Counseling, Psychosocial Support, and Assertiveness Training

types of interventions

• counseling

• psychosocial support

• assertiveness training

counseling

understand owns hearing loss

• acceptance of HL

• management of communication difficulties

• decreased stress-related issues

• increased satisfaction with aural rehab programs

• increased self-motivation

• continuation with AR plan and hearing aid use

psychosocial support

learn psychological and social difficulties resulting from hearing loss

alleviate hearing-related stress including:

• stress in understanding speech

• adjusting to being a person with HL

• adjusting to society’s reaction to self

• feeling inadequate

• feeling isolated

• having negative self-image

assertiveness training

learn to state negative and positive feelings

informational counseling

• inform patient and/or family about HL

• present informally as a dialogue

  • use easy-to-understand language

• use explicit categorization

personal adjustment counseling

focus on adjustment and acceptance

• cognitive approach - modify thought process

• behavioral approach - modify behavior

• affective approach - modify emotions

cognitive approach

• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

• identify activating event or adversity

• evaluate event

• identify consequences of event

• dispute negative feelings

• create effective action

behavioral approach

• behavior can be unlearned

• desensitization

  • reduce negative reactions through repeated exposure

• identify physical systems of stress

• introduce relaxation techniques

affective approach

• focus on feelings

• find congruence with self

• use unconditional, positive regard

• employ empathetic understanding

consequences for frequent communication partners

• feelings of frustration regarding communication difficulties

• reduced talking and joking

• spouses initiating AR

• spouses reporting increased volume levels, repetition, and serving as interpreter

• family accommodations

support paradigm

• learn how HL impacts life

• recognize negative perceptions of HL

• change self-perceptions to gain self-confidence

• treatment conducted in small groups

model

• problem identification

• problem exploration

• problem resolution

assertiveness training

• enhance communication between person and communication partner

• identify hearing loss to others

• request modification to environment

• communication partner facilitates understanding of message

• positively reinforce communication partner