Bernard is a housekeeper in Whistler, and he has hearing loss. Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, he received funding for hearing aids that help him on the job.

“Assistive Technology Services has changed my life in a way that it was able to provide me financial support so I could get hearing aids that I couldn’t afford, as it was very expensive,” he shares.

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Nancy works in accounting, and found she was having difficulties communicating at work due to hearing loss.

“I have problems hearing clearly what people say, which in turn affected my communication, as I can hear things wrong. It is critical that I get the correct information, especially as I am dealing with numbers and deadlines,” she shares, noting that she didn’t feel as involved in team meetings.

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Alejandro works multiple jobs. He sells countertops as an account manager, works in the cleaning business in the evenings, and he works on-call as a waiter and bartender. However, he was recently diagnosed with otosclerosis, causing severe to profound hearing loss in both ears, making it difficult to communicate with customers and co-workers.

“[It] has impacted my life tremendously, I was having panic attacks, frustration and anxiety every time a client will make an appointment or walk into our office, as well as when my co-workers needed to speak to me,” he shares.

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Katherine works in human resources with a non-profit in the Fraser Valley. Her job involves a lot of communicating with co-workers and attending meetings, as well as taking meeting minutes.

She has hearing loss and needs to use hearing aids. However, her hearing aids were getting rather old, and she was worried they might break and couldn’t be repaired. Her audiologist referred her to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding. She applied and was quickly approved.

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Jo-Ann works as a Specialized Education Assistant for a school district on Vancouver Island. She works with students with behavioural issues, helping them learn self regulation tools and life skills while supporting their academics.

“I have significant hearing loss in both ears,” she shares. “To successfully and safely fulfill my job requirements I need to hear conversations in the school yard, participate in class discussions, and be attentive to speech nuances.”

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Cass is a professional musician, who recently trained to become a technical animator in the film industry. She is currently looking for work as a technical animator, and she is also doing paid gigs as a musician.

“When the pandemic hit and folks were wearing masks, I realized that I had been relying on my ability to read lips to understand people. I was tested in August of 2023, and diagnosed with genetic hearing loss in the lower-to-mid frequencies. It affects my ability to distinguish speech and pitch,” she shares.

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Alfred works as a media producer for a supplement company, in charge of all aspects of media production for the company from the concept to filming to post-production. Working with a creative team, as well as liaising with a variety of stakeholders, communication is vital. However, Alfred has sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.

“The hearing loss impacts my ability to communicate with the members of my team,” he shares. “I would often struggle to hear discussions which directly affects my active participation in conversations at the workplace.”

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David is a teacher on Vancouver Island, and he has hearing loss.

Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, he received funding for the hearing aids he needs for work.

“The assistance in buying my new hearing aids is a great gift I received, and I wish to express my gratitude,” he shares.

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Jim is self-employed, working online and in-person with clients who require mediation, as well as psychological safety training. He has hearing loss.

“When I’m unable to hear my clients clearly it limits my ability to communicate in a role that is based entirely on effective communication,” he says. “If I miss or mishear what is being shared, this can have a serious outcome.”

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Tracy works as a diagnostic technician at an eye clinic in Salmon Arm. Every day in a fast-paced busy clinic, her job includes performing retinal scans, fundus photography, medical billing, and assisting patients with their ophthalmic concerns.

She has hearing loss, as well as pain in her feet from pes planus (flat feet) and a hallux rigidus (stiff big toe).

“[It] was impacting my everyday work life,” she shares. “I was experiencing foot pain while on my feet all day, also I was facing challenges of hearing patients correctly in such a busy working environment.”

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