Laura Greaves
Year of Local
This is the last in a series of submitted stories produced by the Year of Local, a collaborative project highlighting businesses and not-for-profit organizations in Sarnia.
Kim Eskritt was working on a Bachelor’s degree at Western University when she found her true calling.
While visiting a friend at Elborn College she discovered the field of audiology, and realized it was the career for her.
She applied to the program, which had a long waiting list, and after completing her undergrad degree waited three long months for the acceptance call.
When she graduated in 1995, Eskritt took the first job offered because it brought her to Sarnia, a city the Ridgetown native fondly remembers visiting as a child.
“The day I signed off on my research, I drove down to Sarnia for an interview. They offered me the job and I took it immediately,” she said.
She was hired to work at the George Street office of Dr. Robert Shortreed, an ENT specialist. A year later she invited a friend from grad school to join the practice, and in 1998 they ventured out on their own.
The goal was to create a stand-alone practice apart from the ENT clinic.
“In the beginning, people came to us because they were seeing the specialist and they needed a hearing test. We worked very hard to bring in our own patients.”
Eskritt purchased the building at 1433 London Rd. in 2004 and today Lambton Audiology has a staff of eleven with services offered in Sarnia and Petrolia.
In 2007, Eskritt completed her clinical doctorate degree in audiology. Her commitment to education has allowed her to expand Lambton Audiology Associates’ services to meet the needs of patients.
“The professional role has evolved significantly and we have branched out more. We are an audiology practice. We don’t just sell hearing aids, we provide audiology services including diagnostic testing, hearing conservation programs, hearing protection devices – you name it, we’ve got it. I’m always trying to think outside the box.”
Eskritt recently completed a post-doctoral certificate program in Advanced Studies in Tinnitus.
“I have a lot of patients who worked in the refinery and the workplace noise has left them with ringing in the ears. Because of this, we’ve been busy developing a comprehensive tinnitus treatment program for them.”
Eskritt’s favourite part of the job is connecting with her patients. She wants them to leave knowing she is there for support.
“We want to help them achieve the best quality of life possible. Communication is such an integral part of any relationship, it’s what connects us,” she said.
“I love to listen to their stories. They have a lot of wisdom. If that was my grandma or grandpa, I would treat them the same way.”
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