for watching television and when I go out, and it makes
everything easy to hear!”
Mrs. Judy
Lauder
on her new Opera–Plus, ITE hearing aids:
“Nik was very good with me, very patient and very easy to understand. The
service has been good in every way, and I hear much, much better!”
Mr. Ross
Henderson
on his Corus, BTE, hearing aids:
“The service at Beltone was excellent! The hearing aid I am using is very good,
and it makes it much easier for me to hear in the presence of noise than my
previous hearing aid. It seems to “tune out” background noise when I am in group
situations, and this makes hearing the speaker much easier.”
“Petya is very efficient and compassionate. She is a real “people person” and a
very good listener.”
Mrs. Patrick
Kry,
commenting on her
experience with her husband wearing new Optima hearing aids:
“Excellent! These are the best hearing aids my husband has ever had! He wears
them every day, all day, and they are great. We have had no problems at all!”
“All I can say is, ‘Excellent, excellent, excellent’, in every way!”
Eric Ralph
Overall, I feel very positive about my experience with my hearing aids. It is
important for the brain to hear as many sounds as are in the environment, as
often as possible, and so hearing aids are necessary to keep the brain
stimulated and aware, when hearing impairment is a factor. Reading through the
Beltone brochures thoroughly
helped me to reach a new understanding of my difficulty with hearing and
interpreting sounds.
Just as it takes time to adjust to wearing a new pair of glasses, there is also
an adjustment period when beginning to use hearing aids. Support is critical,
both from friends/family as well as from the staff where the aids were
purchased. The staff at Beltone
has been very obliging and helpful to me all along. The adjustment period takes
time and patience, but is certainly worth the effort!
I wear Oria, “Behind the Ear” hearing aids, and they are the right aids for my
hearing loss. I know that many people want the smaller “In the Ear” hearing
aids, for cosmetic reasons, but this is a caution that people should leave
behind. The important thing is to get the most suitable hearing aids, with the
right amount of power and correction, because no one cares what is in or behind
your ears! However, they do care and appreciate that you can hear what is being
said and participate in the conversation at hand. People are walking around
everywhere in modern society, with devices of all types in their ears, anyway.
It simply doesn’t matter.
What is critical is to get over embarrassment and get on with things. When a
person with “normal” hearing says, “Pardon?” they have no emotion over the
query, but when a “hearing impaired” person asks someone to repeat, there is
often a sense of embarrassment or even deep shame: these feelings must be dealt
with and left behind. We all have handicaps of some description or other, and
hearing loss is just one on a long list.
My advice to anyone with even a mild hearing loss is to get good hearing devices
as soon as possible, and to “stick with” the business of adjusting to them – the
sooner the correction, the better! This is much easier than the adjustment
needed when going from a more severe loss that has progressed gradually, to a
sudden, dramatic improvement.
Either way, hearing aids are the best vehicle to restored hearing and understanding, and good support, as I’ve experienced with the staff at Beltone, is critical to the process.
Anja
Rautenbach
Dear
Gerry,
I’ve had hearing aids since I was very young, around the age of 4, and I have to
admit, these are my best yet!
When my Mom told me about them, and said I could have them, I was thrilled. They
turned out much better than I expected! Usually, my hearing aids are quite
basic, the volume and everything. My newest ones are so clear! I tried out all
the different programs, and had a bit of fun seeing which one of the programs
worked out better. (I still like the idea that the third program/setting helps
to make those annoying voices stay a little quieter.)
I think of one thing that they really helped me on. What I mean is, all those
extra sounds that show up in school and other activities such as whispering,
clarity of voices. Not only that, but the extra things I don’t hear often, like
the tapping of pencils and fiddling with necklaces. The clarity of other voices
and also my own voice really helps and makes it so my days aren’t too weary with
the countless, “excuse me’s” and “pardon?”
Things have been so much easier with these new ones, and I’m happy to finally
realize just how amazing they can be. I can’t thank you enough for what an
amazing gift you’ve given me!
Regards,
Anja Rautenbach
CT on
his new BTE Linq:
"After doing a fair amount of research into hearing aids and audiologists, I decided to go with Dr. Koleva in your Lonsdale office. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made. She was unquestionably the best qualified and most professional specialist I have ever met with. As a bonus, she proved to be a very understanding, patient and sincerely caring person who has consistently responded to all of my hearing concerns. I trusted her judgment in terms of what type of hearing aid would be best for me and she certainly didn't let me down. I would not hesitate to recommend either her or the Beltone products."
