Development and Implementation of an Aural Rehabilitation Program Using Community Health Workers in Rural Alabama

Abstract

Purpose: Considering the lack of audiological care in many areas across the United States, it is crucial to develop new models of hearing health care. Described within this document is a procedure used to develop and implement an aural rehabilitation (AR) program and a community health worker (CHW) educational training program in West Central and South Alabama. The AR program and the CHW educational training program were used to assist those with hearing loss in rural Alabama communities who received over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC HAs). The work described was part of a registered clinical trial (NCT04671381) with OTC HAs in rural Alabama communities. Method: The development and implementation of the AR program and CHW training program was conducted using foundational work from experiential learning principals and from experts in AR and community outreach and engagement. Results: Over the course of 3 years from March 2021 to March 2024, the AR program and CHW training were developed and implemented. Guidance from the study personnel, consultants, and CHWs helped to refine the AR program and CHW training after implementation. Conclusion: Future studies will assess the success of the AR program through quantifying outcomes from speech perception testing and survey completion obtained from adults in rural communities who enroll in the OTC HA clinical trial.