All Ears

06/13/2026

This is one of those audiology questions where the answer is:

“Yes… but also no.” 😅

Q-tips aren’t the villain they’re often made out to be.

Using them to clean the outside of the ear is generally fine. The problem starts when they go inside the ear canal, where they can push wax deeper, irritate the skin, or even cause injury.

At All Ears, we spend a lot of time helping people with earwax issues—and one of the most common things we hear is:

“But I was just cleaning my ears.”

👂 Clean the ear.
🚫 Leave the ear canal alone.

06/12/2026

Back when All Ears was still an empty space and a lot of work.

This video starts with Jana’s dad covering textured walls with drywall mud. Like many small businesses, All Ears wasn’t built by a large team of contractors. It was built with the help of family, friends, and plenty of evenings spent figuring things out as we went.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has changed.

Today, these rooms are filled with conversations, laughter, questions, answers, and the privilege of helping people hear better.

What started as an empty space has become a place where thousands of conversations have happened.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped us get here and to everyone who continues to trust us with their care.

💙 Thank you for being part of the story.

06/09/2026

A person came into the clinic with a simple concern: “My ear feels plugged… but it comes and goes.”

For a few weeks, the feeling had been on and off.

Some days it felt normal. Other days, there was pressure — mostly on the right side.
They wear in-ear hearing protection at work and sometimes use Q-tips near the ear opening.

When we looked inside the ears, the right ear had a large amount of wax blocking most of the ear canal. The left ear had a smaller amount.

We carefully removed the wax from both ears using gentle suction.

After the wax was removed, the plugged feeling went away.

We reviewed simple prevention tips:
• Avoid putting Q-tips inside the ear canal
• Be aware that in-ear plugs can lead to more wax buildup over time

Earwax buildup is common — especially for people who wear earplugs regularly.

If your ear feels plugged and you’re not sure why, an assessment can help figure out the cause.

06/07/2026

This squirrel has a strategy.

You don’t need one. 🐿️

If you’ve ever lost a hearing aid in the yard, around the house, or between the couch cushions, you’re not alone.

The good news? Many modern hearing aids can connect to a smartphone app that can help locate their last known position.

One of the biggest surprises for people exploring hearing aids today isn’t just how well they hear—it’s how much the technology has evolved.

From streaming phone calls and music to helping you find a misplaced device, today’s hearing aids can do much more than most people expect.

Not sure if your hearing aids have these features? Ask your hearing care professional. They may be able to help you connect your devices and get more out of the technology you’re already wearing.

06/05/2026

Evidence that Justin has been working with audio technology for decades. 😅

Before hearing aids…
Before audiology school…
Before All Ears…

There was this.

A young Justin and what appears to be a serious cassette tape incident.

Fortunately, his career in sound improved from here.

Today, he spends his time helping people hear better—not untangling audio equipment.

🎵 Who else remembers rewinding cassette tapes with a pencil?

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

To be fair… boats are loud 😅

But some of the best conversations happen out here too.

Fishing stories. Family jokes. Quiet talks between waves.

🌊 Enjoy the ride - and the conversation.

06/01/2026

💭 “What if my hearing aids are too old or can’t be adjusted?”

That’s a fair question — and one we hear often.
Before suggesting anything new, we take the time to explore every option to make your current hearing aids work better. Sometimes adjustments help. Sometimes they don’t.

If your devices truly aren’t suitable anymore, we’ll explain why — clearly and honestly. And there’s never any obligation to purchase new hearing aids through us.

Our role is guidance, not pressure.

05/28/2026

A lot of people find themselves filling in blanks, smiling along, or working harder to follow conversations long before they realize how much effort listening has become.

You may have seen this sign around town lately 👀

“Stop nodding. Start hearing.”

Sometimes the smallest changes in hearing show up in everyday conversations first.

That’s exactly why messages like this matter - because they can spark awareness, recognition, or even a conversation someone has been putting off.

If you’ve spotted this one around Wallaceburg, let us know where 😄

05/26/2026

One thing people often notice when they first start wearing hearing aids…

is the tiny everyday sounds. 🫧

The hum of appliances.
Birds outside.
Footsteps.
Bubbles in an aquarium.

Sometimes those sounds can even seem surprisingly loud at first — not because they suddenly became louder, but because the brain is learning to notice them again.

Hearing aids don’t just reconnect people to conversations.
They reconnect people to environments, routines, and little moments too. 👂