(73 - 01) The Importance of AR: Keeping hearing aids in ears

Abstract: As a clinician, it is important to remain flexible and adopt our strategies and routines to provide optimal patient-centered appointments. Less than 20% of Americans have hearing aids that could benefit, as a result there is abundant room to improve the hearing aid services. The importance of Aural Rehabilitation (AR) is often neglected in every appointment which results in hearing aids being returned or not worn.

Summary of Presentation : The purpose of this presentation is to illuminate the need to improve the disproportion of those in need of hearing aids with those that actually obtain them and are satisfied with them. Meeting the demands of the ever-growing diverse and informed patient population, mandates hearing specialists and Audiologists attempt innovative approaches based on evidence-based practices to improve the delivery of services. Aural Rehabilitation (AR), explains ok, now there is a hearing loss, and a hearing aid now what? The significance of this presentation unearths the need, importance of AR, and the benefits this approach affords patients. Implementing AR programs embedded in each appointment, could help convert those in denial, over to acceptance by simply taking time to address issues and concerns that naturally occur with amplification acclimation processes/stages. AR aims to alleviate the difficulties related to hearing loss and minimize its consequences, Tye-Murray, 2015. During AR, many questions, concerns and fears arise due to the nature of the appointment. The relaxed atmosphere of AR, fosters a person –to-person vs patient –to-professional perspective or line of communication to occur. This presentation provides the need to implement and try novel clinical approaches. Provides a thorough understanding of AR and proven benefits. Equip and empower clinicians with tools, strategies, and supplemental information to implement effective AR approaches within all appointments.