When hearing loss is left untreated, even for a short time, the brain can start to forget how to process sound. This phenomenon is similar to how running or playing tennis at Hooes Road Park can feel more difficult after periods of rest. As a result, while hearing aids may provide clear sounds to your ears, your brain might struggle to interpret these sounds correctly.
Aural rehabilitation is a type of training designed to help you process and understand the sounds your hearing aids amplify.
How Do I Know If Aural Rehabilitation Is Right for Me?
Aural rehabilitation can help anyone with hearing loss who is having difficulty communicating. If you find it hard to understand conversations, even with hearing aids, or pull away from social events you used to find fun, learning a few aural rehabilitation techniques can help.
Common Aural Rehabilitation Techniques
Aural rehabilitation techniques are tailored to meet each patient’s specific needs and may include the following strategies:
- Listen to audiobooks and read aloud to refamiliarize yourself with words and phrases in context
- Read through a word list out loud
- Ask for clarification when confusion arises
- Use context clues to fill in missing information
- Listen to conversations in stimulated noisy environments to practice understanding
- Move to quieter locations or lower background music when communication is difficult
- Practice active listening by maintaining eye contact, nodding and providing verbal affirmations to stay engaged in the conversation
- Pay attention to facial expressions, lip movements and body language to gain additional context during conversations
In addition to these techniques, your audiologist may recommend activities or programs to improve speechreading, hearing in noise and speech discrimination.
Approximately 20% of people have some degree of hearing loss. While hearing loss is a widespread issue, each person’s journey is unique. Try out a few of these rehabilitation tips with your hearing aids to find the right path toward better communication.
To learn more about managing your hearing loss, contact ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists for comprehensive treatment.