COVID-19 and Hearing
Health Services

COVID-19 and Hearing Health Services

Like you, we are concerned about the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the impact that it is having. We are carefully monitoring its trajectory in New York City with the knowledge that our home area has been one of the hardest hit. You are an extension of our family, and we care about your safety and health. Please be aware of the signs of coronavirus: fever, cough, shortness of breath/wheezing, sore throat, or runny nose. If you identify any of these signs in yourself or your loved ones, please seek medical attention immediately. Please avoid any gatherings and travel.

At New York Speech and Hearing, we have been ensuring everyone’s health and safety by maintaining a clean, sanitized space and using and providing antibacterial hand wipes, gel and face masks, in addition to maintaining healthy and safe distances. In accordance with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s regulations to contain the spread of COVID-19, we will be closing our office. This is to ensure the safety of our staff and patients, who are all a part of our extended family. We will be evaluating the situation on a regular basis and will make continued assessments about patient services as information changes and becomes more available.

During this time, please remember your option for remote hearing aid programming. We can make the changes you need and send you the settings to upload to your devices, thus allowing you to still receive your hearing healthcare during these troubling times. We can send you some exercises to help with your brain processing of sounds and can work with your tinnitus remotely. The important goal is to stay healthy through all of this.

Here are some other safety tips:

Stay at home if you are feeling ill
Avoid close contact with people
Cover your nose when you cough and sneeze.
If you use a tissue, throw it out!
Clean and disinfect your own work and living spaces
Avoid touching public surfaces such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, and handrails
Don’t shake people’s hands
Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds
Sing a song while you wash your hands – we suggest Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It”” — this Coronavirus won’t beat us down!
Use an alcohol sanitizing hand disinfectant that is AT LEAST 60% alcohol
No hand sanitizer? Make your own! Mix 75% rubbing alcohol with 25% aloe vera – add your favorite essential oil
Wipe down frequently used objects such as pens, tape dispensers, and cell phones. They are breeding grounds for bacteria. We are doing this in the office regularly.
Use music to help you get through – put together an extensive playlist
Wear earplugs to protect your hearing. Actually, earplugs won’t necessarily help you avoid the Coronavirus, but we had to mention this anyhow. Old habits die hard!