COVID19 Helpful Links

 Members Only Covid Resources are available here

CANADA UNITED SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND

About #CanadaUnited   – July 29, 2020

The #CanadaUnited campaign is a nationwide small and local business campaign encouraging Canadians to buy local.

Royal Bank of Canada, ‘Corporate Canada’, Business Associations and Major Media Partners have teamed up to start a movement, Canada United™, where everyday Canadians and large businesses come together in support of small and local businesses. The movement will start with a #CanadaUnited campaign where Canadians are asked to complete ‘micro-actions’ (likes, views, etc.) in support of small and local businesses on social media. In short, Canada United encourages action from everyday Canadians and Corporate Canada and kickstarts the recovery of local economies and small businesses.  Click here to learn more about Canada United.

Get relief for your small business!

The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national Chamber network in support of other chambers and partners to help small Canadian businesses with their recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19.

If awarded, a relief grant can be used for any of the following activities:

  • Purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, face shields, and latex gloves.
  • Renovating physical space to adhere to local, Provincial or Federal reopening guidelines.
  • Developing or improving e-commerce capabilities for your business.

Successful applicants will receive a relief grant of up to $5,000. We intend to support local businesses of all kinds from across the country (from retailers to barbershops to farmers).  More information

Financial Aid for People with Disabilities 

July 29, 2020

Bill C-20, An Act Respecting Further COVID-19 Measures, received Royal Assent today, and also came into force. This Act includes the one-time financial assistance of up to $600 to people with disabilities.  As a reminder, to be eligible for the funding you must be a recipient of one of the following programs or benefits:

  • A Disability Tax Credit certificate provided by the Canada Revenue
  • Agency;Canada Pension Plan
  • Disability benefit or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefit
  • Disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada.

Read More

Archived Webinar: Personal Protection Equipment and Individuals with Hearing Loss: The Impact on Communication – June 23rd, 2020

Speaker: Dr. Dave Gordey, Past President of CAA, Oticon

Abstract: COVID-19 has prompted the use of face masks and shields in community spaces. For individuals with hearing loss, the impact of face masks on communication can be very challenging. When combined with imperfect listening environments, the use of face masks and shields may further degrade the speech signal and restrict access to visual cues. Research has shown face masks/shields can impact audibility for those who wear hearing technology, behaving like a filter for high frequencies (Goldman, Weinstein & Shiman, 2020). For children with hearing loss returning to school, it is likely they may encounter teachers and other school-based professionals who will be using personal protective equipment (PPE). The aim of this project was to evaluate the effect of different PPE on audibility for students with hearing loss.

CERB Payments to be Extended for 2 More Months

June 16, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a two-month extension to the Canada emergency response benefit.

Employment Law Considerations for Employers Re-opening Your Audiology or Hearing Health Business Article – June 3rd, 2020

CAA Members Read the Article – Employment Law Considerations for Employers Re-opening Your Audiology or Hearing Health Business

Created by Anthony Panacci, Lawyer, Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP, who is also presenting Employment Law Considerations for Employers Re-opening their Audiology Business Post COVID-19 Webinar on June 4th, 2020.

Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)  – May 20, 2020

The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) provides financial support to post-secondary students, and recent post-secondary and high school graduates who are unable to find work due to COVID-19.

This benefit is for students who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or Employment Insurance (EI). More information

Virtual Meetings – Réunions Virtuelles  – Making Virtual Meetings More Accessible

This year for May month the Canadian Academy of Audiology is highlighting the top 10 ways to make virtual meetings accessible to those with hearing loss.

As the world is shifting towards a more virtual workforce, it is important to be aware that virtual meetings can present additional listening demands and challenges. This is especially true for people living with hearing loss. Did you know that at least one in five people attending your next meeting have some degree of hearing loss? Understanding potential listening barriers and identifying how to effectively maximize communication is the key to holding a successful virtual meeting.

CAA has created an article on top ways to improve hearing access in virtual meetings, a poster that can be printed out and an animated video all of which you can use and share.

Article: Ten Ways to Improve Hearing Access During Your Next Virtual Meeting by Janine Verge, Dana Song, and Anne Griffin

Read the full article.

CAA Virtual Meetings Poster May 2020

Print this poster to promote the top 10 ways to make virtual meetings accessible to those with hearing loss.

