Our founders

Why we opened Hear & Co

Two audiologists, four established practices and one shared belief: good hearing care shouldn't depend on where you live.

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Our story

Why we opened Hear & Co in Ancaster

Hear & Co was founded by Salima Jiwani and Natasha Manji. Salima owns two AudioSense clinics in Toronto and Markham (audiosense.ca), and Natasha owns two Toronto Hearing Consultants clinics in Toronto (torontohearing.ca).

We've both spent years building practices where patients get time, transparency, white glove service and comprehensive care.

Over the years we kept meeting people from outside the city who were driving into Toronto for appointments because they couldn't find that kind of care closer to home. Some of them had put off dealing with their hearing for years. That didn't sit right with either of us. Good hearing care shouldn't depend on where you live, and the people of Ancaster and Hamilton deserve the same experience our patients in the GTA have come to expect.

We talked about it for a long time before deciding to open a clinic together. We share the same approach to patient care, and we knew that combining what we've learned in our own clinics would give Hear & Co a strong foundation. It's a local clinic with the support and experience of four established practices behind it.

Our goal is simple. We want every person who walks through our door to feel listened to, to understand their options, and to leave knowing they have a team they can rely on for the long term. We're proud to be part of the Ancaster and Hamilton community and look forward to getting to know our neighbours.

Meet the founders

Salima Jiwani, audiologist and co-founder of Hear & Co, smiling in a tan blazer — **Salima Jiwani, Ph.D.**Audiologist-Scientist, Co-Founder

Salima Jiwani, Audiologist-Scientist and Co-Founder

Salima Jiwani is an Audiologist-Scientist and Co-Founder of Hear & Co. She is also the Founder and Lead Audiologist at AudioSense Hearing, Balance & Concussion, with clinics in Toronto and Markham. With a career spanning clinical practice, research, teaching and advocacy, Salima brings a depth of experience and a highly personalized approach to hearing care.

Salima earned her Ph.D. in Auditory Neurophysiology and Cochlear Implants, with a specialization in Neuroscience, from the University of Toronto's Institute of Medical Sciences. She conducted her doctoral research at Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory at The Hospital for Sick Children, investigating how the brain responds to sound in adolescent cochlear implant users. She completed her Master of Science degree in Audiology at Dalhousie University.

Her clinical and research interests include hearing loss, auditory processing difficulties, tinnitus, sound sensitivities, cochlear implants and auditory challenges following concussion. She is particularly passionate about understanding the relationship between the ear and the brain and using that knowledge to help patients achieve better hearing and communication outcomes.

Salima works with children and adults across the lifespan and believes exceptional hearing care begins with listening to the patient. Her approach combines clinical expertise and current research to provide thoughtful, evidence-based recommendations tailored to each individual. She also strongly believes in collaborative care and regularly works alongside other healthcare professionals when a patient's needs extend beyond audiology.

In addition to clinical practice, Salima is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Toronto, and is a Past-President of the Canadian Academy of Audiology. She remains actively involved in research, education and advocacy initiatives aimed at advancing the profession of audiology and improving access to high-quality hearing care.

As co-founder of Hear & Co, Salima brings the same philosophy that has guided her throughout her career: take the time to listen, provide transparent advice, stay at the forefront of hearing healthcare, and build relationships with patients that last well beyond their first appointment. She ensures that all of the hearing health care professionals at Hear & Co approach patient care with the same mindset.

Natasha Manji, Audiologist and Co-Founder

Natasha Manji is an audiologist and co-founder of Hear & Co, as well as the founder of Toronto Hearing Consultants, an independent, audiologist-owned practice operating two clinics in Toronto. She previously co-founded The Hearing Room, which operated three clinics in Oshawa and Stouffville.

Natasha's path to audiology began at Western University, where she studied Health Sciences with a focus on biology and a minor in French. After completing a Bachelor of Education with plans to teach high school biology and French, two experiences changed her direction: working at a hearing clinic and tutoring a student with significant hearing challenges. Together, these experiences revealed how profoundly hearing influences communication, learning, and everyday life. Motivated to make a difference in this field, Natasha returned to university to complete a Master of Clinical Science in Audiology, graduating in 2013.

After beginning her career in a large corporate hearing clinic, Natasha transitioned to independent practice, seeking a more personalized approach to hearing healthcare. Her experience co-owning The Hearing Room reinforced her belief that effective audiological care requires more than identifying hearing loss; it involves understanding each patient's communication challenges, interpreting clinical findings in context, and developing recommendations based on individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

In 2022, Natasha founded Toronto Hearing Consultants in Bloor West Village, followed by a second location in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood. Her clinical practice spans the lifespan, supporting children over the age of three, working adults, and older adults. Her areas of interest include hearing assessment, auditory processing disorder (APD), and the management of communication difficulties. She recognizes that hearing challenges can extend beyond reduced sound perception, affecting speech understanding in background noise, cognitive effort during conversation, workplace confidence, and social connection.

Natasha takes an evidence-informed, education-first approach to patient care. She believes patients should understand what their hearing assessment reveals, how their results relate to everyday listening, and the potential benefits and limitations of available interventions. By combining clinical expertise, current research, continuing education, and collaborative decision-making, she aims to help patients make informed choices that support their communication needs and quality of life.

Outside her clinical work, Natasha enjoys exploring Toronto's restaurant scene, reading, listening to podcasts, and searching for the perfect latte. An avid traveller, she particularly cherishes her experiences in the Tuscan countryside and Iceland.

Good to know

Questions about our founders

Who founded Hear & Co?

Hear & Co was founded by two audiologists, Salima Jiwani and Natasha Manji. Salima owns two AudioSense clinics in Toronto and Markham, and Natasha owns two Toronto Hearing Consultants clinics in Toronto.

Why did they open a clinic in Ancaster?

They kept meeting people from outside the city who were driving into Toronto for appointments because they couldn't find that kind of care closer to home. Good hearing care shouldn't depend on where you live, and the people of Ancaster and Hamilton deserve the same experience their patients in the GTA have come to expect.

Who will I see at my appointment?

You will see Mackenzie, our hearing instrument specialist. She tests your hearing, takes you through the results and, if you decide on hearing aids, fits them and looks after them with you.

Book

Come and meet the team

Book a complimentary hearing test if you are 55 or over. For adults under 55 the test is $95, credited back if hearing aids are purchased through our clinic.

Book a free hearing test About the free hearing test About Hear & Co