Aural Rehabilitation Essay

In order to gain a better understanding of the difficulties faced by people with hearing loss I wore ear plugs for an entire day in a variety of settings. The hearing loss simulation made relatively simple parts of my day much more difficult and really showed how much hearing loss can impact daily life. As discussed in class the shift from being “able-bodied to disabled”, was quite difficult to cope with.

Hearing loss is one of the most common ailments faced by American seniors. In fact, nearly 36 million seniors have at least some hearing loss, with the majority of those individuals being more than 65 years of age. On the surface, the consequences of hearing loss may seem to be about the loss of a physical sense. In reality, the actual loss of hearing is the least of a senior's concerns.

As I was reading “Reframing: From Hearing Loss to Deaf Gain”, one of the first things that caught my eye was an example of framing. They used the half-full, half-empty cup saying to explain that reality isn’t usually confined to our perspectives on things. If people would widen their views to look at Deafness the way that Deaf people view it, they will realize that it’s not necessarily what they’ve been taught their whole lives.

It’s the 21st century and the world is experiencing an all time high in innovations in technology. These innovations in technology have helped the world break many communication barriers. Cellular phones make it easy to call anyone around the world with the press of a few buttons. Webcams and computers are used to help one video chat and send emails all in the matter of a few minuets. Due to these innovations many people with disabilities find it easier to communicate as well. This new technology has led to a greater acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities in society. For example, deaf people can use Facetime to call each other and sign through there. There also have been many applications developed for our hand held devices to

As a veteran, John was exposed to loud noises while on duty many years ago. Due to his prolonged exposure, John developed severe sensorineural hearing loss. Along with hearing loss, he also suffers from tinnitus. This interview was conducted in a quiet environment and directly facing John. John began the interview

There are other alternatives to hearing aids, which include long-term implants and mechanisms for lip reading, which are considered relatively good alternative

This was a unique and influential program for me, because it combined not only my interest in communication disorders, but also cultural differences. It also gave me the privilege to spend a year in Argentina as a student to immerse myself in the culture and achieve an improved level of fluency in the language. Through varied pre-clinical and clinical experiences, I was introduced to the idea that audiologists are more than just the people who give out hearing aids. Rather, through observation and interaction, it became clear that an audiologists’ job is not just detecting a hearing loss, but also in educating the patient and their family, sharing resources to improve quality of life, and a determination to investigate new techniques and technologies to provide better care. Furthermore, it became clear that part of an audiologist’s role is to demonstrate compassion and willingness to listen carefully to their patients, both of which are characteristics that I hope to

A Speech Pathologist would not be needed, as it is a hearing, rather than speech-communication problem. Dr. Stacy’s recommendations for Thomas would to first and foremost attempt to correct the problem with behind-the-ear hearing aids since he is prone to earwax build-up. A traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing would be his best fit. Not only would they aid in amplification, but they might also help to solve the tension in the household. Thomas would be able to use them every day, whether he is at home or not. If BTE hearing aids ended up as an inappropriate or comfortable choice for Thomas, she would then recommend an Assisted Listening Device (ALD), such as a personal amplifier. This would reduce background noise and increase the sound levels. Dr. Stacy could also recommend an infrared ALD system in conjunction with his hearing aids for use such as in a restaurant. In the aural rehabilitation plan for Thomas, Dr. Stacy will evaluate him to ensure his hearing aids are the most appropriate fit. She would perform the assessment based on his diagnosis and extent of his hearing loss, as well as his

Hearing loss is the most common physical disability in the whole wide world. In the United States alone, about 28 million people have some level of hearing impairment that interferes with their ability to understand normal speech and participate in conversations. Another 2 million cannot hear at all.

We all take the power of hearing for granted.Some people are blessed to be able to hear and some are unfortunately not able to hear. Wouldn’t you miss conversations between you and other people, sales at the mall, or hearing that one album that you love. We have to take care of ourselves so we can keep our hearing ability or we will never be able to hear again.

An annually evaluated program for hearing loss prevention is necessary to ensure their effectiveness. The program should include the following elements, training/education, the involvement of management, noise measurement, engineering and administrative controls, monitoring and record keeping, referrals, hearing protection devices, and administration. (Goetsh, 2011) The use of administration skills controls is necessary to ensure that the program is up to date and meets the demands for a safety-working environment. It is important to make sure that the plan is current with federal and state regulations and notify the staff of any changes made to the program due to the updated regulations. In addition, provide written policy manuals that include

Many seniors suffer from hearing loss. Sadly, many more are suffering from the effects of hearing loss and do not even know it. They face physical and emotional issues that are frustrating, angering, and depressing, but they can't put their finger on what is wrong. Often, the issues can be traced back to a loss of hearing, but first they need to consider that this might be an issue and pursue the treatments that could correct their hearing-related issues.

Not only do they help people hear again, but they can also help improve a person’s quality of life. For people whose hearing has been restored with a cochlear implant, their social interactions and thinking skills may also improve. This is due because cochlear implantation allows you to once again enjoy the sounds of music, enage in conversations, and hear the sounds around you with ease. There’s no doubt that hearing from both ears has it’s advantages and can have an impact on people’s livelihood. When a person has a cochlear implant, there are two parts. One part you can visibly see on the persons head, but there is another part that is surgically inserted near the ear, underneath the skin. These two parts interact and work with each other to change sound into electric signals. These electric signals get sent through the hearing nerve, and head straight to the brain.

One piece of knowledge that I have applied to my life outside the classroom is the material from chapter 9: Deafness and hearing loss. I have regular interactions with two students from another classroom who are deaf and communicated with an interpreter. Reading the tips for communicating with someone who is deaf helped out immeasurably with the class and made the interaction easy and lead to a good dynamic creating the opportunity for excellent conversations.

Sound-based interventions are being used to address auditory and sensory over-responsivity in both children and adolescents. One specific sound-based intervention intermittently used by occupational therapists presently, is The Listening Program (TLP), which addresses behavioral disturbances related to sensory processing in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (Gee, Thompson & John, 2013). TLP uses modified classical music in specific frequency ranges to attempt to impact functional capabilities including sensory processing, balance, learning, language, play and executive function. An individual is put on a customized listening schedule determined by the treating practitioner. Listening sessions typically occur in 15 minute increments, one