Nola Aronson, a Santa Clarita audiologist and owner of Advanced Audiology, described the unique challenges facing those with hearing loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent interview, Santa Clarita Audiologist Nola Aronson described how the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on people experiencing hearing loss.

“A lot of us who have hearing loss depend on visual cues to watch peoples’ lips or see their face or see their expression. And it’s very vital to have these visual cues for the human brain to process and understand speech,” Aronson said.

Related: Audiologist In Santa Clarita: Hearing Exams, Are They Important And How Often?

She explained that “even those that have really mild cases of hearing loss” often require visual cues to communicate effectively. “That’s making it more difficult for approximately 48 million Americans — approximately 20 percent of the population who are living with hearing loss.”

Aside from hiding lips and muffling speech, Aronson said her clients at Advanced Audiology, her audiology clinic in Santa Clarita, are frequently misplacing hearing aids when removing their masks.

“With the masks on, people who are wearing hearing aids need to be very, very careful,” Aronson said. “We’ve got more lost hearing aids in the last month than ever before; and that’s because they have their hearing aid on, the loops go around, they go to take the mask off and the hearing aid goes flying somewhere.”

Aronson suggested that those who wear hearing aids “be very conscious” when removing masks, and that they check to “make sure they’re still in your ear while you’re standing in the same place.”

Additionally, Aronson recommended those who have noticed a decline in hearing function visit Advanced Audiology for a free hearing screening.

“Many people have come in (to Advanced Audiology) and have gotten their baseline hearing screenings before, and they’ve shown some hearing loss,” Aronson said. “What we’re interested in finding out is, now that you’ve had to be ‘Safer at Home’ for so long, and you’ve been with family and … watching TV, how many people out there have noticed that they actually do have a hearing problem.”

Those who are interested in having their hearing checked can take advantage of the free hearing screenings available at Advanced Audiology, said Aronson. She noted that her clinic recently reopened, with new guidelines in place to protect clients and staff according to CDC recommendations.

“We have changed a lot of our methods of how we do business here to keep our employees and our patients very safe,” Aronson said. “So long as you’re able to leave your house, it is very safe to come to our office.”

Aronson described the new guidelines in place, saying that patients should call from their car to notify staff of their arrival. Advanced Audiology staff will then call them back when they are ready to receive them.

“We do not have anybody right now in our waiting room because our waiting room is not that big and we want to make sure that people are able to be six feet apart,” Aronson explained.

Once patients are called to enter the building, they are given a health questionnaire and their temperatures are taken. At that point, they are welcomed into the building.

“Everybody is wearing masks here,” Aronson said. “We’re disinfecting everything as we go along. We’re washing our hands every few minutes and wiping everything down.”

Additionally, only two providers are allowed in the office at a time, “so that we can space the patients and we’re not using the same audio booths,” Aronson explained. “That way we can … keep it clean and have different earphones and microphone covers for each of us.”

Aronson said that, with fewer providers in the office, she’s working with patients to ensure she can see as many people as possible.

“We have extended our business hours; we’re taking appointments up until 7 o’clock at night,” Aronson said. “For people who can’t get in during the day, we can have evening appointments, and we may be starting some Saturday appointments also, if it makes it easier for people to get in.”

Although there are many challenges facing those with hearing loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Clarita audiologist Nola Aronson and her team at Advanced Audiology are dedicated to going “above and beyond what it takes to give somebody the best hearing they can possibly have.”

Ed. Note: This article is a Community Spotlight based on a recent radio interview with Advanced Audiology.

Advanced Audiology was founded in 2010 by Santa Clarita audiologist Nola Aronson, who has been fitting hearing aids, doing hearing test exams and offering hearing aid repairs for more than 30 years. Advanced Audiology is the largest diagnostic hearing center in the Santa Clarita Valley, focusing on clients with hearing loss, tinnitus, ears ringing and more. Hearing tests, hearing aids and new sound infrared devices are also available at Advanced Audiology in addition to a complete hearing healthcare program that includes free batteries, quarterly cleanings and adjustments. Those looking for free hearing screenings in Santa Clarita, an audiologist in Santa Clarita or an “audiologist near me” can contact the office today for more information. 

Advanced Audiology

23822 Valencia Blvd. #103
Valencia, CA 91355

(661) 592-2718

Advanced Audiology – Valencia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rlMGhlCzhg

Advanced Audiology, Santa Clarita Audiologist, Santa Clarita Hearing Aid Specialist, Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, Tinnitus, Ears Ringing, Free Hearing Screenings in Santa Clarita, Hearing Aid Repairs, Hearing Test Exam