Aural Rehabilitation in Private Practice

Abstract

Aural rehabilitation refers to sensory management, auditory speech perception training, and counseling services provided to those with hearing loss and their communication partners. The goal of aural rehabilitation is to reduce the impact that hearing loss has on communication and daily function. There is ample evidence confirming the effectiveness of aural rehabilitation, however, comprehensive aural rehabilitation services are rarely offered in the private practice setting. Lack of time, compliance, and reimbursement have been suggested as possible reasons for the rare provision of aural rehabilitation services. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a simple framework for efficiently incorporating aural rehabilitation services into a busy private practice. It is suggested that both client and clinician compliance will improve when clinicians become proficient with a few select tools in the areas of assessment, education and counseling, auditory training, and follow-up. In today's changing marketplace, it is critical for private practice clinicians to set themselves apart from the commodity options by offering comprehensive aural rehabilitation services.