Will My Patient Benefit from Audiologic Rehabilitation? The Role of Individual Differences in Outcomes

Abstract

Postfitting audiologic rehabilitation (AR) has been a recognized component of the management of hearing-impaired adults since World War II. Despite growing evidence that such interventions as individual auditory training and counseling-based group AR are effective augmentations to amplification, these programs are not commonly implemented in the audiology community. Although research suggests that, on average, patients who engage in AR have improved outcomes compared to those who do not, clinicians have a difficult time determining which of their patients will benefit, if at all, from any particular AR intervention. This article will explore the current literature on auditory training and counseling-based AR in the context of individual variability and those individual factors that are likely to influence postintervention performance. A model of progressive AR, based on patient-identified treatment goals, is proposed to help guide the clinician in making the most appropriate rehabilitative decisions for the patient.

Keywords

Hearing loss - adults - audiologic rehabilitation - aural rehabilitation

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