Hearing aids are not like glasses, where most people can instantly utilize them without much effort. Because the underlying auditory system remains damaged, it takes time, effort, and the right attitude to get fully accustomed to listening with hearing aids. The type of hearing loss someone has, how long they’ve suffered with it, and the sophistication of the hearing aids they are wearing all play a role in how successful they will be with hearing aids. To help your brain get the most out of hearing technology, we recommend pairing it with aural rehabilitation.

Aural rehabilitation is a systematic process of recognizing, adapting, and modifying an individual's perception of communication between self, family, friends, and workmates. It is centered around a treatment program that aims to restore the ability to hear and understand speech to function better in everyday life. 

Patients receive a variety of therapies and approaches to improve their hearing and communication abilities under the supervision of our experienced hearing professional. The goal is to teach patients how to live with and manage hearing loss to improve their quality of life. 

The steps of the aural rehabilitation process

First, we determine the hearing loss you have. This may entail extensive testing to determine the exact cause and type.

Next, we determine the right treatment for your needs. We collaborate with you to define your goals. This might be as simple as "improve my ability to hear my wife when we go out to our favorite restaurant" or "better my ability to hear my grandchildren on the phone." Your objectives will be recorded, and a strategy for achieving them will be devised.

If hearing aids are appropriate, we will make this recommendation. Hearing aids can make a significant impact in the lives of those who suffer from hearing loss. 

Following a hearing aid fitting, you will receive education to assist you in getting the most out of your equipment.

If hearing aids are not appropriate, or you are not ready for them yet, a different treatment plan will be offered, based on your needs. 

We will keep you fully informed throughout identification, diagnosis, and therapy, ensuring that you are mentally prepared, for whatever treatment is most appropriate for your needs. 

We assist with communication and speaking skills. Audiologists can help with communication by providing a variety of strategies, including recommendations on how to understand conversations and how to deal with background noises.

We recommend daily practice as part of any treatment program. 

Common treatments used as part of an Aural Rehabilitation program

• Hearing aid orientation: Advice on using and caring for your hearing aids and advice on setting realistic expectations.
• ALDs (Assistive Listening Devices): Other devices, such as TV listening devices, FM systems, and so on, may be advantageous to your lifestyle in addition to hearing aids.
• Awareness of visual cues: Observe facial expressions and body language for contextual clues about what is discussed.
• Speechreading: This is often known as lip reading; this entails instruction in recognizing sounds and how they "appear" when spoken.
• Audiologic rehabilitation: This involves teaching you and your family to communicate more effectively together. 
  

Aural rehabilitation can considerably increase the chances of success when using hearing aids and living with hearing loss in general. Contact us today to set up a consultation and hearing test if you're ready to get started.