But what can be done about patients who deny their symptoms and refuse to visit a practitioner?
Dr. Mary Bohr, Director of Audiology for McGuire's Hearing Aids and Audiological Services, recently addressed that very issue.
"At McGuire's, one of the most common obstacles we encounter with patients is their denial of hearing loss," she noted. "It's not always easy to convince patients to come to our office, but once we perform a hearing screening, they often recognize that there's a hearing loss."
For patients who are reluctant to visit the McGuire's office, or for those who are homebound, Dr. Toback has a solution: "McGuire's has an FDA-approved telephone line which performs a hearing screening. Our number, 631-369-9191, is a recorded message which provides a no-obligation service so that callers can comfortably undergo a screening at their convenience."
Dr. Bohr recommends the screening line so that patients maintain their privacy and their anonymity. "For some people, the telephone screening experience is less stressful."
Another tool Dr. Toback endorses is that of the "simulator" available on the website for the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). That website link.
"The simulator on the BHI website won't assess hearing, but it can give visitors an idea of how people with hearing loss actually hear," she stated. "It's most helpful for family members and others trying to understand the sensory challenges encountered by loved ones who may be hearing impaired," Dr. Bohr added.
"Hearing loss isn't just an annoyance or a sensory interference," Dr. Toback explained. "A hearing impairment can result in a loss of social skills, and can cause depression and isolation. In addition, the longer a hearing loss remains uncorrected, the more likely it is for the brain to lose the ability to recognize speech," Dr. Bohr noted.
