Dr Willa Horowitz of Acuity Hearing Solutions, LLC, came to the Newtown Senior Center’s Lunch and Learn program on Friday, August 20, to educate approximately 30 seniors on ways to protect their hearing and deal with hearing loss.

Dr Horowitz, a doctor of audiology, does home visits to provide seniors with hearing health care services.

She encouraged seniors to shield their hearing from hearing-damaging noises like loud music, power tools, yard equipment, and other noises by utilizing protection that covers the ears. She recommended using earplugs when underwater, as water in the ears can cause ear infections.

She also talked about understanding medications that are being taken, as some may have ototoxicity, which means damage to hearing is one of the side effects. Some examples include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen; certain antibiotics, including aminoglycosides; certain cancer medications; water pills and diuretics; tricyclic antidepressants; anti-anxiety medications; blood pressure-controlling medications; allergy medications; and chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin.

Dr Horowitz shared that hearing loss has a range, from mild to moderate to severe to profound. An audiogram can determine the level of hearing loss. Those experiencing untreated hearing loss may experience irritability, negativism, anger, and depression. It may cause forgetfulness and cognitive decline.

Those with hearing loss may show signs of avoidance or withdrawal from others; they may not come out to social activities because they can’t hear well. She said it is important not to leave hearing loss untreated, as not only does someone with hearing loss feel isolated, but the structures in the ear that allow hearing can atrophy if they are not regularly stimulated, and that may cause further hearing loss.

Additionally, Dr Horowitz said, those with hearing loss may experience loss of balance and lack of awareness of their surroundings that may lead to falls. Those with mild hearing loss are three times more likely to have a history of falls than those with no hearing loss. Each further 10 decibels of hearing loss leads to a 1.4 fold additional risk of falling.

Dr Horowitz recommended that those dealing with a loved one with hearing loss should encourage the person with hearing loss to seek treatment. She suggested not speaking louder to someone with hearing loss, repeating oneself, acting as a messenger on the phone, or saying “never mind” all the time.

“It’s common for hearing loss to affect a relationship,” Dr Horowitz said. “You should encourage them to go to the doctor, and be there for them during the visit.”

According to Dr Horowitz, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends getting screened for hearing loss at age 50, or earlier if the person is showing signs of hearing loss.

Dr Horowitz said that after a referral for treatment, a test is done with an audiometer to produce an audiogram, which presents different frequencies to a subject, usually over calibrated headphones. An audiogram is a graph that shows the audible threshold for standardized frequencies as measured by an audiometer. The Y axis represents intensity measured in decibels and the X axis represents frequency measured in hertz. The threshold of hearing is plotted relative to a standardized curve that represents “normal” hearing.

Treatment may include use of hearing aids or assorted other hearing devices such as cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids. Dr Horowitz also discussed a number of products that could help users of hearing aids, such as remote controls for those with limited mobility or dexterity to change the volume on their aid, or app-driven aids that give expanded capabilities such as the ability to control the direction you want to hear noises from, forward or back, right or left.

Dr Horowitz holds a certificate of clinical competence in audiology from the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. She earned her audiology doctorate from AT Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences. She has more than 30 years of experience in testing, diagnosing, and rehabilitating various types of hearing loss. She serves on the board of directors of the Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss.

She may be reached by e-mail at info@acuityhearingsolutions.com, by phone at 203-640-2198, or by visiting acuityhearingsolutions.com.

Reporter Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.