Baystate Wing Audiology Program Offers Free Screenings at Senior Centers

PALMER — Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing.

For patients of all ages, Baystate Wing Hospital’s Audiology and Hearing Improvement Centers located in Palmer and Ludlow offer routine hearing tests, specialized audiological testing, and tests for middle-ear function.

“Hearing loss tends to isolate people; with hearing aids, it can bring them back into the mix,” said Sheila Tzoumas, who joins fellow audiologist Deborah Stroetzel to ensure that all patients receive accurate, up-to-date information to help them find the best possible solution for their hearing loss.

Stroetzel and Tzoumas offer free periodic hearing services at area local senior centers. These free services are provided by one of the team’s experienced audiologists and include hearing screenings, a check for ear-wax accumulation, and cleaning and checking of hearing aids.

• Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to noon, Belchertown Senior Center, 66 State St., (413) 323-0420;

• Last Tuesday of each month, 1-2 p.m., Ludlow Senior Center, 37 Chestnut St., (413) 583-3564; and

• Second Thursday of each month, 11 a.m. to noon, Palmer Senior Center, 1029 Central St., (413) 283-2670.