What is aural rehab?
I think of aural rehabilitation as all the things beyond hearing aids/CIs that you need to live well with hearing loss. It includes formal training in lip/speech reading, communication strategies, how to use hearing assistive technologies, auditory training and where to find a support group. It is provided by professionals like speech-language pathologists and teachers of the deaf. Surprisingly, audiologists often cannot bill insurance for these services. It can also be overwhelming to learn these things at the same time you learn about your hearing loss and hearing aids/CIs. Unfortunately, most people miss out on aural rehabilitation and all it can do to improve quality of life. After all, what is a cake without the icing? This website is my attempt to help this situation.
Aural rehab services include:
Lip/Speech reading
Formal training in lip reading/speech reading to supplement what we cannot hear using visual cues from lip movements, facial expressions and body gestures. One main focus is learning what various vowels and consonants actually look like when spoken and why it can be so difficult to lip read certain sounds.
Communication Strategies
Strategies to help you and your family members communicate more effectively, so you can reduce the stress of hearing loss on your relationship. This involves knowing how to express your needs clearly and sharing empathy for all involved. There are other strategies to reduce background noise, face one another, take turns speaking, get one another’s attention, let someone know when the topic changes, rephrase, etc.
Hearing Assistive Technologies
Lessons in how to use hearing assistive technologies like smartphone speech-to-text apps, personal amplifiers, public listening systems, amplified/captioned telephones, Bluetooth devices and home alerts. These can be used in conjunction with hearing aids, cochlear implants or BAHAs to get the most from your hearing.
Auditory Training
Auditory training involves teaching your brain to recognize speech sounds more successfully. This training involves repetitive listening to targeted sounds and in increasingly more complex listening situations. Listening to an audiobook as you read the words is a simple example of auditory training.
Support Group Information
It’s very difficult to understand the complex challenges of hearing loss unless you have experienced it yourself. Peer support groups for hearing loss are wonderful places to share your grief and frustrations and learn how others overcome their challenges. It is an extremely helpful way to avoid social isolation.