Our hearing therapy room with a display of 'assistive listening devices'
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(a) Counselling
In their counselling role, a therapist works with individuals (and their relatives and carers) who are affected by an acquired hearing loss through age, Menieres disease, trauma or surgery. This counselling helps people to come to terms with their hearing loss and to develop new strategies and ways of dealing with situations. It also helps them develop ways of helping themselves and maximising their communication abilities.
(b) Hearing therapy service for those who have a progressive or sudden loss of hearing
The therapist compiles a specialised rehabilitation management programme to meet an individual's communication needs. They liaise with the audiologists and Social Service for provision of equipment as required, or with the disability employment advisor for work purposes.
(c) Communication training
Communication training is used for individuals, families and friends to encourage changes in communication strategies and to acquire better skills in using residual hearing. This can include instruction in lip-reading, auditory training and hearing tactics.
(d) Communication courses
Therapists can organise communication courses for individuals, families and friends. These can be four-week long courses that examine communication as a subject. They usually cover hearing loss, strategies for dealing with situations, lip-reading, assertiveness, assistive-listening devices, general information and pointers to other help that is available. They also provide a useful forum for people to meet others who are in a similar position and share experiences and learn from them.
(d) Assistive-listening devices
Therapists demonstrate and offer information about all types of assistive-listening devices, which are available to help with hearing in the home or work etc. These include devices to help 'hear' the TV, doorbell and telephone. Some devices can be provided by social services, although this can be subject to certain criteria.
(e) Lip-reading classes
Therapists provide information about local lip-reading classes and one-to-one lip-reading services that might be offered by hospitals.
(f) Information and advice service for those of working age
For those people who are of working age and are having hearing-related problems in the working environment, therapists can liaise with the disability employment advisor, the audiology department and the patient. Funding through a government scheme can sometimes help provide necessary equipment at work (see the patient information leaflet - Access to work), and therapists can help people ensure that they are maximising their hearing potential at work.
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