Baystate Wing Hospital Holds Appreciation Breakfast for Audiology Patients

PALMER — Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand and follow a doctor’s advice, respond to warnings, and hear doorbells and alarms. It can also make it hard to enjoy talking with friends and family. All of this can be frustrating, embarrassing, and even dangerous.

For patients of all ages, Baystate Wing Hospital’s Audiology and Hearing Improvement Center of Baystate Wing Hospital and Medical Centers, with locations in Palmer, Ware, and Ludlow, offers 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 and AuD intern Cassandra Hawk at the center.

Added Stroetzel, “depending on their hearing loss, we offer a demo program where our patients can try hearing aids for a week. Our patients often return saying wearing the hearing aids not only enhances their hearing, but also improves their ability to participate in life again.”

On June 29, the rehabilitation team hosted a patient-appreciation breakfast at Ludlow County Club to celebrate the gift of hearing with more than 170 of their hearing-aid patients from throughout the region. In addition to thanking patients for choosing Baystate Wing for their audiology and hearing-aid care, this annual event was an opportunity for audiology patients and their guests to learn more about the wide variety of healthcare services offered by the audiology program, as well as the many healthcare services and new physicians that have recently joined Wing.

“How wonderful it is to have such a talented audiology team to care for us locally,” said Georgette Korzec, who attended the annual breakfast. “With Deb and Cassie’s help, my hearing is back to where it use to be. They have opened a whole new world of sound for me.”