Baystate Wing Hospital Holds Appreciation Breakfast for Audiology Patients

PALMER — The Audiology and Hearing Improvement Center of Baystate Wing Hospital and Medical Centers recently hosted its ninth annual Patient Appreciation Breakfast at Ludlow County Club.

In addition to thanking patients for choosing Baystate Wing for their audiology and hearing-aid care, the event was an opportunity for audiology patients and their guests to learn more about the variety of healthcare services offered by the audiology program, as well as the many healthcare services and new physicians that have recently joined the Wing Hospital.

The Audiology and Hearing Improvement Centers located in Palmer and Ludlow offer routine hearing tests, specialized audiological testing, and tests for middle-ear functions. In addition, Baystate Wing’s medical centers located in Ludlow and Palmer have comprehensive hearing-aid programs that provide hearing-aid evaluations, demonstrations, purchases, fittings, adjustments, and cleanings. Special services such as swim plugs, noise protectors, and musicians’ earplugs are also available.

In the community, staff from Baystate Wing’s Audiology Program offer free clinics at the Palmer, Ludlow, and Belchertown senior centers, providing hearing screenings, checking ears for wax, and cleaning and checking hearing aids at no charge.

In 2008, the Baystate Wing Audiology Honor Fund (AHF) was established by an anonymous donor to help provide financial assistance to eligible individuals in the Quaboag Hills and Pioneer Valley regions, who were motivated to improve their hearing with the use of hearing aids. Since the program began, 35 honor-fund recipients have received financial assistance for hearing-improvement aids thanks to the generosity of the donor and also many other donors who continue to grow the fund.

Applications for the honor fund are now being accepted, and recipients must meet certain criteria in order to obtain funding through the AHF. The applicant must have a yearly income of less than 200{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of the federal poverty level, and be serious about wearing a hearing aid. Applications are available in the main lobby of Baystate Wing Hospital or by calling (413) 284-5499.