Aural Rehabilitation

What is auditory rehabilitation?

When a person has hearing loss there are 4 main areas of rehabilitation that can improve communication.  These include: 1) effective communication strategies; 2) assistive listening devices; 3) perceptual training and 4) support.

What are effective communication strategies?

These are actions you and your communication partners can use to improve communication and they include the following:

  • Listener:
    • learn about hearing loss
    • use active listening (attending,
    • comprehending, clarifying)
  • Talker:
    • learn about hearing loss
    • use clear speech (slowed)
    • organize and clarify comments
  • Both:
    • enhance acoustic & visual information:
    • Distance-move closer
    • Angle-talk face-to-face
    • Reverberation-move away from walls
    • Noise-move away from or reduce

What are assistive listening devices?

These are devices you might use to better hear speech and other sounds and they include the following:

  • Hearing aids
  • Other devices for tv, phone, computer, or at distances
  • Alerting devices
  • Cochlear implants

What is perceptual training?

These are formal programs you may use to improve listening or lipreading of speech.

  • Auditory/Listening Training—if you have poor listening in noise abilities OR are fit with a cochlear implant
  • Lipreading Training—if interested

What is support for hearing loss?

Support includes reassurance, encouragement & understanding that help you cope with hearing difficulties and those offering support can include the following:

  • Family, friends, communication partners
  • Audiology/Speech Therapy care team
  • Group (face to face; online)
  • Mental health professional

How does the clinic offer AR?

Most patients receive individual AR.  Some patients are invited to participate in an AR group with others who have hearing loss.

FAQs/Summary

  • What are the 4 main areas of AR that can help persons with hearing loss communicate better?
    Communication strategies, assistive listening devices, perceptual training, support
  • How can patients receive AR?
    In individual appointments or in groups