Communication StrategiesĪn audiologist can also provide communication strategies that people with hearing loss and their family members can employ for better communication.
These include personal amplifiers, FM systems, infrared systems, inductions loop systems, amplified/captioned telephones, alerting devices and Bluetooth devices. Assistive Listening DevicesĪssistive listening devices can be used in conjunction with hearing aids, BAHAs or CIs. Some strategies include using assistive listening devices, trying communication strategies, undergoing auditory training sessions, employing relaxation techniques and attending peer support groups. Once this step is complete, the person with hearing loss can then begin to tackle obstacles by trying different possible solutions in their challenging environments with the help and support of their audiologist. The hearing professional and person with hearing loss then work together to set goals, identify target outcomes and develop solutions. Most often, these situations involve excessive background noise, require close focus, are stressful or cause listening fatigue.
This helps the affected person identify specific listening situations that have been impacted by hearing loss in a way that affects their quality of life. This is why one step in the aural rehabilitation process is a needs assessment. While hearing aids and other devices can make a huge difference in communication ability, they don’t always provide optimum results in every setting.