Lecture Addresses Hearing Loss Issues

Dr. Alison Hoffmann, an audiologist and co-owner of Advanced Hearing Center, which has a location in North Shore Towers, delivered a lecture entitled “Signs, Symptoms and Solutions to Hearing Loss” on Monday, May 19.
Hoffmann began by saying that hearing loss affects people of all ages and that more than 30 million Americans have it. It also affects one out of every three senior citizens.
“Among seniors hearing loss is ranked as the third most disabling but treatable condition behind arthritis and hypertension,” Hoffmann said. She continued, “Hearing loss negatively impacts the quality of life, personal relationships, communication ability and can cause depression.”
Some of the symptoms of hearing loss are if a person hears but is not able to understand, has difficulty hearing, frequently needs to ask others to repeat what they said, needs to look at a person’s face to hear them so that they can read lips, or thinks that everyone else mumbles when they speak. Hoffmann said that causes of hearing loss include family history, noise exposure, the aging process, ototoxic medications, trauma, injury or illness, or being born with hearing loss.
“A hearing test is very quick, simple, and painless,” Hoffmann said. “An annual diagnostic audio logical evaluation is recommended for everyone over 50.”
Hoffmann said that 90 percent of those who suffer from hearing loss have it in both of their ears. She also said that hearing from both ears stimulates the brain from both sides.
“Hearing in both of your ears helps you not only to hear better as far as volume is concerned but it helps significantly with your ability to understand speech,” Hoffmann said. “The ultimate goal for you is to clearly understand what the other person is saying.”
The average person waits to be treated for hearing loss until they have a 50 percent loss, Hoffmann said. However, she said as soon as a person as 30 percent hearing loss they are a candidate.
Hoffmann said if a person waits to be treated, it could result in inner ear nerve atrophy. She also said that the sooner a person gets a hearing aid the more successful they will be with it.
The vast majority of hearing aids are now digital and more of them are now being marketed to the baby boomer generation. Hoffmann said that there are more people with hearing aids who are under 60 than over 60.
When selecting a hearing aid for someone, some of the factors are taken into consideration are their hearing loss, communication needs, lifestyle, and what technology will best take care of their needs.
Advanced Hearing Center is located in the arcade of Building Three at North Shore Towers. They also have an office at 1176 Willis Avenue in Albertson. They can be reached by calling 516-484-0811.