Imprimez cette affiche pour promouvoir 10 façons d’améliorer l’accessibilité auditive lors des réunions virtuelles

Watch the animated video and please share it.

Regardez la vidéo animée en français et partagez-la

Share using https://youtu.be/IH4jH27s6Co

Shareable link in French  https://youtu.be/x7GJXikFpy0

Reopening your practice safely during COVID-19 and staying person-centered 

Staying person-centered in a world of COVID-19 by Helle Gjønnes Møller (May 7, 2020)

Is your telehealth client’s hearing change, conductive or sensori-neural?

BACK TO BASICS

By: Marshall Chasin, AuD  (May 6, 2020)

In this time of social distancing, telehealth is becoming more common. And as this current situation gradually resolves, telehealth may continue to be an important tool in the audiological armament going forward.

In addition to counselling, rehabilitation, problem solving, and remote programming that may be available for the client, there are a number of commercially available hearing test apps that may be used for remote hearing testing.

Read full document here

Caring for Tinnitus Patients During COVID19

By: Jodi Haberstock, Executive Committee Member, CAA  (April 16, 2020)

As Audiologists we know that one thing that can cause tinnitus to get worse for our patients is stress. Nothing is more stressful than being isolated at home in a world of uncertainty. Many of our patients might have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic or their life has been on hold causing them to miss important events in their life such as being with their children or grandchildren, celebrating anniversaries, birthdays or graduations. Some of our patients might be those essential workers who are going into work everyday with the normal workplace stress being magnified by the COVID19 pandemic.

Although our clinics are closed we can still offer the much needed support to these patients during this difficult time.

Stress & Tinnitus

  • Tinnitus can be one of the most distressing disorders or audiological symptoms a patient can face.
  • Tinnitus can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life.
  • Emotional stress can impact the degree of the tinnitus that the patient is suffering with.

Read full document here

Providing Support for Vestibular Patients During Covid-19             

By: Erica Zaia & Janine Verge, CAA Board Members              Cyber Security Advisory – Zoom

(April 9, 2020)

With self-isolation, Covid-19 has created a challenge in how we provide services as Audiologists assessing and managing patients with vestibular disorders. As we depend on equipment to conduct formal vestibular testing for our patients, providing objective assessments will most likely not be feasible through tele-health at this time. However, providing remote support for patients struggling with dizziness may be possible in some scenarios, as suggested below.

As a general rule, when providing eAudiology, remember:

  • Use a secure videoconference platform – you may need a business associate agreement. For instance, Microsoft products and Skype for business are HIPAA compliant.
  • Be compliant with provincial, territorial, federal privacy and agency/clinic policies, confidentiality, privacy, security and consent laws.
  • Consent can be verbal or written and should be noted in chart.
  • Continue to work within your scope of practice when providing assessment and management for vestibular disorders.
  • Make the patient aware audio/video as well as data is being transmitted and what the potential consequences might be (e.g. information is intercepted and re-transmitted).
  • Patient should be aware of security issues at their own site/with their own computer equipment.

Read full document here

COVID19 Resources – March 26, 2020

Facilitating your information needs:
We have provided a list of links to your regulatory college websites where you will find COVID19 messages and links. We have also included links to the Employment Insurance website. We urge you to continue to monitor federal, provincial and municipal government websites to ensure that you are informed about the health and employment related mandates and policies.
Canadian Government Public Health site links:

Business Owners:

Join BDC experts as they share short-term economic perspectives and advice on how to manage through the crisis. Register to this webinar now.

Regulatory College Websites/Contacts

Employment insurance links

  • Programs
  • Notices
  • Also check your provincial government sites for added financial support for you, your employees and your business

More Helpful Links

International

Community social media and chat groups:

While CAA cannot endorse these sites or the content within because we cannot verify all the facts and recommendations made within, there are informal community platforms available for audiologists online to discuss current situations.  Here are a few:

Health Canada Support for Mental Wellness During COVID19 – Wellness Together Canadaprovides free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed.

Prime Minister Trudeau announced a Canadian Emergency Student Benefit

We are continuing to move ahead with our priorities to support you as Audiology professionals. We will provide further updates in the weeks and months ahead. Take care, reach out to each other for support and let us know if we can do anything to assist with education and advocacy. We hope you and all Canadians stay safe during this exceptionally challenging time.

Sarah Mason, MCl.Sc, AuD, President of Canadian Academy of Audiology