We both live with hearing loss, though our experiences are very different. Michelle was born with hearing loss and has worn hearing aids for more than thirty years. Steve learned about his hearing loss much later in life after years of quiet strain and mental fatigue.

That shared perspective shaped Hearing Empowered™. We believe independence matters because every person’s hearing loss, lifestyle, and priorities are unique. Independent audiologists have the freedom to choose the technology that truly fits each individual, helping people hear clearly and live fully.

It’s that simple. Hearing is how we stay inside our own lives — connected to others, aware of ourselves, part of the world around us.

We believe in restorative technology for human connection, the freedom to express, belong, and experience life in full sound. Hearing aids are not a perfect fix. No technology is. But when they are precisely fit by an independent audiologist, the difference is profound.

Independent audiologists have the freedom to work with a range of solutions and the expertise to match the right technology to your unique needs. They bring together the science of hearing and the art of living. They combine clinical precision with deep human understanding, walking beside you through every adjustment, every season, every step toward ease and clarity.

This is what we mean by Hearing Empowered:

• Ease — You stop working as hard to keep up. Listening becomes more natural again.
• Presence — You’re no longer half-in, half-out of conversations. You can stay with the moment instead of checking out.
• Connection — Relationships deepen because you’re not faking it, missing it, or withdrawing.
• Clarity — Words become more crisp, meaning lands, you trust what you hear.
• Communication — Dialogue flows more easily, misunderstandings drop, participation returns.
• Confidence — You move through the world a little more sure of yourself, less anxious about what you might miss.
• Capacity — With less effort spent straining to hear, you have more energy, focus, and vitality for life.

Hearing Empowered™ was born from one truth: hearing is not just a sense, it is a state of being. The measurable essence of hearing, the vibration that allows us to perceive tone, texture, and nuance, mirrors the inner frequency that defines who we are. It is how you resonate, how tuned in you are to others, to the moment, to yourself. It is about reclaiming your full expressive range after years of distortion, silence, or withdrawal.

We connect people with trusted independent audiologists, shine a light on the innovations that help, and share stories that reflect real experience. Together, we are building a culture where hearing care is not hidden or hesitated over but celebrated as a return to self.

Hearing Empowered does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Our role is to connect people with resources, independent audiologists, and trusted information that supports informed choices.

That is why we are proud to be guided by our Clinical Advisors, a team of respected audiologists who ensure our content reflects both the science of precision fitting and the lived experience of hearing care. While Hearing Empowered is not a medical provider, our advisors help us stay accurate, responsible, and aligned with best practices in the field.

Their expertise anchors our commitment: to support Canadians in exploring their options with confidence, and to highlight the role of independent audiologists in providing care that is both technically precise and deeply human.

Nichole has been providing audiologic care in the Okanagan since 1999 and founded the region’s first comprehensive audiology clinic (Lakeside Hearing) in 2014. With over 20 years of experience, she works across hearing, balance, and tinnitus, with advanced training in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and certified expertise in Vestibular Assessment and Management. Nichole earned her clinical Doctorate in Audiology in 2018 and has long served as a clinical supervisor for UBC Audiology students.

Claire is a Doctor of Audiology with a passion for personalized, independent hearing care. After earning her Master’s degree in Audiology from UBC in 2018, she joined Lakeside Hearing to ensure her patients received truly individualized support across all ages. She went on to complete her clinical Doctorate in 2024 and now also serves as a Clinical Educator for the UBC Audiology program.