George
Hazelton
on his new Opera-Plus Mira:
"These new hearing aids have many excellent features and seem to be better
overall than my former ones. They are no bother - I just stick them in my ears
and forget about them, and everything is great. I completely forget they are
there because they are so comfortable. Mine has the 'beep' feature, which I
really like, so that I know ahead of time when I need to change batteries."
"The service at Beltone is
fantastic! I just can't say enough about the good service there. Petya is very
efficient and Anne Marie is very helpful as well. The customer service is very,
very good."
Renate
Huxtable
on her new Opera-Plus Mira:
"I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about using hearing aids. I'm happy to
say I shouldn't have felt that way as, on entering the office in West Vancouver,
I was greeted warmly and courteously by Joy and Nik."
"My test was handled in a friendly, patient manner and after a few visits, I felt comfortable with my new hearing aids, and wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend Nik Kelov."
Elizabeth
Ross
"I was very happy with the service I received. Everything was explained in
detail. There was very little waiting time. The staff was very friendly and did
everything to make the testing easy to understand."
"I was amazed at the difference my hearing aid made in my life. I was able to
hear my friends and family more clearly when we were speaking to one another. I
enjoy television and movies much more now that I can hear what's going on."
Mrs P. Snook
"My new hearing aids do exactly what I wanted them to do. Socializing,
especially playing cards, is so much more enjoyable now."
William Smith
Beltone Battery Club Member
"I'm happy to be a member of Beltone's
Battery Club! Beltone's batteries
are as good quality as any, last just as long, and are less than half the price
I was paying before I came to Beltone!
Thanks!"
Vicki
Pierobon
Dear Petya,
Thank-you so much for your patience and perseverance. Without both I would never
have had the ability to be comfortable with my hearing aids. Your knowledge
enabled me to trust you. So important when you're first entering this "scary"
hearing world!"
Thank you Vicki Pierobon.
Bette Rogers
A satisfied customer.
"My experience with Beltone was
exceptional - I dealt with Nik Kolev, who always made me feel welcome and
answered all of my questions. Thank you, Nik, for helping me adjust to wearing
hearing aids - and for your patience - also a thank you to
Beltone for a superb product."
Shirley
Robertson
"I am absolutely delighted with my new "Edge" hearing aids! They have completely
corrected my moderate hearing loss and made hearing a pleasure again. Television
is now about half the volume it was previously, and I can hear easily in all
situations!"
"I have been really happy with the service and care I have received at
Beltone!"
Patricia
Whalley
"With my new hearing aids, I am hearing so many things I haven't heard in years,
like the turn signals in my car ... I had been concerned about my driving in
general, and feel much safer now!"
"This is the second time I have bought from Beltone. I have always had a positive experience there. Petya has been great, and so helpful in adjusting my new aids for sound and the right fit."
Ernst Eigen
on his new Invisa Oria:
"I had asked many friends how they felt about their hearing aids, and many
people were not happy with their experience. I also did some reading, to prepare
myself for what to expect."
"I am totally happy with my new hearing aid. I love music, especially jazz and
opera, and music is full and complete again with this hearing aid. Conversations
are easier, and all sounds are fuller."
"The service at Beltone greatly
exceeded my expectations. I have been 150% pleased with the attention and
service given. Overall, the experience of ordering and wearing my new hearing
aid has been very positive for me in every way."
First Church
of Christ Scientist
714 - 20th St
West Vancouver BC V7V 3Y7
Dear Gerry,
On behalf of the members of our church I would like to extend sincere thanks for
your most generous gift of eight new earphone attachments for our existing
hearing aids. The ones in use were old and unsatisfactory, and consequently not
being used by our hearing-impaired members. These new ones, however, perform
their jobs well, especially in conjunction with our newly-installed and upgraded
audio system.
We appreciate the time you spent assessing our
problems, and await with interest any information you can supply on the
alternative "loop" system you discussed with me. In the meantime we are so
grateful that, thanks to you and Beltone,
our hearing-impaired members are now enabled to participate in the services and
meetings.
Most sincerely yours,
Kay Alsop
Chairman of the Board
John
Barraclough
on his new "EDGE" hearing aid:
"This is my first pair of hearing aids, and they are great! The biggest
difference in my hearing is my ability to understand people speaking in movies
and on television shows. Before, it just sounded like noise, whereas now I can
differentiate words and sentences! It is just great! I can understand speech
when there is background noise, like in meetings and other gatherings. I know
what is being said!"
"My EDGE hearing aid does exactly what the specialist told me it would do, and
the service there has been fantastic. I am very, very pleased."
"My hearing aids are very comfortable to wear - no problems at all, and they are not at all noticeable - not that I care about that; I am just happy to be hearing and understanding what I hear."
